Synergy

Definition There are different definitions of synergy. Some of them are:

• Synergy is the difference between the combined effect and the sum of individual effects resulting from the interaction of a group of humans, agents or forces.
• Synergy, or Synergism[?], is the phenomenon of two or more discrete influences or agents acting in common to create an effect which is greater than the sum of the effects each is able to create independently
• Synergy is the excess stemming from cooperation.
• "Synergy means behavior of whole systems unpredicted by the behavior of their parts taken separately" as given in Buckminster Fuller's book "Synergetics".

Examples

Interacting Humans

Person A alone is too short to reach an apple on a tree and person B is too short as well. Once person B sits on the shoulders of person A, they are more than tall enough to reach the apple. In this example, the synergy would be one apple :-)