Some old-fashioned managers believe they can increase production by encouraging employees to compete against each other. They are often right for a short time. In the long haul though, internal competition is detrimental to an organization's intrinsic needs.
Competition makes people adversaries instead of partners.
Competing employees hoard technical information and keep helpful tips to themselves, negating continuous improvement efforts. Organizations are better served with systems that emphasize cooperative methods to improve product quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Competitive drive is an innate part of human nature and can be used to strengthen team cohesiveness. Team members can satisfy their competitive spirit by striving collectively to better previous team accomplishments. And like a dash of pepper on your favorite dish, a touch of fun-natured competition can spice up team life.