<P> In the context of organizational behavior, following the view that a cohesive group is more than the sum of its parts, synergy is the ability of a group to outperform even its best individual member . These conclusions are derived from the studies conducted by Jay Hall on a number of laboratory - based group ranking and prediction tasks . He found that effective groups actively looked for the points in which they disagreed and in consequence encouraged conflicts amongst the participants in the early stages of the discussion . In contrast, the ineffective groups felt a need to establish a common view quickly, used simple decision making methods such as averaging, and focused on completing the task rather than on finding solutions they could agree on . In a technical context, its meaning is a construct or collection of different elements working together to produce results not obtainable by any of the elements alone . The elements, or parts, can include people, hardware, software, facilities, policies, documents: all things required to produce system - level results . The value added by the system as a whole, beyond that contributed independently by the parts, is created primarily by the relationship among the parts, that is, how they are interconnected . In essence, a system constitutes a set of interrelated components working together with a common objective: fulfilling some designated need . </P> <P> If used in a business application, synergy means that teamwork will produce an overall better result than if each person within the group were working toward the same goal individually . However, the concept of group cohesion needs to be considered . Group cohesion is that property that is inferred from the number and strength of mutual positive attitudes among members of the group . As the group becomes more cohesive, its functioning is affected in a number of ways . First, the interactions and communication between members increase . Common goals, interests and small size all contribute to this . In addition, group member satisfaction increases as the group provides friendship and support against outside threats . </P> <P> There are negative aspects of group cohesion that have an effect on group decision - making and hence on group effectiveness . There are two issues arising . The risky shift phenomenon is the tendency of a group to make decisions that are riskier than those that the group would have recommended individually . Group Polarisation is when individuals in a group begin by taking a moderate stance on an issue regarding a common value and, after having discussed it, end up taking a more extreme stance . </P> <P> A second, potential negative consequence of group cohesion is group think . Group think is a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in cohesive group, when the members' striving for unanimity overrides their motivation to appraise realistically the alternative courses of action . Studying the events of several American policy "disasters" such as the failure to anticipate the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (1941) and the Bay of Pigs Invasion fiasco (1961), Irving Janis argued that they were due to the cohesive nature of the committees that made the relevant decisions . </P>

The whole is greater than the sum of it's parts