There is certainly value coming out of interacting and socializing, when used properly. I've never really been fond of groupthink though... it was thus interesting to come across this quote from Steve Woz:
Here's the crux of it:
You’re going to be best able to design revolutionary products and features if you’re working on your own. Not on a committee. Not on a team.
Very interesting article on this topic and the "rise of the new groupthink" - www.linkedin.com/pulse/rise-new-groupthink-power-working-alone-susan-cain where the value of both the social interaction and individual thinking are balanced out.
Here's the full quote:
Most inventors and engineers I’ve met are like me—they’re shy and they live in their heads. They’re almost like artists. In fact, the very best of them are artists. And artists work best alone where they can control an invention’s design without a lot of other people designing it for marketing or some other committee. I don’t believe anything really revolutionary has been invented by committee. If you’re that rare engineer who’s an inventor and also an artist, I’m going to give you some advice that might be hard to take. That advice is: Work alone. You’re going to be best able to design revolutionary products and features if you’re working on your own. Not on a committee. Not on a team.