{"id":35194,"date":"2026-06-09T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leadersinsport.com\/performance-institute\/?post_type=article&p=35194"},"modified":"2026-06-05T14:48:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T13:48:19","slug":"the-goal-is-not-maximum-but-optimal-integration","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/leadersinsport.com\/performance-institute\/articles\/the-goal-is-not-maximum-but-optimal-integration\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018The Goal Is Not Maximum But Optimal Integration\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\n 9 Jun 2026 <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>Articles<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u2018The Goal Is Not Maximum But Optimal Integration\u2019<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n \n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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At a recent Leaders Virtual Roundtable, Dr Robin Thorpe pondered the risk when performance teams are both too independent and overly integrated.<\/p>\n \n \n \n

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By John Portch<\/h6>\n
\u2018Integration\u2019 has become a buzzword and, as Dr Robin Thorpe observed, people in high performance are \u201cencouraged to maximise integration at every possible opportunity\u201d.<\/h6>\n

Thorpe, who has worked across multiple elite high-performance environments, recently led a virtual roundtable for performance directors entitled \u2018Finding the Balance Between Integration & Excellence\u2019.<\/p>\n

He began with a short presentation in which he argued that while integration is often favourable, it is not always the case; there are times when excellence can be achieved without the collaboration of an entire multidisciplinary team.<\/p>\n

Thorpe illustrated his point with reference to Ryan King\u2019s research on \u2018tame\u2019 and \u2018wicked\u2019 problems. He then explained each in turn:<\/p>\n

Tame problems<\/strong> can rely on specialist knowledge alone when there are clearer, more defined problems that can be solved by one discipline or a small expert group. These do not require extensive collaboration.<\/p>\n

Wicked problems<\/strong> are complex, ambiguous or a consequence of several factors. They represent \u201cchallenges where having more specialist perspectives is clearly a positive method to try and answer or come up with the outcomes that we\u2019re looking for\u201d.<\/p>\n

A good leader, Thorpe explained, can spot the problem and organise the correct response, with the goal being the optimum rather than maximum integration.<\/p>\n

Too often, however, teams adopt the wrong approach; and there are several risks that can emerge as a result of too little or too much integration. Thorpe set out these risks on the following continuum:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Teams should strive for the \u2018optimal\u2019 centre ground.<\/p>\n

Thorpe then shared two experiences where his organisations at the time occupied the two extremes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Example 1 \u2013 too independent<\/strong><\/p>\n