Matching and Alignment Issues

I think this is a common type of social inefficiency.

Kinds of matches/mismatches: Further dimensions for each of the above:
 * similarity matching (like having the same goal, interests, means of pursuing a goal, or personal preference)
 * difference matching (like someone having something and another person wanting it)
 * degree of match/mismatch
 * degree of certainty about any variable
 * the circumstances/timeframe/place for which any of the above applies

See also:

 * mutual benefit
 * coordination games in game theory
 * the free preview of The Best Interface is No Interface I read on Amazon was a bit related, because it also deals with a situation where there are many variables, and the interface is used to essentuially specify each of the variables (for "matching" the desired functionality to the present situation).
 * 'Alignment', not 'alliance' – the shifting paradigm of international security cooperation: toward a conceptual taxonomy of alignment THOMAS S. WILKINS (it seems there is a paper with same author and similar title, just without the final peice of the subtitle, available here)
 * Maxwell's Demon: Why Information is Entropy
 * means and ends chains
 * There’s a Difference Between Cooperation and Collaboration  "most managers are cooperative, friendly, and willing to share information — but what they lack is the ability and flexibility to align their goals and resources with others in real time."