ROBIN HOOD
Elisha Marking
MBA 687
Strategic Planning
Dr. Meadows
Belhaven University
November 22, 2014

ROBIN HOOD
Executive Summary
In its initial stages, Robin Hood’s personal grievance with the High Sheriff of Nottingham and his administration, was well carried out by his close knit group of Merry Men. Along the way however, Robin Hood began to take the stance that his strength against the Sheriff lie in the sheer quantity of the men who fought next to him; regardless of their internal motivations or aspirations all he desired from his men now was, “a willingness to serve” (Thompson, Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland, 2014).

Robin’s evolved strategy of enlarging the net for recruits, presented new difficulties for the band; provisions and funds continued to dwindle and as news of Sherwood Forest became common knowledge the wealthy avoided the area, leaving little goods for Robin and his men to confiscate.

Complicating matters further, was the political alliance between the Sheriff and the vicious Prince John, who had usurped the throne from King Richard the Lion Heart; a rule that despite its critics appeared to be no closer to an end. Robin needed to find a way to supply for his Merry Men before their cause was lost completely and in his reasoning the answer lay in a fixed transit tax; a notion his men felt to be anathema to their cause.

S.W.O.T Analysis
Internal Diagnosis - Strengths:
Robin Hood’s band are highly skilled in warfare; specifically archery.
The band has established themselves as a reputable force against the Sheriff, operating successfully with the support of the townspeople for over a year.
The band of Merry Men have a well-developed, loyal leadership team in: Little John (disciple/archery); Will Scarlett (scouting/intelligence); Scarlock (finances/provisions).
Robin Hood has a reputation as a strong leader with an eye for justice and men from all over England gravitate towards him to join his ranks.

Internal Diagnosis -Weakness:
While the band’s reputation draws more loyal followers by the day; food provisions, supplies and funding are rapidly depleting and no new method for sustainment has yet to be secured.
The current ruling power, Prince John, fully supports the sheriff; meaning more funds and provisions at his disposal with which to pursue Robin Hood’s band.
Due to the onslaught of new members; enemies could sneak in unawares as Robin and his men find it more difficult to pursue an individual relationship with each new member.

External Diagnosis - Opportunities:
Robin could join the Barons who plan a coup, by funding the release of King Richard the Lion Heart, from his Austrian jail.
Robin’s idea of a fixed transit tax would translated into immediate funding for his band.
Robin could downsize the camp by interviewing current members and pledges creating a leaner, albeit fiercer brotherhood of fighters.
Duties could be assigned to the men such as hunting; farming; and camp maintenance; all of which would increase provisions; while lessening the burden on the current leadership team.
The Merry Men could expand the camp’s regions outside of their current boundaries; perhaps each new geographic area having its own leader repotting to Robin; much like a franchise (Thompson, Peteraf, Gamble, Strickland, 2014).

External Diagnosis - Threats:
The sheer number of the men mean it’s hard for one man (Little John) to instill discipline and control among the ranks; much of the men are currently idle which could lead to laziness, brawling, or dissentions.
The wealthy, aware of the threat in Sherwood Forest, avoid the area draining the Merry Men of the loot they relied on to fund the band.
The Sherif and his men are fast becoming more organized and stealth in their tracking of Robin and his band; a matter not helped by the large disorganized status of Robin’s current team.
Robin is no longer personally identifying with his men, due to the sheer number of the encampment; spies could already be