Coordination

A process through which dependencies of activities are aligned.

Chat GPT: Prompt: define the term coordination in the context of collaborative networks.

Answer: Systematic organization and management of activities among multiple entities or participants to achieve common objectives or goals. Coordination in collaborative networks encompasses various aspects, including communication, task allocation, resource sharing, and decision-making. It involves the development and implementation of strategies, protocols, and mechanisms that enable efficient collaboration and synergy among the network participants. Key components of coordination in collaborative networks may include:

1. Communication: Establishing effective channels for communication among network participants to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas.
2. Task Allocation: Assigning and distributing tasks among participants based on their expertise, resources, and capabilities.
3. Resource Sharing: Efficiently utilizing and sharing resources, such as data, technology, and expertise, to maximize the collective output.
4. Decision-Making: Establishing processes for making decisions collectively, considering the input and perspectives of all relevant participants.
5. Conflict Resolution: Addressing conflicts or discrepancies that may arise during collaborative activities and finding resolutions that align with the overall goals of the network.

Coordination in collaborative networks is essential for fostering effective collaboration, promoting innovation, and achieving shared objectives in a harmonious and organized manner. It often involves the use of collaborative tools (infrastructure), protocols, and governance structures to ensure that the diverse participants can work together seamlessly and achieve meaningful outcomes.

Traditional definition: ”managing dependencies between activities“ - Malone and Crowstone (1994, p. 90)

We don't favour this definition because of the use of the term "managing" which assumes that the coordination process is embodies or enacted by specific individuals, like in the setting of a traditional corporation, with roles like "coordinator". In p2p coordination processes can be distributed and disembodied, they can also be emergent.

Theory

4 idealised forms of coordination were established by Schneider, B. (2013):

   Hierarchy: command-based coordination
   Network: trust-based coordination
   Coordinated: negotiation-based coordination
   Liberal: market-based coordination

While these are idealised concepts, they seldomly exist in isolation, thus different institutions use them in different combinations and proportions.

Praxis

SENSORICA's coordination infrastructure

Coordination on events

Google Calendar

It is also integrated with the SENSORICA website.

Google Groups It is also integrated with the SENSORICA website.

Operations

See Project and task management part of the NRP-CAS

process coordination links