I have thought about this issue since few years back. When the faculty was reorganized and we become Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, I was at school undergoing professional training (latihan ikhtisas). I was not feel the “heat” as I was practically banned from coming to the faculty without any reason (Ayat sebenar dari seseorang yang telah lupa akan hal ini: “Jangan jejakkan kaki ke fakulti sepanjang waktu latihan ikhtisas“). I was gladly complied his demand as I thought it might be a good thing to give myself a break dealing with some people.
When we talk about synergy, one of the things that comes across my mind is “Is it possible to be done?” On papers, it might look nice and clean but the practicality of synergizing might not be a bed of roses. Of course, in any collaboration, synergizing and whatsnot, we are not immune from challenges. The problem is how are we going to make things better through overcoming challenges. It requires efforts and sacrifices that many are not willing to make. With differences that exist among individuals and groups of people, to have a synergistically interaction of different individuals are not easy even though we are similar in terms of being humans. So, the synergy among humans are not like those who are halobionts.
“The whole is greater than sum of its part” – Aristotle.
If we consider ourselves like an alphabet, it serves its functions as an alphabet but combination of alphabets create words and combination of words create sentences. In short, as a unit, we might serve our own function but combination of functions from other individuals create greater functions.
Synergy involves teamwork, collaborative working and cooperative working. But it is kind of sad when synergy can be turned into parasitic in nature, rather than symbiotic relationship. In most cases, from my own experience, the former is common. Being in the bottom rank of hierarchy, of course I am not on the benefitting ones.
Essence of synergy like value and respect differences, build on strengths, and compensate for weaknesses are highly valued. No doubt about that. But when parasitic relationship exists, all effort go right to the drain. Sad but it is the truth that people often choose to ignore.