Why Can't We Collaborate on Stress Midterms?

Collaboration has two rather different meanings. The negative meaning of collaboration is working with an enemy in treason. An example of negative collaboration is how, during World War II, France and other countries cooperated with Germany once they were conquered.

The positive meaning of collaboration is working together toward a common goal. This kind of collaboration can be a very valuable practice.

Military tactics provide some of the best examples of positive collaboration. Maybe that's because most people who don't collaborate in war don't live to share their ingenious tactics. While military operations are insanely complex, a simplified tactic is very helpful in explaining what collaboration is all about, and how valuable it is.

Infantry alone can't accomplish much, since snipers, artillery, mines etc. easily pick them off. Long-range artillery is clumsy and useless in close combat. When artillery and infantry work together, they are very effective, since the artillery can blow away the infantry's threats from a distance, and the infantry can hide behind the artillery while protecting it from close-range threats.

The same tactic applies for those fighting for success in businesses. Some people are good at one thing, while others are good at another. If one person tackles a problem alone, he might get stumped by a problem that someone else would solve easily. When the right people work together, their strengths make up for each other’s weaknesses.

Another benefit of collaboration is that when people share their work, others who are doing something similar won’t have to reinvent the work done, but just adapt it to their project. This saves money, time, labor, and stress-induced heart attacks.

Unfortunately, collaboration can encourage a serious problem: laziness. Some people don’t take pride in their work when they work in groups. They let others do the work for them, or are sloppy since they don’t feel responsible for their work. Others might hog the work, and not let other people contribute. And then there are the personal conflicts that can erupt.

Overall though, collaboration is a very valuable technique. However, it has to be done right, so that everyone contributes to the goal and does quality work.