Just as both competition and cooperation can be beneficial to a group’s performance, too much of either may also hinder it. Hyper competitiveness is an excessive emphasis on defeating others to achieve one’s goals. Similarly, overly emphasizing cooperation can lead to mediocre results and groupthink. In the discussion below, explore when competition and cooperation are appropriate in group situations.

1. Describe a personal situation where competition enhanced the group’s climate and performance. Now describe a situation where competition hindered the group’s climate and effectiveness. What was different?

2. Describe a personal situation where cooperation enhanced a group’s climate and performance. Now describe a situation where cooperation hindered the group’s climate and effectiveness. What was different?