Co-ordination

Concept & Definition
Co-ordination is the unification,integration,synchronisation of the efforts of group members so as to provide unity of action in the pursuit of common goals.Co-ordination is a necessary effort to solve conflict in the organisation.
Some important definition of coordination
Glueck has defined co-ordination as"Co-ordination is a set of human and structural mechanism designed to link the parts of the enterprise together to help achieve the specified objectives".
Money and Reelay "Co-ordination is orderly arrangement of group efforts to provide unity of action in the pursuit of common goals".
Charles Worth "Co-ordination is the integration of several parts into an orderly hole to achieve the purpose of understanding".

Basic Features of Co-ordination

• It is relevant only for group efforts.
• It is a continuous and dynamic process.
• It streamlines the performance of various functions and makes the individual efforts integrated with the total process.
• It is one of the major responsibilities of manager.Special coordinators are hired in case of incapable manager.
• Higher the degree of co-ordination,higher the possibility of achievement of organisational objectives.

Co-ordination may not be considered as a separate function of management but the essence of management.

1. Management also tries to bring harmony among group members and streamline the group efforts for achieving organisational goals, so it is intrinsic to management.
2. Function is a group of activities and duties, which is true for all management functions of planning, organising, staffing, directing and controlling .Co-ordination on the other hand involves the integration of human efforts for achieving the goals which is not a particular function but the basic objective of all managerial functions.
3. Classical author have considered  co-ordination as management function because when all management functions are performed properly and due consideration is given to their inter dependence then well balanced and synchronized group effort is the outcome, otherwise not. Therefore, co-ordination has been the focus of management by the classical authors because they were not sure about the inter dependence of various management functions.On the contrary, in the systems approach of management, co-ordination is an automatic process because execution of management functions proceeds on integrative basis. It is concluded that all management functions focus on achieving integration of efforts to accomplish organisational objectives, therefore, co-ordination is the essence of management rather than a function of management.

Need for Co-ordination

Co-ordination becomes the major issue in case of large organisations, unorganised complex organisations structure, weak leadership, diversity to tasks, complexities of modern technology etc special efforts for co-ordination are not required in case of small, well structured, with good and dynamic leaders.

The major issues which create an urgent need for co-ordination are as follows

1. Very large organisations More the people, more the problems. Every individual is a unique with unpredictable behaviour is a true fact.
2. Know if all attitude of the specialists working in an organisations sometimes bring the need of co-ordination as through their training they are made to feel that they are the best judge of the scope.
3. Departmentalisation It is very obvious that every organisation is divided into different department, division, sections based on the similarity in their funstions.
4. Interdependence Is the law of nature.No living being on this planet is independent but are dependent upon, each other for their survival.