'Coordination is the essence of management'.Explain.
Coordination is considered as the essence of management because of the following reasons:
1. Coordination is needed to perform all the functions of management:
(i) In planning, coordination is required between the objectives and available resources.
(ii) Organising is ineffective if there is a lack of coordination between different departments and divisions.
(iii) In staffing, coordination is required between the required skills and abilities of an individual who is selected to perform a job.
(iv) Directing is impossible and of no worth, if there is a lack of coordination between superiors and subordinates.
(v) In controlling, coordination helps in ensuring that actual results are fruitful.
2. Coordination is needed at all levels of management:
(i) Top level: The top level coordinates the activities of the whole organisation keeping in view the desired goals.
(ii) Middle level: The middle-level managers coordinate the activities of different departments.
(iii) Lower level: The lower level coordinates the activities of the workers for achieving goals.
Thus, we can say, coordination is not a separate function of management. It is the essence of management.