Question:

How can Robin improve communication?

Case 03. Robin Hood Joseph Lampel New York University t was in the spring of the second year of his insur- rection against the High Sheriff of Nottingham that Robin Hood took a walk in Sherwood For- est. As he walked he pondered the progress of the campaign, the disposition of his forces, the Sheriff's recent moves, and the options that confronted him. The revolt against the Sheriff had begun as a personal crusade. It erupted out of Robin's con- flict with the Sheriff and his administration. How- ever, alone Robin Hood could do little. He therefore sought allies, men with grievances and a deep sense of justice. Later he welcomed all who came, asking few questions and demanding only a willingness to serve. Strength, he believed, lay in numbers. He spent the first year forging the group into a disciplined band, united in enmity against the Sheriff and willing to live outside the law. The band's organi- zation was simple. Robin ruled supreme, making all important decisions. He delegated specific tasks to his lieutenants. Will Scarlett was in charge of intelligence and scouting. His main job was to shadow the Sheriff and his men, always alert to their next move. He also collected information on the travel plans of rich mer- chants and tax collectors. Little John kept discipline among the men and saw to it that their archery was at the high peak that their profession demanded. Scar- lock took care of the finances, converting loot to cash, paying shares of the take, and finding suitable hid- ing places for the surplus. Finally, Much the Miller's son had the difficult task of provisioning the ever- increasing band of Merrymen. The increasing size of the band was a source of satisfaction for Robin, but also a source of concern. The fame of his Merrymen was spreading, and new Copyright 1991. by Joseph Lampel. recruits were pouring in from every corner of England. As the band grew larger, their small bivouac became a major encampment. Between raids the men milled about, talking and playing games. Vigilance was in decline, and discipline was becoming harder to enforce. "Why," Robin reflected. I don't know half the men I run into these days." The growing band was also beginning to exceed the food capacity of the forest. Game was becoming scarce, and supplies had to be obtained from outlying villages. The cost of buying food was beginning to drain the band's financial reserves at the very moment when revenues were in decline. Travelers, especially those with the most to lose were now giving the for- est a wide berth. This was costly and inconvenient to them, but it was preferable to having all their goods confiscated. Robin believed that the time had come for the Merrymen to change their policy of outright confis- cation of goods to one of a fixed transit tax. His lieu- tenants strongly resisted this idea. They were proud of the Merrymen's famous motto: "Rob the rich and give to the poor. The farmers and the townspeo- ple," they argued. "are our most important allies. How can we tax them, and still hope for their help in our fight against the Sheriff!" Robin wondered how long the Merrymen could keep to the ways and methods of their early days. The Sheriff was growing stronger and becoming bet- ter organized. He now had the money and the men and was beginning to harass the band, probing for its weaknesses. The tide of events was beginning to turn against the Merrymen. Robin felt that the campaign must be decisively concluded before the Sheriff had a chance to deliver a mortal blow. But how," he won- dered, "could this be done? C-405