The Power of Cooperation and Collaborative Actions in Addressing Adversities

​by; Jesus V. Sison

“Do two walk together, unless they have agreed to meet?”
March 26, 2022, it was a sunny Saturday morning. A young man called the attention of his father pointing that there were 4 bees flying around inside his room. The father addressed his son’s concern by capturing the four bees and releasing them outside the house. All the while, both father and son were comfortably doing their planned business for the whole day. Little did they know, when they arrived home, they were surprised that a colony of bees had already built their hive inside the son’s room. How could they build such hive in a short period of time?
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The fact, bees of a bee colony form a well-coordinated unit. Every single bee out of the thousands of honey bees, efficiently contributes to the survival of this “superorganism”. The optimized division of tasks and collaboration of the bees is a unique survival strategy  Every bee knows what to do and in sync to the whole system.

The above anecdote strongly suggests the demonstration of the power of cooperative processes between species involved in mutualistic interactions. It promotes the results of collaborative actions. It inspires the exploration of a similar role for soft interactions between firms and businesses in societies, or individuals with others.  Indeed cooperative processes are emerging as powerful mechanism to drive change, building, innovation and maintain diversity and stability in a broad array of structures. As to ecology, there is the emergence of cooperative processes as a powerful paradigm
The latest in a series of global issues both the pandemic and war on Ukraine have highlighted the importance of cooperation particularly international cooperation. Nations and governments were moved to harness their strengths and contribute for the sake of peace, tranquility and protection of human rights. There were massive movements of human resources and logistics. International cooperation displayed in grand form. The point is, our ability to cooperate successfully isn’t something which just happens automatically. It entails values and attitudes. Values and attitudes play a fundamental role in creating the right conditions for cooperation on shared global challenges. In a multifaceted and intricately connected world, effective action rests on relationships and networks that have been built over time on strong foundations. Cooperation happens if there is mutual trust, respect and understanding. Drawing on the global experience, values are extremely useful and are important to people and their priorities for international cooperation at a time of crisis. The framework as to sensitivity to cultural considerations are vital for relationships and international cooperation. A research showed that organizations that include families, different agencies have gained trust when they were seen as being respectful, open-minded and valuing difference in their engagement with each other, communities and organizations.

The power of model-ship and example is crucial, too. How far a person, institution or country appears to behave in line with their professed values. How they typically practice their core beliefs will affect the level of others’ trust in them. Values are important elements of the concept of cooperation. And cooperation is a power that effectively, efficiently and speedily accomplish planned things or projects. Cooperation enhances the ability to influence and persuade others to work harmoniously through selflessness and the power of attraction rather than coercion.

We have much to learn from realizing that the competitive processes and progressions that take such a pre-eminent role in our lives, lead to minor advantages. Instead, the real supremacy for innovation and major leaps forward rests with cooperation and collaborative processes. We have, in conclusion, much to learn from observing the bees.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.