2021683

Contents
Executive Summary

1. Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

2. Restating the problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5

3. Defining the variables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7

4. Stating assumptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

5. Analysis of the problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9-16

6. Our model of teamwork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

7. Strenghts of our model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

8. Weakness of our model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

9. Inference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

10.Data sources and References (bibliography) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Problem Chosen 2020 Team Control Number

MCM/ICM

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Summary Sheet
D 2021683

The Theory of Synergy

“None of us is as smart as all of us”

- Ken Blanchard

The theory of synergy is designed to fulfill the objective of determining

the complex interactions between the team members of a team. As the
name of the theory suggest it functions on the basis of synergy or how
well the energy is synchronized of the team. A team has to face different
situations, different objectives, different methodology, different
approach and different outcomes at different time while achieving their
goal but what remains the same are the complex interactions which
happen amongst them.
What we have tried to do is to define such function which tries to
approximate the ability and inability of a person to work within a team
and get favorable results .Basically we tried to determine a function on
experimental basis how would a player’s work at that instant would
affect the team that is it maybe in a good way (with respect to football
say scoring a goal) and also in a negative way too (say conceding a
goal).
We also have taken both factors into consideration when it comes to a
team i.e. the dynamic one and the static one.

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Static one is the one which is predetermined and the dynamic one is the
one which is different for every situation.
Theory of synergy tries to not only approximate but also dynamically
determine which out of so many teams would be able to make it. We
have made analysis of Huskies with respect to the league which they
played last year and have tried to suggest some better configurations as
well as individual improvements for the sole purpose of winning the
championship.
“Talent wins games but teamwork wins championship”

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Restating the Problem

As societies become more interconnected, the set of challenges they face

have become increasingly complex. We rely on interdisciplinary teams
of people with diverse expertise and varied perspectives to address many
of the most challenging problems. Our conceptual understanding of team
success has advanced significantly over the past 50+ years allowing for
better scientific, creative, or physical teams to address these complex
issues. Researchers have reported on best strategies for assembling
teams, optimal interactions among teammates, and ideal leadership
styles. Strong teams across all sectors and domains are able to perform
complex tasks unattainable through either individual efforts or a
sequence of additive contributions of teammates.

One of the most informative settings to explore team processes is in

competitive team sports. Team sports must conform to strict rules that
may include, but are not limited to, the number of players, their roles,
allowable contact between players, their location and movement, points
earned, and consequences of violations. Team success is much more
than the sum of the abilities of individual players. Rather, it is based on
many other factors that involve how well the teammates play together.
Such factors may include whether the team has a diversity of skills (one
person may be fast, while another is precise), how well the team

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balances between individual versus collective performance (star players

may help leverage the skills of all their teammates), and the team’s
ability to effectively coordinate over time (as one player steals the

We need to design a model that helps coach of huskies to understand the

complex interactions that happen in the team not only between couple of
players but also amongst the team. Also we need to generalize the model
to determine the output of certain people working as a team to achieve
certain goals fruitful for them. We also need to analyze the strengths and
weakness of our model.

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Defining the Variables

Zp = Instantaneous output of player p

D = Dynamic factor that is used to determine the instantaneous output

S = Static factor that is used to determine the instantaneous output

D = (∑Zp/no. of players for which Z is considered)where p is for

determining player from both opponent team as well as from the same
team because the way player would interact would depend not only on
the way opponent team is playing but also how his own team functions.
p is only for those players that are interacting with him either directly or
indirectly.
It includes factor such as:
P = Factor to determine the effects of pressure due to teammates,
Coach and even the crowd on the players playing.
O = Positioning of team members of both the team, it also includes
the capabilities of the coach to position the correct person on the correct
place

S = since it is a predefined factor it includes factors like

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F = Fitness of the pth player

X = Skill

K = an arbitrary constant for every player summing up his personal

Strengths and weakness to play in a particular position or
Conditions like chemistry amongst our own players, respect for
fellow mates, practicing together to even understand how the
person playing with u plays etc.
**F>X if a player is unfit he would not be able to make any effect of his
presence on the field

Here K is not a significant factor but has a major role while we

determine how well or how bad would be a player on the field.

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Stating Assumptions

We assume that all the factors could just be represented by simple

percentages

Z would range from -50% to 100% depending on how circumstances he

is put onto
D would be ranging from -50% to 50%
S would be from 0% to 49%
K from 0% to 1%
NOTE: - Sometimes this factor of one percent may dominate the other
two factors but still it remains to be an exception in our theory.
Also we have assumed that player with higher skill set will win and not
the one with lower no. of X % which is not always true as there are
people which have outshined and have got better results .

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Analysis of the problem

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The above attached screen prints help us analyze how the players have
been interacting amongst themselves.
To analyze in a generic manner we have assumed that if we play better
than the average of other players then the player is good enough to stay
in the team and also would be good to give good results for the team.

Since, we have only one goalkeeper we need to have to have him in our
team as there is no other option.
When we talk of defense team huskies has been conceding more than the
number of goals the team is able to score so we have decided to keep 5
defenders .The defenders are D1 , D2 , D3 , D4 and D5.

We also have 3 midfielders so as to support the attack, defense and as

well as have a good holding mid field. They are M12, M1 and M3.

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The attackers have been doing good so we are keeping 2 forwards which
are F4 and F6.
The different formations suggested for Huskies to play in the upcoming
year in order to win the championship.
Basic Formation

(The direction of attack is mentioned in red.)

This is the basic formation proposed for the team Huskies. Where the
dot in white rectangle represents goalkeeper and the three following dots
are D1, D2 and D3. They are placed together as they have a triad that is
they tend to clear a lot balls when pushed into their defensive third .They
also have good passing amongst themselves too. Also D4 and D5 are
good at taking free kicks and crossing. Also they have good accelerating

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skills so they can press forward when needed to help there forwards. If
we want to substitute then we can have D7 as a good option.
Also we have 3 midfielders where each has a different role to play that is
one is defensive (M3 tends to participate with the defense) one is for
holding the midfield (M1 to hold the midfield and has) and the third one
to help the forward players (M12 as he has made some significant
attacking moves to help his team way to victory). In case of some
mishap we have M6 and M4 as considerable options to replace anyone
in the midfield because of their good holding capabilities.
For Huskies to attack we have F4 and F6 as they have played less
matches but have considerable impact on the field but we also keep F1
and F2 as substitutes as they tend to lose possession and make fouls and
are playing offside a couple of times in a single match.

Modification 1 to Basic Formation

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This is the first modification proposed for the team to attack and score a
goal as M12 is good with crossing and when it comes to skills of these
player they have got higher chances of scoring a goal while the
defenders need not press as there are sufficient number of people in the
attacking one third for Huskies.

Modification 2 to Basic Formation

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This modification is basically to confuse the opponents as there would

now be defenders holding the mid field while the midfielder would act
as strikers and forward would help them with couple of crosses.

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Key points to take into consideration while heating up the field:

 M1 should consider making less fouls and hold mid field position.
 D4 and D5 must only press in case if there is a budding attacking
move else what happens is that they would consider a counter
attack and might give opponent a golden chance to dominate.
 F1 and F2 lose ball possession when they start to attack so they
need to practice to dribble ball without losing possession.
 Goalkeeper sometimes misses the collection while leaving the line.

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Our Model

Our model is an abstract model which takes into consideration the

different perspectives of a team .team is all about synchronizing energy
and as our model states that if there is sync in energy there would be a
significant increase in dynamic part of the instantaneous function Z.
We can generalize this as well by just replacing fitness with health
conditions of the person and positioning with his ability to accept people
and judge only on the basis of work quality.

Our Model’s Strengths

We can analyze anything which involves team to work together either

for a football club or even for a multinational company. We also can
solve for Z if we keep the dynamic conditions constant and
experimentally determine K.

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Our Model’s Weakness

We cannot directly determine K and in some exceptional cases this

dominates the whole equation and becomes the one and only factor to
determine the output.
Also we are not always able to determine the dynamic factor for the
reason being we practically do not posses any control on the field once
the game has began and we tend to move with the flow.

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Inference
What we can make out from this theory or model is that it is
possible to determine or at least approximate all the interactions
that a team has to come across when it comes to work together
as a team .Also we need to know that this is only the analysis of
38 games and we cannot rely on so less trials as there might be
more number of errors when it comes to other matches taken
into consideration.
References
Quotes
http://www.inc.com/dave-kerpen/15-quotes-to-inspire-great-team-
work.html

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