The Coordination Theatre Trap
"Meetings happen. Change doesn't."
Cross-departmental committees produce the appearance of alignment but no actual coordination.
The Problem
Cross-departmental committees produce the appearance of alignment—but no actual coordination.
The Solution
Create coordination mechanisms with real enforcement power. Establish clear consequences for non-compliance. If this isn't possible, be honest that fragmentation is the price paid for organizational independence.
Implementation Steps
- Create coordination mechanisms with real enforcement power
- Establish clear consequences for non-compliance
- Be honest about trade-offs between coordination and autonomy
Real-World Examples
Working groups produce documents no one implements. Shared platforms remain optional. The appearance of coordination without the reality of constraint.
Key Insight
Organizations publicly support coordination while privately protecting their autonomy.