Integrative Cybernetics Technical Monograph — Series 1- 27: Local vs Global Coordination: A Structural Analysis of Scope Distribution in Multi-System Interaction

This monograph is the twenty-seventh in the Integrative Cybernetics Technical Monograph Series, continuing the extension of the series toward thirty monographs. It addresses local versus global coordination—the distinction between coordination processes that occur within a limited subset of systems and those that span across the entire system network. The work systematically defines local coordination as interaction occurring within a limited subset of systems, and global coordination as interaction spanning across the full set of systems. Scope determines how many systems are involved and how widely coordination is distributed. Coordination scope functions as the scale dimension of system interaction, determining the reach of coordination, the complexity of interaction, and the distribution of system involvement. Local coordination limits interaction scope and reduces complexity; global coordination expands interaction scope and increases complexity. The mechanism of coordination scope emerges through interaction distribution patterns. Local Coordination Formation restricts coordination to specific system clusters and localized interaction pathways, creating focused coordination and reduced system load. Global Coordination Formation extends coordination across multiple or all systems, creating widespread interaction and higher integration. Scope Expansion involves local coordination expanding as additional systems become involved and interaction spreads. Scope Reduction involves global coordination contracting as systems disengage and interaction becomes localized. System interaction produces scope dynamics through Interaction Distribution (local coordination produces concentrated interaction; global coordination produces distributed interaction), Load Distribution (local scope concentrates load on fewer systems; global scope distributes load across many systems), and Propagation Dynamics (local coordination produces limited propagation; global coordination produces extensive propagation). Failure conditions include Overextension (global coordination exceeds system capacity, causing instability and overload), Local Isolation (systems remain disconnected from broader coordination, causing incomplete integration), Scope Fragmentation (coordination splits into disconnected local clusters, causing lack of unified behavior), and Uncontrolled Expansion (coordination spreads without regulation, causing inefficiency and instability). Coordination scope remains stable when appropriate scope selection ensures scope matches coordination requirements, controlled expansion and reduction manage transitions between local and global coordination, balanced load distribution aligns system load with coordination scope, and coordinated interaction structure ensures systems interact in organized patterns. Coordination scope determines scale of system interaction, complexity of coordination, and distribution of system activity. Local coordination is efficient but limited; global coordination is comprehensive but complex. In the Integrative Cybernetics framework, local vs global coordination represents the scope dimension of coordinated system behavior, defining how widely coordination is distributed. Coordination is not uniform; it has scope. Scope determines whether systems interact locally or operate as a fully integrated network.