Question

What is co-ordination?

Hint:

Think of co-ordination like the "Conductor of an Orchestra"—even if every musician is a genius, the music will be noise unless the conductor synchronizes them to play the same piece at the same tempo.

Answer 1

Step 1: Core Definition.
Co-ordination is the process by which a manager synchronizes the activities of different departments to ensure that organizational goals are achieved harmoniously. It is often referred to as the "essence of management" because it is required at all levels and in all functions of an organization to provide unity of action.

Step 2: Key Characteristics.
Co-ordination is not a separate function but a thread that runs through all management activities:

Integrates Group Effort: It unifies diverse business interests into purposeful work activity.
Ensures Unity of Action: It acts as a binding force between departments, ensuring they work toward a common target.
Continuous Process: It is not a one-time task but begins at the planning stage and continues until controlling.

Step 3: Importance in Modern Organisations.
In large-scale organisations with high degrees of specialization, departments often become isolated "silos." Co-ordination bridges these gaps, ensuring that the Marketing department doesn't promise more than the Production department can manufacture, thus preventing conflict and resource wastage.