First Order Synergies
(See also relationships, second order synergies, synergies of synergies and other keywords)
Synergy in common usage
- Most people understand synergy in the way the ancient Greeks used it.
- i.e. the Greek word synergos (συνεργός) meant things “working together”.
- But this implies a combinatorial pay-off.
- As Aristotle (384 to 322 BCE) put it: "The whole is more than the sum of its parts."
- This commonly describes simple systems with mutual or reciprocal benefits.
- Peter Corning offers the example of emperor penguins huddling together for warmth. (Corning, 1983)
- In most cases the abundance is inward facing, therefore the system may not deliver benefits beyond itself.
- We therefore refer to first-order synergies as distinct from more bountiful versions.
- proceed to second order synergies
References
- Corning, P., 1983, The Synergism Hypothesis, Institute for the Study of Complex Systems, Palo Alto