Coordination

WHO Definition of Coordination

WHO Ageing & Health Glossary [1]

Coordination within the health sector: Organized collaboration, as necessary, among those providing the services at the same and different levels of the health system in order to make the most efficient use of resources, as well as within and among the various categories of health workers following agreement on the division of labour. It also means coordination of programmes or services to avoid duplication or inconsistency.
 

Other Definitions of Coordination

Coordinated Care

WHO Ageing & Health Glossary [1]

A collaborative process that promotes quality care, continuity of care and cost-effective outcomes which enhance the physical, psychosocial and vocational health of individuals. It includes assessing, planning, implementing, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating health-related service options. It may also include advocating for the older person.

Humanitarian Action Coordination

Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute For International Studies [2]

Coordination is the systematic use of policy instruments to deliver humanitarianassistance in a cohesive and effective manner. Such instruments include strategicplanning, gathering data and managing information, mobilising resources and ensuringaccountability, orchestrating a functional division of labour, negotiating and maintaining aserviceable framework with host political authorities and providing leadership. [4]This definition emphasises coordination functions that are often missing or weak in UN humanitarian coordination.

Policy Coordination

Magro et al. (2014) [3]

Policy coordination intends to solve the following failures: 

• avoidance or minimization of duplication and overlap;
• avoidance of policy inconsistencies;
• minimization of conflict (bureaucratic and political);
• quest for coherence and cohesion and an agree ordering of priorities; and
• promotion of a comprehensive perspective against the advocacy of particularistic (i.e. sectoral) perspectives.

Cases of Policy Coordination

• Croatia

Reference: Musa, A., & Petak, Z. (2015). Coordination for policy in transition countries: Case of Croatia. Mednarodna Revija Za Javno Upravo = International Public Administration Review, 13(3), 117-159. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.17573/ipar.2015.3-4.06

• Norway’s vertical vs horizontal coordination

Reference: Lagreid, P., & Rykkja, L. H. (2015). Organizing for "wicked problems" - analyzing coordination arrangements in two policy areas. The International Journal of Public Sector Management, 28(6), 475-n/a. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-01-2015-0009

• Australia’s drug policy coordination

Reference: Hughes, C. E., Ritter, A., & Mabbitt, N. (2013). Drug policy coordination: Identifying and assessing dimensions of coordination. The International Journal on Drug Policy, 24(3), 244. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2012.08.004

• Hong Kong and Singapore

Reference: Zhang, X. (2020). The institutional structuring of innovation policy coordination: Theory and evidence from east asia. Policy Sciences, 53(1), 101-138. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11077-019-09364-0

[1] WHO Centre for Health Development (‎‎‎Kobe, Japan)‎‎‎. (‎2004)‎. A glossary of terms for community health care and services for older persons. Kobe, Japan : WHO Centre for Health Development. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/68896

[2] Minear L, Chelliah U, Crisp J, Mackinlay J. Weiss T. 1992. UN Coordination of the International Humanitarian Response to the Gulf Crisis 1990–1992. Rhode Island, Thomas J. Watson Institute for International Studies: Providence.

[3] Magro E, Navarro M, Zabala‐Iturriagagoitia JM. Coordination‐mix: The hidden face of STI policy. Review of Policy Research. 2014 Sep;31(5):367-89.