Robin Hood

Presented by
Sumanta Bandyopadhyay
MBA(FINANCE), 2ND YEAR, II SEMESTER
DEPT. OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
UNIVERSITY OF KALYANI

Robin Hood: Organizational Profile

Robin Hood (1938)

Brief History

First year of Revolt: built a large body of men with grievances; made a
disciplined fighting force; housed in Sherwood Forest
Robin ruled supreme; had lieutenants to whom he delegated functions
Fame spread; the band grew
As the band grew, discipline slackened and food was scarce.
Revenues were running short as the rich were avoiding the forest
Barons want to overthrow Prince John, bring King Richard back, and want
Robin Hood to help them in exchange for amnesty
Something had to change, but what?

Robin Hood: Financial Indicators

The Changing Forest
First year, did well. Small organization, growth was
steady, revenues consistent, stockholder support
No competition
Company
Revenue
Expenses
Coffers

Year 1
13.4
10.0
3.4

Year 2
12.1
11.5
.6

Change
-1.3
+1.5
-2.8

Robin Hood: The Problem(s)

Sheriff is getting stronger; more men
and money
Band is running out of money
Food is scarce
How do we decisively end the conflict
before the Sheriff regains control?

Robin Hood: SWOT

Strengths
Strong leadership
Large band of well-trained
fighting men
Support from
stockholders (the peasants
and farmers that hate the
Sheriff)

Weaknesses
Unable to sustain growth
(limited resources)
Lack of familiarity with all
org members

Opportunities
Expand into other forests,
spreading the revenue
base

Threats
The sheriff is getting
stronger, increased
competition
Prince John is paranoid,
could act irrationally
Barons could undermine
Robins efforts

Robin Hood: Alternatives

TOWS Matrix

Weaknesses:

Strengths

Opportunities

Threats

SO Strategies: Kill the Sheriff

ST Strategies: Join the barons

Wipe him out, no more problems

Has the men to do it
When the sheriff is gone, disband

Has the fighting force

Get access to capital markets
Maybe ends the conflict quicker

WO Strategies: Limit size of band

WT Strategies: Disband

Turn the fighting band into a group

of elites
Maintains discipline
Solves food issues
Basically, curtail growth

Give up the cause, return to

normal life
Robin flees to another country to
escape punishment

Robin Hood: Questions.

1. What problems does Robin Hood have, and what issues need to be addressed?
2. Do Robin Hood and the Merrymen need a new mission, new objectives, a new
strategy?
3. What strategic options does Robin Hood have? Is continuing with the present
strategy an option or is the present strategy obsolete?
4. Why not try to end the campaign by killing the Sheriff?
5. What are the pros and cons of accepting the offer of the barons to assist in
securing King Richard's release from prison?
6. What action plan would you recommend to Robin?
7. How should Robin implement the recommended plan, and what steps will need
to be taken to make the recommended strategy work successfully?

1. What problems does Robin Hood have/

what issues need to be addressed?
Robin Hood has many issues that need to be addressed. The
most immediate problem is that the band is overstaffed and
with insufficient resources to sustain it. Just as the numbers
of Merrymen are growing, travelers are beginning to find
alternate routes through the forest to avoid apprehension,
causing a decline in the bands revenue stream. This, along
with other changes in the external environment is making the
bands business model obsolete. These changes must be
addressed along with the structuring and training of the evergrowing band of Merrymen. In short, Robin needs to select a
new strategy and rally the Merrymen behind the cause,
training new members and practicing change management to
get the older members on board.

2. Do Robin Hood and the Merrymen need a new

mission? New objectives? A new strategy?
Robin Hood and his band are in need of a fresh strategy in response to external
happenings. For instance, travelers are beginning to avoid the forest, despite
added cost and inconvenience, to protect their belongings. Also, Robins plan to
force the Sheriff out of Nottingham by causing unrest is not working. Indeed, the
Sheriff is using powerful connections to apply added pressure to Robin and the
Merrymen. To further complicate matters, some of the barons that appointed
Prince John to the throne are now campaigning to clandestinely raise the ransom
to free King Richard. These barons have offered Robin Hood the chance to help
in this mission in exchange for future amnesty. While the return of King Richard
and the ousting of King John is what Robin wants, the risks involved in such a
deal are very high. The unofficial mission of the gang is rob from the rich and
give to the poor. However, the true goal of the organization is to remove the
amoral Sheriff from office, as evidenced by the consideration of Robin to institute
a fixed transit tax. A more appropriate mission would be rid Nottingham of the
corrupt King John and Sheriff. The gang also needs to outline some objectives,
as this has not been done in the past. For example, each Merryman shall produce
enough loot each day to pay for his own food.

3. What strategic options does Robin Hood have?

Is continuing with the present strategy an option or
is the present strategy obsolete?
In regards to strategy, Robin Hood must weigh the benefits and risks of the
following:
I) Form a strategic alliance with the barons to rescue King Richard
II) Expand the organization into areas outside Sherwood Forest
III) Kill the Sheriff as a defensive strategic move
IV) Switch to a fixed transit tax for an offensive strategic move
The current strategy of the group is becoming obsolete at a hurried pace,
as wealthy patrons are avoiding the forest. With a growing army of men
to feed, Robin must develop a new strategy or significantly alter current
practices.

4. Why not try to end the campaign by killing the

Sheriff?

Robin has considered killing the Sheriff to end the feud, but decided against it
because it would only satisfy his thirst for revenge without improving the matter.
The next Sheriff would undoubtedly be just as bad if not worse because the
Sheriffs association is devoid of values. Also, with the Sheriffs high-powered
friends and increasing resources, the chances of succeeding in the slaying are dim.
If there is an unsuccessful attempt on the life of the Sheriff, retribution will be
fierce.

5. What are the pros and cons of accepting the offer

of the barons to assist in securing King Richard's
release from prison?
WorkingwiththebaronstofreeKingRichardwould
provideRobinHoodwithamnestyandaresolutionto
thecampaignagainsttheSheriff.However,iftheplan
provesunsuccessful,KingJohnwillunleashhis
viciousandvolatilesidetoensureRobinHoods
demise.

6. What action plan would you recommend to

Robin?

To achieve the goals of the organization and

return to a law-abiding life, Robin should accept
the offer of the barons to work on freeing King
Richard.

7. How should Robin implement the recommended plan?

What action steps will need to be taken to make the
recommended strategy work successfully?

While this is the riskiest strategy, the rewards are

great. To implement the plan effectively, Robin
Hood needs to immediately send some of the
new men home, so as not to attract any more
attention to the group. With the remaining
members, Robin Hood should spend some of the
gangs free time

Robin Hood: Recommendations

Robin and one of his

merry men

Recommendation:
Join the barons
take a chance on getting King Richard back and getting rid of
John and the Sheriff in one fell swoop
Get capital to grow the business and feed the troops

Robin Hood: Case Update

Maid Marian
Robin joined the barons.
King Richard was freed and reclaimed the throne
Prince John was exiled and the Sheriff lost his job; he now
cleans pigsties for a living.
Robin was exonerated and lives in a large mansion on the
edge of Sherwood Forest, enjoying life with his wife (Maid
Marion), three kids, two horses, and a dog named Jack.

Robin Hood: The End

Thank You!