MMS Associates is a telecommunications service provider. The company is currently redesigning its main office to accommodate six

newly hired salespeople. Some of the salespeople are expected to work in teams, so office assignments are very important. The table

below presents the from$-$to matrix showing the expected frequency of contacts between members of the new sales staff.

This block plan shows the assigned office locations for the six sales members.

Michael Marc, the President of MMS Associates, is considering an alternative plan:

$($a$)$ What is the ld for the alternative plan?