Publication Abstract
Coordination In Fast-Response Organizations Faraj S, Xiao Y Management Science.52(8):1155-1169. 2006 Organizational coordination has traditionally been viewed from an organizational design perspective where rules, modalities, and structures are used to meet the information processing demands of the environment. Fast-response organizations face unique coordination challenges as they operate under conditions of high uncertainty, fast decision making, and where mistakes can be catastrophic. Based on an in-depth investigation of the coordination practices of a medical trauma center where fast-response and error free activities are essential requirements, we develop a coordination practice perspective that emphasizes expertise coordination and dialogic coordination. We argue that expertise coordination practices (reliance on protocols, community of practice structuring, plug-and-play teaming, and knowledge sharing) are essential to manage distributed expertise and ensure the timely application of necessary expertise. We suggest that dialogic coordination practices (epistemic contestation, joint sensemaking, cross boundary intervention, and protocol breaking) are time-critical responses to novel events and to ensure error-free operation. However, dialogic coordination practices are highly contested due to epistemic differences, reputation stakes, and possible blame apportion.
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Publication Abstract

Coordination In Fast-Response Organizations
Faraj S, Xiao Y
Management Science.52(8):1155-1169. 2006

Organizational coordination has traditionally been viewed from an organizational design perspective where rules, modalities, and structures are used to meet the information processing demands of the environment. Fast-response organizations face unique coordination challenges as they operate under conditions of high uncertainty, fast decision making, and where mistakes can be catastrophic. Based on an in-depth investigation of the coordination practices of a medical trauma center where fast-response and error free activities are essential requirements, we develop a coordination practice perspective that emphasizes expertise coordination and dialogic coordination. We argue that expertise coordination practices (reliance on protocols, community of practice structuring, plug-and-play teaming, and knowledge sharing) are essential to manage distributed expertise and ensure the timely application of necessary expertise. We suggest that dialogic coordination practices (epistemic contestation, joint sensemaking, cross boundary intervention, and protocol breaking) are time-critical responses to novel events and to ensure error-free operation. However, dialogic coordination practices are highly contested due to epistemic differences, reputation stakes, and possible blame apportion.

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