Coordination failure, as elucidated by Daniel Schmachtenberger, refers to the systemic inability of agents, institutions, or networks to align their actions and decisions towards collective goals, resulting in suboptimal outcomes for all parties involved. This failure arises from the complex interdependencies and feedback loops within socio-cultural and economic systems, where individual rational actions often lead to collectively irrational consequences. It encapsulates phenomena such as the tragedy of the commons, where the pursuit of personal gain undermines the collective good, and misaligned incentives, where the structures in place hinder effective collaboration. Coordination failure is not merely a product of isolated missteps but a reflection of deeper systemic flaws that necessitate a reevaluation and redesign of our interrelational architectures to foster more harmonious and synergistic outcomes.

See also: collective action, complexity science, decision making, collective intelligence, network theory