Concept:
Coordination is the process of integrating and synchronizing the activities of different departments and individuals to ensure that organizational objectives are achieved efficiently. It is called the essence of management. The importance of coordination increases as organizations grow more complex and structurally diverse.
Step 1: Detailed Analysis of 'Growth in size'
As an organization expands its operations, its workforce increases, bringing together individuals with diverse backgrounds, working styles, habits, and personal goals.
• Each individual employee may have their own way of working and distinct personal motivations, which do not automatically align with the broader company objectives.
• To ensure efficiency, the activities of these diverse individuals must be integrated into a single unified direction.
• Coordination ensures that individual efforts are aligned with organizational goals, resolving internal friction and helping a large enterprise function as a cohesive whole.
Step 2: Detailed Analysis of 'Specialisation'
Modern large-scale organizations operate on the principle of a high degree of specialization. The work is divided into multiple functional areas, such as production, finance, marketing, and human resources.
• These specialized departments are headed by experts who are highly competent in their respective fields. Specialists often develop a narrow perspective, believing that their department is the most critical and that their decisions are superior.
• This can lead to conflicts and uncoordinated actions between departments. For example, the sales team might promise immediate deliveries to customers without checking if the production department has the capacity to manufacture the goods in time.
• Coordination bridges these departmental gaps, reconciling differences in approach and ensuring that specialists work in harmony to achieve overall organizational success.