Meaning: -Co-ordination is an
integration of different activities that are essential for the Working of an
organization. There is a need or
co-ordination at all levels. The top management has to coordinate the plans of
the middle level managers or the departmental managers. The middle level
managers are responsible to coordinate the activities of the lower level
managers. The lower level managers are responsible to coordinate the activities
to their subordinates.
Definition: - “Co-ordination is orderly
arrangement of group efforts to provide unity of action in the pursuit (chase)
of common goal”.”
Nature and characteristics of Co-ordination
are as follows:
1. Team
work: -Co-ordination is a group effort and not
individual effort. An individual working in isolation does not affect
functioning of others and no need of co-ordination arises. To achieve the
common objectives, all have to work in a team and this is possible through
co-ordination.
2.
Continuous
Activity: - Coordination is a continuous process. As long as
the organization exists, there would be activities. Therefore, there is a need
to coordinate the activities of the organization on the part of the management
3. Dynamic
process: - In every organization, co-ordination plays an
important role in success of any business. One cannot copy earlier decisions or
efforts in coordinating the activities of the subordinates. Coordinating the
activities involves lot of challenges, especially in the case of complex
activities and in the case of sensitive matter.
4. Integration: -Co-ordination
itself relates to group effort but not to an individual. There is always a need
of integrated efforts from all the employees to perform various functions in an
organization. Integrated efforts lead towards the success of an organization.
5. Essence of
management: - Coordination is the essence of management. There
is a need for Coordination in every function of management. For instance, there
is a need for Coordination in planning. The top management has to coordinate
the plans of the middle level managers or the departmental managers.
6. Pervasive
function: - Coordination is required at all the levels of management
and in al the departments of an organization. The nature of co-ordination is
such that it is applicable to all from the superior at the top level to the
subordinates at the lower level.
7. Synchronization
of efforts: - Coordination is required, when there is group
activity. Coordination is not required in the case of individual activity. If
an individual person carries on the work, then there is no question of
coordinating the activities. Coordination arises only when there is group
activity.
8. Responsibility: -
Coordination is the basic responsibility of the managers at all the levels. The
top-level managers are responsible to coordinate the activities of the middle
level managers. The middle level managers are responsible to coordinate the
activities of the lower level managers. The lower level managers are
responsible to coordinate the activities to their subordinates.
9.
Coordination
is different from co-operation: - Coordination and cooperation are not one and the
same. Cooperation involves willingness on the part of people to help one
another. However, Coordination is the function of managers, whereby they try to
interlink the activities of their subordinates. Coordination is broader in
scope than cooperation.
