In Jim Rutt's conception, 'collective action' refers to the coordinated efforts of a group of individuals who come together to achieve a common goal that would be challenging or impossible for any of them to accomplish alone. Rutt emphasizes the interplay of diverse skills, knowledge, and resources that each participant brings, creating a synergy that amplifies their collective capacity. He observes that effective collective action often hinges on robust communication, mutual trust, and shared commitment to the objective. Rutt also notes the significance of emergent properties, where the group's actions and outcomes cannot be merely reduced to the sum of individual contributions, thus reflecting a complex adaptive system. Hence, in his view, collective action is a dynamic and multifaceted phenomenon instrumental in driving societal evolution and problem-solving.

See also: collective intelligence, emergence, evolution