Coordination is a function that is inherent and pervasive. Coordination is not a separate function of management. It is the essence of management.
The coordination is needed to perform all the functions of management. They are:
(i) Coordination in planning In planning, coordination is needed
- between overall plan of the organisation and the departmental plans.
- between objectives and available physical and human resources, e.g., coordination between production department and sales department targets.
(ii) Coordination in organising In organising, coordination is required
- between resources of an organisation and activities to be performed.
- among authority, responsibility and accountability, e.g. if a supervisor is given responsibility to get the work done, he should also be given the authority to divide the work among his subordinates.
(iii) Coordination in staffing In staffing, coordination is needed
- between the skills of the workers and the jobs assigned to them.
- between the efficiency of the workers and the compensation, etc, e.g. a Chartered Accountant should be given work of financial nature.
(iv) Coordination in directing: In directing, coordination is required
- among orders, instructions, guidelines and suggestions.
- between superiors and subordinates, e.g. a manager instructs the subordinates, motivates them and also supervises their work.
(v) Coordination in controlling: In controlling, coordination is required
- between the standard and the actual performance.
- between correction of deviations and achievement of objectives, e.g. If production target for workers is set as 80 units per hour while they are able to produce only 60 units per hour, then there is a need to coordinate the plans with actual performance.
Thus, coordination makes planning more purposeful, organisation well knit and control more effective. It is the key to the success of management.
(vi) Coordination is the essence of management Management function revolves around making, arranging things, moving things in an organisation in relation to overall objective of the organisation. Thus, coordination can be considered as the core function of management which ensures that all the factors in the business work together smoothly.
