Question

Nalini has an online flower and gifts retail business. She has eight outlets in four cities of India. From November to February, during the wedding season, the demand shoots up. She coordinates the efforts of her staff in a conscious and deliberate manner and plans for the wedding season demand in the month of June itself. She ensures that there is adequate workforce and continuously monitors whether work is proceeding according to plans. She also briefs the marketing department in time to prepare their promotional and advertising campaigns. Thus, her coordination with all departments of the organization begins at the planning stage and continues till controlling. This acts as a binding force between the departments and ensures that all action is aimed at achieving organizational goals. As a result, Nalini is able to give a common focus to group effort to ensure that the business is performing as planned, year after year.
Quoting lines from the above paragraph, identify and explain four features of an important concept of management highlighted in the above case.

Hint:

Coordination ensures alignment of individual actions towards common goals, promoting unity and organizational efficiency.

Answer 1

The features of coordination highlighted in the above case are:
(i) Coordination is a deliberate function:
‘She coordinates the efforts of her staff in a conscious and deliberate manner and plans for the wedding season demand in the month of June itself.’
A manager has to coordinate the efforts of different people in a conscious and deliberate manner.
(ii) Coordination is a continuous process:
‘Thus, her coordination with all departments of the organization begins at the planning stage and continues till controlling.’
Coordination is not a one-time function but a continuous process that begins at the planning stage and continues till controlling.
(iii) Coordination ensures unity of action:
‘This acts as a binding force between the departments and ensures that all action is aimed at achieving organizational goals.’ The purpose of coordination is to secure unity of action in the realization of a common purpose.
(iv) Coordination integrates group efforts:
‘Nalini is able to give a common focus to group effort to ensure that the business is performing as planned, year after year.’ Coordination unifies unrelated or diverse interests into purposeful work activity.