Relational Coordination in Inclusive Education: A Critical Review and Theoretical Extension Toward Emotional Responsiveness in Indonesia
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Abstract
Inclusive education in Indonesia often remains symbolic due to fragmented collaboration and hierarchical school cultures. Relational Coordination Theory (RCT) focusing on shared goals, shared knowledge, mutual respect, and quality communication has proven effective in high interdependence sectors like healthcare but is seldom applied in educational contexts in developing countries. This critical literature review aims to synthesize the theoretical development and empirical findings of RCT across sectors and propose its adaptation to foster emotional responsiveness, a school's capacity to address students' emotional needs in Indonesian inclusive schools. The synthesis confirms RCT's strong potential as a theoretical and diagnostic framework for enhancing collaboration among teachers, therapists, and support staff. The study further proposes a theoretical model linking structural inputs and relational coordination mechanisms to emotional responsiveness as a core outcome. Policy and practical implications for stakeholders are discussed, along with recommendations for future empirical research to test the model in the Indonesian context.
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How to Cite
Fedrini, S., & Kho , A. (2025). Relational Coordination in Inclusive Education: A Critical Review and Theoretical Extension Toward Emotional Responsiveness in Indonesia. ProBisnis : Jurnal Manajemen, 16(06), 1564–1571. Retrieved from https://ejournal.joninstitute.org/index.php/ProBisnis/article/view/1258
References
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Bolton, R., Logan, C., & Gittell, J. H. (2021). Revisiting relational coordination: A systematic review. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 57(3), 290–322. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886321991597
Cabatay, M., Hermanto, H., & Aningrum, R. (2024). Contributing factors to the progress of inclusive education implementation in Indonesia. INKLUSI: Journal of Disability Studies, 11(1), 45–62.
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Fuchs, S., & Reichel, A. (2023). How job design shapes effective communication for relational coordination in remote work. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2023(1), 14247. https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2023.14247abstract
Gittell, J. H. (2000). Organizing work to support relational coordination. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 11(3), 517–539. https://doi.org/10.1080/095851900339747
Gittell, J. H. (2015). Relational coordination. In K. S. Cameron & G. M. Spreitzer (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of positive organizational scholarship (pp. 1–14). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Gittell, J. H. (2016). Transforming relationships for high performance: The power of relational coordination. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
Gittell, J. H., & Douglass, A. (2012). Relational bureaucracy: Structuring reciprocal relationships into roles. Academy of Management Review, 37(4), 709–726. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2010.0438
Gittell, J. H., Godfrey, M., & Thistlethwaite, J. (2020). Interprofessional collaborative practice and relational coordination: Improving healthcare through relationships. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 34(3), 350–358. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2019.1636007
Harris, A. (2013). Distributed leadership: Friend or foe? Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 41(5), 545–554. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143213497635
Havens, D. S., Vasey, J., Gittell, J. H., & Lin, W. T. (2010). Relational coordination among nurses and other providers: Impact on the quality of patient care. Journal of Nursing Management, 18(8), 926–937. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2010.01138.x
Leithwood, K., & Sun, J. (2018). Academic culture: A promising mediator of school leaders’ influence on student learning. Journal of Educational Administration, 56(3), 350–363. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-05-2017-0050
McNaughton, S. (2020). The role of research in improving education for diverse learners. Educational Research for Policy and Practice, 19(2), 95–109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10671-020-09264-5
Render de Barros, L., O'Toole, L., & Klippert, S. (2025). Relationships in inclusive education. In All Means All OpenTextbook. https://book.all-means-all.education/ama-2025-en/chapter/relationships/
Rofiah, N. H., & Suhendri. (2023). The progress of inclusive education toward Agenda 2030 in Indonesia. In D. Lane, N. Catania, & S. Semon (Eds.), Progress Toward Agenda 2030 (International Perspectives on Inclusive Education, Vol. 21, pp. 191–207). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-363620230000021013
Siddique, M. A., & Islam, M. R. (2023). Relational coordination among service providers: Impact of HPWS on functional and unit-level banking performance. International Journal of Strategic Decision Sciences, 14(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJSDS.318449
Srivastava, M., de Boer, A., & Pijl, S. J. (2017). Inclusive education in developing countries: A closer look at its implementation in India. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 21(5), 547–562. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2016.1197320
Tørring, M. L., Gittell, J. H., Laursen, M., Rasmussen, K., & Sørensen, E. E. (2019). Communication and relationship dynamics in surgical teams: An ethnographic study. BMC Health Services Research, 19, 528. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4362-0
Warfield, M. E., Lorenz, L. S., Ali, H. N., & Gittell, J. H. (2022). Strengthening community participation by people with disabilities in community-based group homes through innovative action research. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 747919. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.747919
Bolton, R., Logan, C., & Gittell, J. H. (2021). Revisiting relational coordination: A systematic review. Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 57(3), 290–322. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886321991597
Cabatay, M., Hermanto, H., & Aningrum, R. (2024). Contributing factors to the progress of inclusive education implementation in Indonesia. INKLUSI: Journal of Disability Studies, 11(1), 45–62.
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Fuchs, S., & Reichel, A. (2023). How job design shapes effective communication for relational coordination in remote work. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2023(1), 14247. https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2023.14247abstract
Gittell, J. H. (2000). Organizing work to support relational coordination. International Journal of Human Resource Management, 11(3), 517–539. https://doi.org/10.1080/095851900339747
Gittell, J. H. (2015). Relational coordination. In K. S. Cameron & G. M. Spreitzer (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of positive organizational scholarship (pp. 1–14). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Gittell, J. H. (2016). Transforming relationships for high performance: The power of relational coordination. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
Gittell, J. H., & Douglass, A. (2012). Relational bureaucracy: Structuring reciprocal relationships into roles. Academy of Management Review, 37(4), 709–726. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2010.0438
Gittell, J. H., Godfrey, M., & Thistlethwaite, J. (2020). Interprofessional collaborative practice and relational coordination: Improving healthcare through relationships. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 34(3), 350–358. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2019.1636007
Harris, A. (2013). Distributed leadership: Friend or foe? Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 41(5), 545–554. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143213497635
Havens, D. S., Vasey, J., Gittell, J. H., & Lin, W. T. (2010). Relational coordination among nurses and other providers: Impact on the quality of patient care. Journal of Nursing Management, 18(8), 926–937. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2010.01138.x
Leithwood, K., & Sun, J. (2018). Academic culture: A promising mediator of school leaders’ influence on student learning. Journal of Educational Administration, 56(3), 350–363. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEA-05-2017-0050
McNaughton, S. (2020). The role of research in improving education for diverse learners. Educational Research for Policy and Practice, 19(2), 95–109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10671-020-09264-5
Render de Barros, L., O'Toole, L., & Klippert, S. (2025). Relationships in inclusive education. In All Means All OpenTextbook. https://book.all-means-all.education/ama-2025-en/chapter/relationships/
Rofiah, N. H., & Suhendri. (2023). The progress of inclusive education toward Agenda 2030 in Indonesia. In D. Lane, N. Catania, & S. Semon (Eds.), Progress Toward Agenda 2030 (International Perspectives on Inclusive Education, Vol. 21, pp. 191–207). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-363620230000021013
Siddique, M. A., & Islam, M. R. (2023). Relational coordination among service providers: Impact of HPWS on functional and unit-level banking performance. International Journal of Strategic Decision Sciences, 14(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.4018/IJSDS.318449
Srivastava, M., de Boer, A., & Pijl, S. J. (2017). Inclusive education in developing countries: A closer look at its implementation in India. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 21(5), 547–562. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2016.1197320
Tørring, M. L., Gittell, J. H., Laursen, M., Rasmussen, K., & Sørensen, E. E. (2019). Communication and relationship dynamics in surgical teams: An ethnographic study. BMC Health Services Research, 19, 528. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4362-0
Warfield, M. E., Lorenz, L. S., Ali, H. N., & Gittell, J. H. (2022). Strengthening community participation by people with disabilities in community-based group homes through innovative action research. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 747919. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.747919