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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 rules or procedures. It is supported by governance structures that determine who makes decisions, how conflicts are resolved, and how tasks are synchronized. Organizations typically use vertical (hierarchical) and horizontal (cross-functional) coordination, as well as centralized or decentralized authority, depending on context.

Coordination appears across domains. In organizations, it smooths operations and project delivery. In technology and engineering, it underpins distributed systems and multi-agent coordination. In biology, neural and motor coordination describes how the nervous system controls muscles to produce smooth movement. In social and economic settings, coordination problems arise when actors have conflicting incentives or incomplete information.

Common challenges include information delays, misaligned incentives, cultural or language differences, and rapid change. Costs of coordination—time, resources, and governance overhead—must be balanced against benefits such as improved efficiency, reduced error, and faster response. Metrics include latency, alignment of activities, throughput, and error rates.

Historically, theories of coordination have appeared in administrative science, organizational theory, cybernetics, and game theory. Modern studies examine coordination in networks, supply chains, and digital platforms, where algorithmic and human actors must act in concert to achieve common goals.