the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing

One part of an organization or group does not know what the others are doing. I thought I was supposed to order shirts for the family reunion, but now I hear Aunt Jean did that already. This just proves that we need to have a family meeting—the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing! We both scheduled meetings in the conference room at the same time because the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

If you say that in an organization the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing, you mean that the people in one part of the organization do not know what the people in another part are doing and this is leading to confusion or difficulties. And as the minister declares he wants more jails for young offenders, the Lord Chief Justice is busy setting those very offenders free early. The right hand doesn't seem to know what the left hand's doing. Note: People sometimes vary this expression. The government's left hand discovered what its right hand was doing only at the end of the first week. Note: You use this expression when you want to criticize people for not communicating or co-operating properly. Note: This expression comes from Jesus's teaching in the Bible, in which He says that when people give money to charity, they should do it without boasting or telling anyone about it. `But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.' (Matthew 6:3)