coordinationparticularly
Coordination is the process by which people, groups, or systems organize their actions to achieve shared objectives. It involves aligning plans, information, and activities so that efforts are not duplicated and goals are pursued consistently. Coordination differs from cooperation, which is simply working together, and from collaboration, which emphasizes joint problem solving; coordination emphasizes the arrangement and timing of actions across actors.
Effective coordination relies on mechanisms such as clear communication channels, information sharing, defined roles, schedules, and
Coordination appears across domains. In organizations, it smooths operations and project delivery. In technology and engineering,
Common challenges include information delays, misaligned incentives, cultural or language differences, and rapid change. Costs of
Historically, theories of coordination have appeared in administrative science, organizational theory, cybernetics, and game theory. Modern