The article explores how group efforts can be affected when the success of the group depends on the best performer. The researchers looked at situations where individuals in a group contribute to a common goal, with some members putting in more effort than others. They found that when everyone knows the costs of effort, the group tends to have a balanced mix of high and low contributors. However, when effort costs are kept private, the group tends to have a more uniform level of contribution. In both cases, the outcomes are not as efficient as they could be, but the researchers suggest ways to improve efficiency in group efforts.