Lab theoretician Norman Johnson has conducted scientific research on the subject of diversity and its effect on system performance. His research has been cited by members of the financial community, such as the Wall Street Journal, StockJungle.com, and Kiplinger's Personal Finance as well as Washington Technology, the business newspaper for government systems integrators.
New Yorker business columnist James Surowiecki has also featured Norm's work in his book, The Wisdom of Crowds. Investment professional Robert Hagstrom has also incorporated Norm's research into this book, Lattice: the New Investing.
Norm's research tested the concept that an environment of competition, commonly associated with natural selection and "survival of the fittest", is not the most conducive to higher system performance, especially in complex environments. Using simulations of collective problem solving, Johnson demonstrated that a large group of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences in a non-competitive environment yield better results.
He also discovered that mechanisms of mutualism and cooperation are instrumental in achieving sustained performance. It's interesting to note that the conclusions from Johnson's research can be applied to many, if not most, systems — economic, biological, or social.