COORDINATION

• Various departments or sections are assigned

different tasks to perform. They are assigned on
the basis of their specialization. Employees of
each departments perform their duties with a
view to achieving common objectives
collectively. This is called coordination.
• The synchronization and integration of
activities and responsibilities.
• Coordination is a process which ensures smooth
interplay of the functions of management.
Common objectives are achieved without much
wastage of time, efforts and money with the
 Some definitions
• Acc. to J. Lundy- “ Coordination involves the
development of unity of purpose and the
harmonious implementation of plans for the
achievement of desired ends.”
• Acc. to Allen Reiley and James D. Hooney- “
Coordination is the orderly arrangement of group
effort, to provide unity of action in the pursuit of
common purpose.”
• Terry – “ Coordination deals with the task of
blending effort in order to ensure the successful
attainment of an objective. It is accomplished by
means of planning, orgainising, controlling.”
 Features or characteristics of
Coordination
• 1. Not a separate function of Management-
it is necessary in all functions of
management. So it is not a separate and
distinct function of mgt.
• 2. Managerial responsibility- every dept’l
head is responsible to coordinate the efforts
of his subordinates. It is inherent in the
managerial job and responsibility.
• 3. Necessary at all levels
• 4. Emphasis on group efforts

• 6. Continuous and dynamic process- it starts

with planning and ends with controlling process.

• 7. System’s concept- various departments of

different nature and work are interdependent on

each other.
Co-ordination is the Essence of
Management
• "Co-ordination is the Essence of
Management." The meaning of this
sentence implies, Co-ordination affects
all the functions of management. In
other words, Co-ordination affects
Planning, Organising, Staffing, Directing,
Communication, Leading, Motivating and
Controlling.
• 1. Planning and Coordination
• According to Harold Koontz and Cyril
O'Donnell, "Planning is deciding in advance
what to do, how to do it, when to do it and
who is to do it."
• There are many departmental plans in a
business. These include, Purchase Plan, Sales
Plan, Production Plan, Finance Plan, etc. All
these plans must be coordinated (brought
together) and one Master Plan must be made
for the full business. Therefore, Planning is
affected by Coordination.
 2. Organising and Coordination
• There are many steps in Organising. All these
steps must be coordinated, for achieving the
objectives of the business. The Top Level
Managers must coordinate the efforts of the
Middle Level Managers. Similarly, the Middle
Level Managers must coordinate the efforts of
the Lower Level Managers. Furthermore, the
Lower Level Managers must also coordinate
the efforts of the workers. Therefore,
Organisation is affected by Coordination.
 3. Staffing and Coordination
• Staffing involves Recruitment and
Selection, Training, Placement,
Promotion, Transfer, etc. All these steps
must be properly coordinated. Similarly,
the efforts of all the individuals, groups
and departments must be coordinated
for achieving the objectives of the
business. Therefore, Staffing is affected
by Coordination.
 4. Directing and Coordination

• Directing means giving necessary

information, proper instructions and
guidance to sub-ordinates. This results
in coordination. Therefore, Direction is
affected by Coordination.
 5. Communicating and Coordination
• Many types of communication methods are used
in a business. These methods include, Formal,
Informal, Upward, Downward , Oral
Communication, Written, etc. It is important to
note that, all these types of communication must
be properly coordinated.
• Lack of proper coordination will hinder the
smooth functioning of the communication
process. Thus, Communication is affected by
Coordination.
 6. Leading and Coordination
• Every manager must be a good leader. He
must coordinate the efforts of his
subordinates for achieving the objectives. That
is, he must coordinate the human resource.
He must also coordinate the material and
financial resources of the organisation.
• In short, a leader cannot survive without
coordination. In other words, leadership
cannot be performed without coordination.
Therefore, Leadership is affected by
Coordination.
 8. Controlling and Coordination
In Controlling the standards are first fixed. Then
the performances are measured.
Performances are compared with the
standards, and the deviations are found out.
Then the deviations are corrected.
So, controlling involves many steps. All these
steps must be properly coordinated. If
coordination is not proper, Control will surely
fail. Therefore, Control is also affected by
Coordination.