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Classwork Series and Exercises {Government – SS2}: The Interdependence Of Nations

Government, SS 2, Week 3

Topic: The Interdependence of Nations

Contents:

  1. Meaning of Interdependence
  2. The interdependence of nation
  3. Types of Inter- dependencies

Meaning of Interdependence

Interdependence is the mutual reliance between two or more groups. In relationships, interdependence is the degree to which members of the group are mutually dependent on the others. This concept differs from a dependent relationship, where some members are dependent and some are not.

In an interdependent relationship, participants may be emotionally, economically, ecologically and/or morally reliant on and responsible to each other. An interdependent relationship can arise between two or more cooperative autonomous participants (e.g. a co-op). Some people advocate freedom or independence as the ultimate good; others do the same with devotion to one’s family, community, or society. Interdependence can be a common ground between these aspirations.

Interdependence of Nations

There is inter-dependence and inter-relationship existing among nations of the world. No nation is an island. Therefore development of

a nation cannot be done without relating or interacting with other nations. In the process of these interactions, benefits are derived in different areas of human endeavor.

Nigeria interacts with many nations of the world, politically, economically, socially, culturally e.t.c and this is made possible through the establishment of high commissions, embassies and consulates abroad.

Nigeria also belongs to international, regional or sub-regional organizations e.g United Nation Organizations (UNO), Organization of African Unity (OAU) and economic community of West Africa states (ECOWAS). She is also a member of the oil producing exporting countries (OPEC).

Types of Inter dependencies

  1. Activity inter dependencies
  2. Commitment  inter dependencies
  3. Resource inter dependencies
  4. Governance inter dependencies
  5. Social network inter dependencies

Activity inter dependencies

  • Are inherent to the actions between sub-units
  • Are inherent to the degree of physical input from or between sub-units or the need for information
  • Criticality: whether or not the activity interdependency is critical, can be established by measuring the effect of removing the interdependency on the performance of the sub-unit: if, for example, its performance drops heavily when specific information is withheld, criticality could be considered high.
  • Uncertainty: whether or not it is likely for sub-units to deliver data, goods or services and its accuracy thereof, indicates the uncertainty.
Managing Activity inter dependencies
  • Adding inter dependencies. Example: weekly reports by one sub-unit to another
  • Removing inter dependencies, which is the principle of modularity as proposed by Baldwin and Clark. Example: making use of standard interfaces.

Commitment Inter dependencies

  • To commit to a contract between sub-units is key for a commitment interdependency (e.g. a contract of purchase between suppliers and clients)
  • Use of contracts like spot, classical and relational contracts
  • Commitments are established by negotiations in an on-going, authorizing process
  • Criticality: high when interdependency has a direct and significant impact on key work outcomes that a sub-unit is responsible for.
  • Uncertainty: low (for the client) when a supplier faces and accepts consequential accountability for delivering a product or service.
Managing Commitment Inter dependencies
  • Consequential accountability (“no cure no pay”)
  • Reducing ambiguity with more detailed service level agreement and contracts
  • Clarifying upstream dependencies
  • Specifying inter dependencies (“who owes what to whom”) is complicated, but can be done by using the Commitment Protocol as suggested by Scherr.

Governance Inter dependencies

  • Concerns inter dependencies related to authority relations in organizations.
  • Arise because of a need for formal approval of a sub-unit’s plans or activities by some party or because of a requirement to conduct an activity in conformance with a policy set by superiors.
  • Criticality: whether or not a sub-unit’s governance interdependency is critical, depends on the potential effects of decisions made by other sub-units on the work process of the sub-unit
  • Uncertainty: the level of uncertainty of a governance interdependency is indicated by its degree of stability and ambiguity

Resource Interdependencies

  • Exist within the transaction of resources between units or when units share their resources.Example: financial resource budgeting
  • Are mostly based on financial resources, but can also be based on knowledge, human resources, equipment, etc.
  • Criticality: whether or not a resource interdependency is critical, depends on the percentage of a sub-unit’s contribution to another sub-unit’s total resources.
  • Uncertainty: increases if the resource flow fluctuates or if it is subject to competitive pressures from other (potential) suppliers, but decreases if resource providers lack the ability to switch suppliers.
Managing Resource Interdependencies
  • Enlarge the number of resource providers
  • Enlarge the share of resources from resource providers considered reliable
  • Enlarge the dependency of the client units ( in terms of criticality and frequency)

Social Network interdependencies

  • Arise when the performance of a work process is influenced by informal ties among sub-units
  • The informal ties are created by individuals who represent the sub-unit in his or her interactions with other organizational members
  • The informal ties help sub-units to gather or share knowledge across the organization
  • Criticality: higher when the effect of the interdependency on the outcome of a certain work unit is larger.
  • Uncertainty: increases when perceived dependability and reliability of informal ties are lower. This is related to the level of trust that exists between the parties. Other authors like Sheppard and Sherman believe uncertainty also differs depending on the form and depth of the relationship. Consequently, they proposed four levels ranging from ‘shallow interdependency’ to ‘deep interdependency

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