It is believed that competition is a effective strategy for studying or working. But it also there ia a opinion that competitive atmosphere has a bad influence on these processes. For my own opinion, having a supporting environment in the group is essential and profitable rather than competitive one.
On the one hand, it is obviously, competitiveness is a strong power for productivity, because people can get better results in studying or working being under pressure of competition with others. This type of goal-orientation may motivate people achieve better grades on study or better KPI at work. For example, in the most prestigious university in Russia, HSE, there is a rating system, that stimulating more deeper learning among students and growing-up determined well-qualified workes, which will be ready for stress at work.
On the other hand, competitive atmosphere produce unhealthy relationships and riverly, as well as it can decrease general well-being and quality of life among students or employees. From my point of view, the most significant disadvatage is a bad influence on mental health. I think, the competition is built on the comparison. Furthermore, recent studies from Harvard University showes that pupils, who compare themselves with others, have more problems with mentality, such a lack of self-confidence and low self-esteem. I concern that collaboration is a good alternative to competitiveness.
To summarize, competitive environment have a lot of advantages but it does not work effectively and favorable in long-term, because it causes a lot of mental problems and unfriendly climate in teams. In my opinion, people should motivate each other but they do not be rivals.