Robin Hood Case

1)What problems does Robin Hood have? What issues need to be addressed?

There are several key issues that Robin Hood has. The 1st problem addressed in the reading is the growing size of the Merrymen. Resources are becoming scarce to sustain the large size of the band. He is also having problems with discipline within in the band. Another issue is that travelers are starting to avoid the forest for fear of being robbed, which in turn has caused a decline in the Merrymen’s revenue stream. The last issue Robin Hood faces is the increasing power of the sheriff. Even while Robin Hood and his Merrymen have undermined the sheriff for the last year he has gotten stronger and more organized.

2)Do Robin Hood and the Merrymen need a new mission? New objectives? New strategy?

Robin Hood is definitely in need of a new strategy in response to what is happening. There are several external factors that have changed since the campaign against the sheriff was started. People have start avoiding the forest, despite the added cost, for fear of being robbed. Robin’s plan of to get rid of the sheriff has not worked as he thought it would. There is also an offer on the table from the barons that would get King Richard back in power as well as provide amnesty for Robin Hood and his band. Risks associated with this deal are extremely high but it would provide the solution Robin Hood seeks. A new mission calling for not only the removal of the Sheriff but also Prince John would be more suited to get the intended results Robin seeks.

3)What strategic options does Robin have? Is continuing with the present strategy an option or is the present strategy obsolete?

There are several different options the Robin must consider.
1) Align himself with the barons and free King Richard.
2) Switch to a fixed tax for all who pass through the forest.
3) Expand his looting territory.
4) Kill the sheriff.
His present strategy is not working. It has become obsolete as the year has progressed. With a larger group of Merrymen to feed, and the rich avoiding the forest Robin Hood must adapt to his changing environment are he will ultimately fail in his goal to rid Nottingham of the Sheriff.

4)What strategy do you recommend to Robin Hood to deal with the problems and issues he confronts?

The strategy that I recommend is that he immediately implements a larger area from which to loot if he wants to sustain his group of Merrymen. Scout the routes that the rich travelers are taking and rob them there. This will generate more revenue to continue to feed the Merrymen.

5)Why not try to end the campaign by killing the sheriff?

While this would satisfy Robin personally, this would not provide a true solution to what the Merrymen seek. After the sheriff is dead there would be another person there to take his place that would continue to the same thing.

6)What are the advantages and disadvantages of accepting the offer of the barons to assist in securing King Richard’s release from prison?

Advantages

-Amnesty if successful
-Fair Ruler back in place
-Provides an end to the campaign

Disadvantages
-Prince John could find out and retribution would be fierce.

7)What action plan do you recommend to Robin?

The ultimate goal of the Merrymen is to rid Nottingham of the crooked Sheriff. The only plan that will ultimately do this is to join with the Barons and free King Richard. This is a high risk – high reward option, but is the only one that could ultimately bring an end to the Sheriff and Prince John as well.

8)How should Robin implement the recommended plan? What action steps will need to be taken to make the recommended strategy work successfully?

To implement the plan effectively Robin needs to limit the size of his Merrymen. This way instead of using all the money the collect with their expanded area, to sustain them they can start put some of the money the collect into the coffer to get King Richard out of jail. A benefit of the limit on size is that the men will be easier to enforce discipline. Robin Hood should also try and keep a lower profile so Prince John will not find out he has joined forces with the Barons to free King Richard.