Does too much competition hurt cooperation? How Singapore can find the right balance

The Mental Health Index reported by Telus Health revealed that more than half of workers in Singapore lack trusted relationships at the workplace, leading to feelings of isolation, which could be attributed to the competitive nature of Singaporean workplaces.  Competition and cooperation are commonly thought to be mutually exclusive. But striking a balance between the two can allow competition to spur productivity while ensuring organisational success through cooperation. 

Associate Professor Terence Ho from the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy suggests that thoughtful recalibration of competition and collaboration is needed in various aspects of school, work, industry, and politics. He adds that competition should be recognised and even encouraged for the value it can bring — but where it becomes excessive or dysfunctional, it should be dialled back with appropriate.

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