Title
What is Coordination Theory?
Author
Thomas W Malone, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Date
1/01/2005
(Original Publish Date: 2/19/1988)
(Original Publish Date: 2/19/1988)
Abstract
The primary purpose of this paper is to stimulate discussion about a research agenda for a new interdisciplinary field. This field--the study of coordination--draws upon a variety of different disciplines including computer science, organization theory, management science, economics, and psychology. Work in this new area will include developing a body of scientific theory, which we will call coordination theory, about how the activities of separate actors can be coordinated. One important use for coordination theory will be in developing and using computer and communication systems to help people coordinate their activities in new ways. We will call these systems coordination technology.
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