What is the process called when individuals work together for a common purpose?

The process where individuals come together to work towards a common purpose is known as collaboration. Collaboration involves individuals or groups sharing their skills, knowledge, and resources to achieve a mutual goal. It emphasizes a joint effort wherein all participants contribute actively and engage in discussions to reach effective outcomes.

This shared effort fosters creativity and innovation as diverse perspectives are incorporated, ultimately leading to more comprehensive solutions.

While cooperation, which often refers to individuals or groups working together but may not involve the same level of joint effort or shared decision-making, does play a role in teamwork, it does not capture the full essence of collaborative effort. Coordination refers to organizing people or groups to ensure that they work together effectively, which can happen without true collaboration. Conflict represents a disagreement or struggle, which is the opposite of the collaborative spirit needed for a common purpose. Thus, collaboration best defines the active and impactful joining of efforts towards a shared goal.