Module - 6
Coordination
Meaning & Characteristics of Coordination
Importance of Effective Coordination
Techniques of Coordination
Difficulty in Coordination
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3gaqsQcbfY
What is coordination
Coordination is the management of interdependence in
work situations
Orderly synchronisation or fitting together of
interdependent effort of individuals in order to attain a
common goal
In order to achieve their goals, the various departments
(basis the organizational design) need to properly time
their interdependent activities and to efficiently unite
the sub divided work
Following facts are observed in a well
coordinated enterprise
Each department works in harmony with
others
Each department is precisely informed as to
the share it must take in the common task
Working schedule of departments is
constantly attained to circumstances
Characteristics of Coordination
1. Integration of Efforts
Ensures that all departments and employees work towards a common goal.
Prevents duplication of work and conflicts
2. Continuous Process
Not a one-time activity but an ongoing function at all levels of management..
3. Deliberate and Conscious Effort
Managers must actively coordinate tasks to ensure efficiency.
It does not happen automatically but requires planning and communication.
4. Dynamic and Flexible
Needs to adapt to changing circumstances, such as market trends or internal restructuring.
Adjusts according to organizational needs and external factors
5. Encourages Team Spirit
Promotes mutual understanding and cooperation among employees.
Helps in building a positive work culture.
Importance of Effective Coordination
Improves efficiency: Coordination helps to avoid duplication of
work and overlapping efforts.
Reduces conflict: Coordination helps to minimize
misunderstandings and rivalries
Promotes adaptability: Coordination helps organizations to
respond to internal and external changes
Builds communication: Coordination helps to facilitate smooth
information flow across all levels of the organization
Strengthens team spirit: Coordination helps to build strong
relations among employees
Improves outcomes: Coordination helps to produce better
outcomes by avoiding waste and minimizing conflicts.
Examples of Coordination
Launching a New Product (Business Organizing a Football Match
Example) (Sports Example)
A smartphone company like Apple or For a major football match (like the
Samsung launching a new device FIFA World Cup), coordination is
requires coordination among: needed between:
Research & Development (R&D) – Event Management – Booking
Designing and testing new features. the venue and arranging logistics.
Manufacturing – Ensuring production Team Management – Coaches,
meets quality and quantity players, and medical staff working
requirements. together.
Marketing & Sales – Creating Security Team – Ensuring crowd
promotional campaigns and safety.
distributing the product. Media & Broadcasting –
Finance – Managing budgets and Coordinating live coverage and
pricing strategies. advertisements.
Supply Chain & Logistics – Ensuring If any one department fails in its
timely delivery of raw materials and role, it could lead to delays,
finished products. confusion, or even safety issues
If these departments do not coordinate,
the launch could be delayed, or the
product may not meet demand
Techniques of coordination
Managers can use a number of techniques to enlist coordination.
1. Effective Chain of Command There is a line of authority in every
enterprise which indicates as to who is accountable to whom. The
line of authority and responsibility should be clearly defined to
achieve coordination. Clear cut authority relationship help in
reducing conflicts among different positions, particularly line and
staff which is essential for sound coordination.
2. Precise and Comprehensive Programs and Policies Laying
down well defined programs and policies is another measure for
achieving effective coordination. This brings uniformity of actions
because everybody understands the programs and policies in the
same sense.
3. Planning ensures coordinated efforts. Under planning, target of
each department dovetail with the targets of all other departments.
For example fixing the target of 50,000 units of additional production
and sale for production and sales department respectively, the head
of the organization can be fairly sure that the work of the two
departments would be coordinated since their targets so demand.
4. Liaison: A person who acts as a link between two persons is
called a liaison officer. The external coordination is obtained
through him. Many large organizations depend on this officer to
maintain cordial relations with government and outsiders. In
some cases, where there is a large volume of contact between
two departments, a liaison department evolves to handle the
transactions
5. Incentives may be in the form of increments in the scale of
pay, bonus, profit sharing etc. These schemes of incentives
promote better team spirit which subsequently ensures better
coordination.
6. Workflow is the sequence of steps by which the organization
acquires inputs and transforms them into outputs and exports
these to the environment. It is largely shaped by technological,
economic and social considerations and helps in coordination
Difficulty of coordination
Differences in the orientation towards particular goal
Differences in time orientation
Differences in Interpersonal orientation
Differences in formality of structure
1. Differences in the orientation towards
particular goal :
When different departments or individuals within an
organization have varying priorities or goals, it can lead
to significant coordination problems,
including misaligned efforts, conflicting strategies,
inefficient resource allocation, poor communication,
and difficulty reaching consensus, ultimately hindering
the achievement of overall organizational objective.
2. Differences in time orientation:
Delays in decision-making, frustration over missed
deadlines, or misunderstandings about urgency.
Some employees may view strict deadlines as rigid
and stressful, while others may see flexibility as
inefficiency
Differences in availability can disrupt communication,
3. Differences in Interpersonal Orientation
Interpersonal orientation refers to how individuals interact with
others in a workplace setting. Differences in interpersonal
orientation among employees and managers can lead to several
coordination problems in management, such as
Conflict in Decision-Making
Resistance to Authority and Leadership Styles
Reduced Team Cohesion
Challenges in Delegation and Feedback
4. Differences in formality of structure : Coordination in
management can be challenging due to differences in the
formality of structure. Here are some key problems that arise
Communication Gaps
Formal structures rely on rigid communication channels, while
informal structures enable quick, direct interactions. This
mismatch can create misunderstandings or delays in decision-
making.
Lack of Accountability
In informal structures, roles and responsibilities may be unclear,
making it hard to hold individuals accountable compared to a
formal structure with defined duties.
Class activity
How can effective coordination strategies like Toyota's quality
control enhance collaboration and performance in multinational
corporations?
