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 KPIs 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 workers who will be ready for stress at work.
On the other hand, competitive atmosphere produces unhealthy relationships and rivalry, 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 that competition is built on comparison. Furthermore, recent studies from Harvard University show that pupils who compare themselves with others have more problems with mentality, such as a lack of self-confidence and low self-esteem. I believe that collaboration is a good alternative to competitiveness.
To summarize, competitive environment has a lot of advantages but it does not work effectively and favorably 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.