Problems in Achieving Effective Co-ordination

(a) Differences in orientation towards particular goals:

members of different departments develop their own views about how best to advance the interests of the organization. Accounts may see cost control as most important to the organization's success, sales people may see product features as more important than product quality etc. i.e. people are buried in departmental attachments.

(b) Differences in time orientation

time periods mean different things for the various specialists e.g. research people may be pre-occupied with problems that will take years to solve while production managers may be concerned with problems that must be solved immediately.

(c) Differences in interpersonal orientation

members of different departments may have different approaches to interpersonal relationships and especially to communication. Some may adopt a relaxed attitude to communication while others are abrupt and quick in decision-making.

(d) Differences in formality structure

each type of unit in the organization may have different methods and standards of evaluating progress toward objectives and for rewarding employees.

Note:

Division of work involves more than a difference in precise activities. It also influences how we perceive the organization, how we perceive our role in it and how we relate to each other.

Such differences are essential as they enable the organization to match individual talents, skills and perspectives to the specialized needs of different tasks and activities. Coordination must be achieved where necessary without reducing the differences that contribute to task accomplishment.Division of work and specialization are desirable to help the organization use its resources most efficiently. Differentiation encourages conflict among individuals and organizational subunits. Various members of the organization present their view points argue them out openly and make sure they are heard and that way they force managers to consider the special needs and knowledge of different departments when problems