Synergy. A word derived from the 17th century Greek word Synergia, meaning cooperation. The modern usage of the word has focused on the idea of advantages and greater efficiencies. Such greater efficiencies are most commonly identified in a merger or a coming together of sorts, where all things indicate, post merger, that the presently existing whole is now greater than the sum of the former parts. Voila! Synergy.

The single greatest act of synergy came from Jesus Christ. Four thousand people attend on a hilltop. Seven loaves, a few small fish - no caterers anywhere to be seen. A few of these items are broken, brought together, a wave of the hands and behold, everyone goes home happy. Some were even heard to comment : " That was amazing, but I dont think he could host an Olympic opening ceremony."

In some cases a merger of parts can result in a lack of synergy. Consider the work of Victor Frankenstein. All those bones, fibres, muscles and veins thrown together and animated. It sounded like a good idea. But, alas no. Of course, in an instance such as this, you could try and run away from your work, but in the end you'd only be running away from yourself. Victor found that out the hard way. Author Mary Shelley described the scene:

A flash of lightning illuminated the object and discovered its shape plainly to me; its gigantic stature, and the deformity of its aspect, more hideous than belongs to humanity, instantly informed me that it was the wretch, the filthy daemon to whom I had given life.

With the benefit of hindsight, Victor Frankenstein should have stayed with his first idea,an e commerce catering venture. The worst thing that could happen would be to see Frankenstein cry out in anguish : "Oh, save me! Save me! I've ruined the fish."

The search for synergy is occuring against a backdrop of this new world of globalisation. Technology as usual leads the way. And within the field of technology certain leaders will emerge. Give me a firm place to stand, and I will move the earth. These sound like the words of Microsoft supremo Bill Gates, but no, they were in fact those of the one time Greek mathematician Archimedes.( 282-212BC ) Although Gates came on the scene around twenty two hundred years later than Archimedes, it's plain to see, that through the generations, geeks have remained bloody ambitious. Gates was just fortunate he didn't have to start from ground zero with an abacus. I'd like to see him turn the process of shifting a few beads into $US 55 billion today. "I registered the patent on these beads - but nothing."

The greatest instrument of globalsiation is the internet. And the internet is all about empowerment. It allows for the crossing of boundaries and the smashing of barriers. Acknowledging the significance of such, protesters prefer to focus their attack on the corporatisation of the internet. And their rhetoric can get quite hyperbolic. In fact , if the protesters got their own way, the internet would remain the exclusive province of computer boffins, cyber hackers and Star Trek groupies. As Spock himself would often say, "Interesting Jim, but not entirely logical." No, corporations are not evil - they just really, really like money. However, individuals can be evil. Evil individuals are just as likely to be discovered within a corporation as they are to be discovered within an S 11 action group. Come to think of it, I tend to think that Dave guy from S 11 is a little strange. Evil, of course, will not discriminate. A wolf will often work in a sheep's clothing. And as any wolf will tell you ; there's no shortage of sheep within an S11 action group. " Hey man , it's a veritable smorgasbord."

These views are solely the opinions of the writer, regardless of how close to the truth they may be.