Statement and write the significance of co-ordination
Meaning of Co-ordination
An organisation consists of several persons, each of them performing a specialized job. Therefore, it becomes necessary to create harmony between different individuals and tasks. Common action can be obtained only when dissimilar things and people are properly integrated together. Such synchronisation of the specialised activities and efforts of members of a group, for the accomplishment of group objectives, is known as co-ordination.
Co-ordination is the orderly arrangement of group efforts to provide unity of action in the pursuit of a common goal. It involves unifying. integrating and harmonising the activities of different departments and individuals for the achievement of common objectives. The purpose of co-ordination is to ensure that the goals of various work units and sub-units are pursued in harmony with each other and keeping in view the goals of the organisation as a whole. According to Henry Fayol, to co-ordinate is to harmonise all the activities of an organisation so as to facilitate its working and its success. A well-co-ordinated enterprise must satisfy the following conditions:
1. Each department or division should be precisely informed of its share in the common task.
2. Each department should work in harmony with other departments.
3. The working schedules of various departments should be constantly attuned to circumstances.
This can be explained with the help of an illustration. If purchasing department does not purchase raw materials and tools ‘in time, production will suffer and slow down. This will affect the working of selling department. Due to poor sales there will be shortage of funds. As a result, the organisation may not be able to pay wages and salaries to its staff in time.
According to Dalton E. McFarland co-ordination is the process whereby an executive develops an orderly pattern of group efforts among his subordinates and secures unity of action in the pursuit of common purpose.
According to Theo Haimann co-ordination is the orderly synchronisation of the efforts of the sub ordinates to provide the proper amount, timing and quality of execution so that unified efforts lead to the stated objective, namely, the common purpose of the enterprise.
Co-ordination is the Essence of Management
Co-ordination is not a separate function but is the very essence of management. It is because achievement of harmony between individual efforts towards the accomplishment of group goals is the very purpose of management. Co-ordination is inherent in all the functions of management. It permeates the entire process of managing. Like the thread in a garland, co ordination has to be a part of all managerial functions. Every managerial function is an exercise in co-ordination. According to George Terry, “Co-ordination deals with the task of binding efforts in order to ensure successful attainment of an objective. It is accomplished by means of planning, organising, actuating and controlling.”
Co-ordination is the result which can be achieved through the proper performance of managerial functions.
1. In ‘planning’, co-ordination is required between the master plan of the enterprise and the plans of different departments or divisions. There should also be co-ordination between the objectives and the available resources.
2. During ‘organising,’ there should be co-ordination between the authority and responsibility of every individual. Same work should not be assigned twice. Organisation would be ineffective if there is lack of unity between different departments and divisions.
3. While ‘staffing,’ co-ordination is achieved by balancing the skills and abilities of employees with the jobs assigned to them.
4. While ‘directing,’ supervision, motivation and leadership are used to ensure harmonious working of the organisation.
5. During ‘controlling,’ co-ordination is achieved by ensuring that actual results conform to plans as closely as possible. Thus, co-ordination is the essence of management.
Means/Techniques of Co-ordination
Following are the techniques of co-ordination :
1. Well defined goals: The first means or technique of co ordination is well defined goals. The goals of the organization should be clear and well defined. Each individual in the organization should understand the overall goals. When the goals are not well defined the co-ordination may not effective.
2. Sound organization structure: Co-ordination is the essence of management. It is not possible without sound organization structure. The authority and responsibility for each and every positions and employees should be clearly defined.
3. Effective communication: Co-ordination helps in creating proper understanding among persons. Without effective communication. co-ordination may be effective. The ideas, opinions should be interchanged freely. It is only through effective communication that even individual understand his/her limitations, positions and responsibility in the organization. Effective communication helps in co-ordination. Therefore, it is also an important means of coordination.
4. Proper leadership: Proper leadership leads the subordinates effectively and efficiently. A good managerial leader uses the motivational tools to co-ordinate the employees with effective communication system. In short, co-ordination is made possible through proper leadership.
5. Proper supervision: Supervisors co-ordinate the subordinates and their activities. Top level management cannot co-ordinate all employees. In short, proper supervision helps in effective co-ordination.
6. Better plans and policies: Co-ordination is made according to plans and policies of the organization and departments. When the plans and policies are not better co-ordination is not effective in the organization.
7. Co-operation : Without cooperation, coordination may not succeed because coordination is related to employees and their activities. When they are not cooperative, co-ordination may not be made. So, co-operation is essential in the organization.
8. Meeting and conference: Co-ordination may be possible when all employees their all activities and departmental goals are involved in organizational planning and policies. Their all problems and matters may be involved. When there is environment of constructive discussion and debate with meeting and conference.
9. Group decision: The group decision is a decision in which all members of the organization are participated to make decisions. the ideas and feelings are mixed into the decision and co-ordination may succeed.
