Question of the week 18: Synergy

Hi and welcome to this week’s ‘question of the week’! For this week, the word ‘synergy’ will be covered in the following question:

How can synergies be created in group projects?

The term synergy stands for the effort that is given by two individuals working together, producing results greater than that of two individuals working alone. Apart from individuals, synergies could also involve companies, medicines, diseases, and pests, just to name a few. For instance, when company A provides technologies whilst company B provides distribution expertise, both companies can then produce products that take advantage of each other’s know-how, thereby creating profits for both which would not have been possible if they worked individually. But how do these synergies appear in group projects?

Group projects combine the knowledge of a number of people. The problem however lies in the amount of information that can be shared, and the relations that are built. When a team encounters individuals who push their ideas through, and are not open to everybody’s contribution, it becomes more difficult for synergies to appear. This is because ideas will get rejected or ignored, and those controlling the group will end up controlling the type of knowledge shared. Another issue lies in the amount of information, where everybody voices their ideas but none are combined. This then leads to ideas being piled up but not properly being used to create synergies.

For synergies to appear in group projects, it would require individuals to be open to each other, share as much relevant knowledge as possible, and ensure that all group members feel that they are a part of the project. This helps motivate everybody to work harder as their contributions are recognized, and encourage knowledge sharing.

In short: Synergy stands for the combined effort of two things, be it individuals, companies, or medicines, that produce an effect greater than adding both individual efforts. For synergies to appear in group projects, it becomes important to maximize knowledge sharing through actively listening to every member, and to motivate them by ensuring that everybody’s contribution will be seen in the project’s results.

If you have any questions or differing opinions, then please do not hesitate to leave a comment!