Question

Write short answer of the following :
Discuss the meaning and nature of co-ordination

Answer 1

Meaning: - Co-ordination is a process through which the activities of various departments and units are synchronised for the achievement of organisational goals.
Co-ordination is an integration of different activities that are essential for the Working of an organization.  There is a need or coordination at all levels. The top management has to coordinate the plans of the middle-level managers or 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”.

The following points highlight the nature of co-ordination:

1. Unifies individuals’ efforts - Coordination integrates the efforts of individuals towards the achievement of set targets or goals of an organisation.
2. Ensures unity - It unifies the actions of individuals and departments for the achievement organisational goals.
3. Goes on continuously - Coordination is a never-ending process; it ensures that the work is performed in accordance with the planned targets.
4. Pervasive - Coordinating is pervasive in all levels of management and in types of organisations, irrespective of their size, characteristics, and region.
5. Implies deliberate action - Managers practice coordination deliberately so as to give direction to the efforts of the individuals of an organisation.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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 departmental managers.
9. 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.
10. Responsibility: - Coordination is the basic responsibility of the managers at all 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.
11. 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.