Negative synergy occurs in groups, committees, and other joint efforts for a number of reasons. Groups commonly experience negative synergy because group decisions are often reached more slowly, and thus may be more expensive to make than individual decisions. The opportunity costs for having a group of high-paid executives spend an afternoon in a meeting rather than in more productive endeavors can be quite high. Negative synergy can also occur in group decisions if an individual is allowed to dominate and control the group decision. Also, groupthink—the pressure to conform—may cause the group to strive for harmony instead of evaluating information and alternative courses of action honestly and objectively.