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 Year 1 Year 2 Change

Revenue 13.4 12.1 -1.3
Expenses 10.0 11.5 +1.5
Coffers 3.4 .6 -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)
Opportunities
Expand into other forests,
spreading the revenue
base
Weaknesses
Unable to sustain growth
(limited resources)
Lack of familiarity with all
org members
Threats
The sheriff is getting
stronger, increased
competition
Prince John is paranoid,
could act irrationally
Barons could undermine
Robin’s efforts
Robin Hood: Alternatives
TOWS Matrix
Opportunities
SO Strategies: Kill the Sheriff
• Wipe him out, no more problems
Strengths
• Has the men to do it
• When the sheriff is gone, disband
WO Strategies: Limit size of band
Weaknesses:
• Turn the fighting band into a group
of elites
• Maintains discipline
• Solves food issues
• Basically, curtail growth
Threats
ST Strategies: Join the barons
• Has the fighting force
• Get access to capital markets
• Maybe ends the conflict quicker
WT Strategies: Disband
• 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 band’s revenue stream. This, along
with other changes in the external environment is making the
band’s business model obsolete. These changes must be
addressed along with the structuring and training of the ever-
growing 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, Robin’s 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

Sheriff’s association is devoid of values. Also, with the Sheriff’s 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?

Working with the barons to free King Richard would 
provide Robin Hood with amnesty and a resolution to 
the campaign against the Sheriff.  However, if the plan 
proves unsuccessful, King John will unleash his 
vicious and volatile side to ensure Robin Hood’s 
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
gang’s 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!