Case: Robin Hood

Ayushi Agrawal (2012IPM024)Pankhuri Soni (2012PM074)

HRM@nia

Summary

• Robin Hood’s revolt against the Sheriff began as a personal crusade. First year of revolt; built a large body of men with grievances, made a disciplined fighting force housed in Sherwood forest. Fame spread as the band grew; discipline slackened and food was scarce. Revenues were running short as the rich were avoiding the forest.

• MISSION: “Rob from the rich and give it to the poor.”• OBJECTIVE: “To overthrow the rule of the Sheriff and

bring King Richard back to power.”

The Organizational Structure

Robin Hood

Will Scarlet Little John Scarlock Much, the Miller’s Son

Intelligence and scouting

Discipline and archery

Finances Food Supplies

Organizational Roles

Robin Hood Supreme Decision Making Authority

Will Scarlet:Shadow the Sheriff and his men, also collected

information on the travel plans of rich

merchants and abbots

Little John:Disciplinarian, In charge of the men’s archery training

Scarlock:Took care of the finances, Converting loot into cash.

Much:Provisioning the ever

increasing band of Merry men

SWOT ANALYSIS

• Rich travelers taking alternate routes

• Sheriff’s forces becoming stronger and organized

• Large numbers- Easier for Sheriff’s attack

• Possibility of infiltration by spies due to large numbers

• Fixed transit tax• Expansion of operational area• Kill the Sheriff• Immediate downsizing of the manpower• Training to grow food• Join hands with Barons

• Increasing size of the band (Food and supply depleting)

• Sheriff and Prince John together were powerful

• Revenues declining• Lack of Discipline

• Manpower• Scalar Chain: well defined Authority• Division of Work• Strong leader in Robin• Highly skilled in archery• Strong team of managers• Support from villagers

StrengthsWeakness

ThreatsOpportunities

The problems

1. Align the personal goals of the merry men with the goals of the organisation and design a strategy to attain the goal of bringing back King Richard

2. Necessary preparations had not been made to accommodate the now over abundant members of the organization. Discipline was an issue.

3. Declining revenues weren’t able to fulfil the needs of the organisation.

Alternatives available

1. Bring back King Richard: Join hands with the barons vs. Killing the Sheriff

2. Abundance of members: Proper structuring of the band vs. proper recruitment strategy

3. Increase revenues: Transit tax vs. Expansion of territory.

Analyzing Alternatives

1. Bring back King Richard

A. Join hands with the barons:Several barons had set out to collect ransom that would release King Richard from his jail in Austria. Robin had been discreetly asked to join in return of future amnesty. The various pros and cons are:

Pros: • Sheriff will be overthrown and his threat will be minimal• It would provide Robin Hood with amnesty and a resolution to the

campaign against the Sheriff.• King Richard will be able to answer to the peasant’s needs and

concerns

Cons:• The Barons or King Richard himself might not live up to their words• If the plan proves unsuccessful, King John will unleash his vicious

and volatile side to ensure Robin Hood’s demise

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B. Killing the Sheriff: The sheriff had the support of Prince John. Chances of capturing or killing him were remote. However, if not killed, it was unlikely that he would be removed from the office as he had powerful friends at court. Killing him has the following pros and cons:

Pros:• Satisfy personal thirst for revengeCons:• Would not lead to accomplishment of the ultimate

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A. Proper structuring of the band In order to meet the decreasing level of discipline and

vigilance Robin hood needs to put their recruitment process in order. A better way to do this is by recruiting supervisors and laying down HR policies for recruitment.

Pros:• Ease of disciplining the huge band of merry men• Increased vigilance Cons:• Might lead to delay in the decision making process

2. Abundance of members:

2. Abundance of members:

B. Proper recruitment strategyThere could no longer be an open door to any and all who wish to join.

Pros:• Skilled human force• Reduction in training costs and usage of various

resources.Cons:• Might lead to decrease in force• Might take up too much time.• Main objective might take a backseat.

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3. Increase Revenues:

A. Transit tax: Pros:• Funds would increase in the financial structure of the

organisation.Cons:• Idea resisted by his lieutenants.• Against their motto- “ Rob from the rich and give to the

poor.”• May lose the support of the poor and townspeople who

were a source of information.

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B. Expansion of territory: Pros: • The group has outgrown the Sherwood Forest. It

can no longer provide sanctuary for group of their size. Expansion would lead to new sources of revenue.

Cons:• It will dilute Robin’s control and supervision over

the group.• The group will come into the notice of the sheriff

and Prince John.

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Recommendations

1. Policy Revisions: • The band’s mission should be clearly stated. Was the

band initially created to fight against the sheriff’s administration or to help the poor by stealing from the rich? Or are these two points interconnected?

2. Franchising the organization to other parts of England

• This would address most of the issues faced by Robin's organization.

• They could continue to grow in size and increase revenues without depleting the resources of Sherwood Forest.

• If each of the new bands were smaller in size, the training could be more intense and discipline could be implemented again within the ranks of the organization.

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3. A program needs to be implemented for member acceptance

• This will help control the growth of the organization, ensure only people who have skills to offer will be accepted, and protect the organization from being infiltrated by Prince John's spies.

4. Killing the sheriff does not earn King Richard's release from his prison in Austria

• We can only assume that Prince John will appoint a new sheriff with equal power and similar agenda as that of his predecessor.

• To kill the sheriff would only shift focus away from solving the current issues facing the organization.

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5. Restructuring the Organization:• Currently the organisation is not organised

according to the size they’re dealing with. He is assisted by four people for the functions and is certainly under employed.

• It is evident that managing such a huge organisation is getting difficult for him and there may be certain functions that are neglected due to less supervisors and managers.

• Robin Hood needs to change the organisational structure. This will result in decentralisation of the control to some extent.

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New Organizational Structure

Level 3

Level 2

Level 1

Vigilance Supervisor

Training Supervisor

CashierRecruitment Supervisor

ShelterSupervisor

Food Supervisor

6. He should bond and increase his relationship with the farmers

7. He should try to get people from prince’s court on his payroll, acting as spies

8. There could be a reference system where a current member in good standing recommends the applicant.

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