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MODELLING COORDINATION
Author(s) -
Minnery John R.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
australian journal of public administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1467-8500
pISSN - 0313-6647
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8500.1988.tb01067.x
Subject(s) - coercion (linguistics) , work (physics) , control (management) , computer science , power (physics) , autonomy , political science , artificial intelligence , law , engineering , mechanical engineering , philosophy , linguistics , physics , quantum mechanics
Coordination is an important concept in both the study and the practice of public administration. Complex tasks are split up into manageable sub‐tasks with the result that the pieces need to be coordinated. Coordination is necessary and sensible, yet it is widely recognised that it can also be a facade to hide coercion and conflict. This article explores the practice of coordination in public adminstration. It develops the four models of hierarchical control, use‐of‐power, adjustment, and common purpose as forms of coordination then illustrates each from the work of the Queensland Co‐ordinator‐General. Each model is described in terms of structure, processes, outcome and values. The models help to draw out important but less visible features of central coordination.