ABSTRACT

Introduction 'How can we achieve better organisational integration in the search for health gain for individuals and their com m unities?' The one-word title of this chapter suggests the answ er to this question. But despite its brevity it is a complex and not a simple answer. To introduce the complexity involved consider the following familiar story which echoes Einstein's observation 'tha t we should m ake things as simple as possible, but not simpler'. It is w orth retelling in full because it helps our understanding of a num ber of the essential facets of synergy.