ABSTRACT
J. Taylor & E. J. Van Every see authority as a property of communication, and hence of organization in practice. Similar to G. H. Mead, the insight provided by Taylor and Van Every is that the relationship following from meaning emerging in communication is the basis of coordination, which is organization. S. R. Barley seems to suggest that there are two rather static sources of authority in organizations: experts and positions. This might fit with the two organizational practices: bureaucratic and operational. In the 22 July case, the tightly coupled Delta members and the loosely coupled North Buskerud Police District (NBPD) groups and operations centre could have enhanced their chances of succeeding more quickly if they had coupled their communication more tightly. Delta might have gained from dedicating a minute to clarifying communication with the NBPD's operations centre and with the Oslo Police District's operational staff.
