ABSTRACT
Everyone knows that members of a group work harder when they are more motivated and that harder work yields better results. When a team pulls on a rope or pushes a heavy object it finishes the job faster if more vigor is applied. Most tasks however are not as simple as these; in more complicated cases “what everyone knows” is hardly sufficient. If a group’s activity calls for different contributions from separate members, greater use of energy may not be an important ingredient of effective performance, or may not be desirable at all, the amount of coordination among participants is more telling and excessive enthusiasm may reduce the care needed for smooth collaboration, ln a complex activity a group might not produce well even though its members earnestly desire it and have the required skills.
