This Robin Hood Case Study Assignment is related to the initial steps in the Strategic Planning Process. It will require you to integrate your learning on organizational values & culture, stakeholder evaluation, mission, vision, strategic goals, and SMART Objectives. T

In this Unit, we have presented material introducing initial important elements of the strategic planning process. Our focus this week is on the importance of understanding the stakeholders, the existing values and culture of the organization, and the development of quality mission & vision statements, strategic goals, and SMART Objectives. We are asking you to apply these concepts through an evaluation of the organization called Robin Hoods Band of Merry Men.

This assignment is based on the Robin Hood Case Study. In the Robin Hood Case Study, you will see that the organization, The Band of Merry Men, faces many challenges. The assignment calls for you to evaluate the Band of Merry Men as an organization, including its existing values, culture, and influential stakeholders, and to present your view of a mission, vision, an example strategic goal, and example SMART objectives for the Robin Hood organization going forward.

Note that in order to achieve a stated vision, multiple strategic goals would be required. Also, to achieve each strategic goal, multiple SMART objectives will be required. However, for this assignment, we are asking for only one example strategic goal and then two SMART objectives to help achieve the strategic goal. You will then be asked, in the conclusions section, to assess the alignment of the organizations culture with the mission, vision, strategic goal, and SMART objectives you have proposed.

Follow the outline of sections above and use section Headings for readability. You are free to add sections if you view them as appropriate. Your paper should be 3-4 pages long and must be written in third person language. Follow APA Guidelines and use professional writing.

Subject and Purpose of the Paper: Brief introduction of the Band of Merry Men and a description of the papers purpose.

Stakeholder Summary: Provide your view of the important stakeholders that need to be considered, and describe their impact and/or influence on the Band of Merry Men and the development of the future direction.

Description of the Organizations Culture: All members of the Band will bring their own personal values with them to Sherwood Forest. Organizational culture is then defined as those personal values that are shared by the organization as a whole. This section is to focus on describing these shared values (culture), and identifying from your view the strengths and weaknesses in the current culture that the Band embraces.

Proposed Mission: Provide your view of the mission of the Band of Merry Men through presenting a clear Mission Statement and a brief explanation.

Proposed Vision: Provide your view of the vision that the Band of Merry Men should seek to achieve in the future by presenting a clear vision statement and a brief explanation.

Example Strategic Goal: Present one example strategic goal that the Band should pursue to help it achieve the vision you presented. The strategic goal is to be presented as a broad-reaching statement. Include a brief explanation of the rationale for the strategic goal.

Proposed SMART Objectives: Present two example SMART Objectives that will help the Band of Merry Men translate the stated strategic goal to reality. The SMART objectives are to be presented as statements that fully meet S-M-A-R-T requirements. Refer to Unit 1 material presented on SMART objectives. Note that we are only asking for two SMART objectives, even though more than two would likely be required to achieve your stated strategic goal fully.

Conclusions: This section is to address the degree of alignment of the existing Culture of the Band of Merry Men with the mission, vision, strategic goal, and SMART objectives presented. Is the organization well positioned to seek its Vision, or will it face barriers going forward caused by the current culture?

CaseStudy:

ROBIN HOOD*

It was in the spring of the second year of his insurrection against the High Sheriff of Nottingham that Robin Hood took a walk in Sherwood Forest. As he walked he pondered the progress of the campaign, the disposition of his forces, the Sheriffs recent moves, and the options that confronted him.

The revolt against the Sheriff had begun as a personal crusade, erupting out of Robins conflict with the Sheriff and his administration. Alone, however, 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 only demanding 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 bands organization 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 merchants 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. Scarlock took care of the finances, converting loot into cash, paying shares of the take, and finding suitable hiding places for the surplus. Finally, Much the Millers 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 recruits poured 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 dont 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 bands financial reserves at the very moment when revenues were in decline. Travelers, especially those with the most to lose, were now giving the forest 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 confiscation of goods to one of a fixed transit tax. His lieutenants strongly resisted this idea. They were proud of the Merrymens famous motto: Rob the rich and give to the poor. The farmers and the townspeople, 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 better 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 wondered, could this be done?

Robin had often entertained the possibility of killing the Sheriff, but the chances for this seemed increasingly remote. Besides, while killing the Sheriff might satisfy his personal thirst for revenge, it would not improve the situation. Robin had hoped that the perpetual state of unrest, and the Sheriffs failure to collect taxes, would lead to his removal from office. Instead, the Sheriff used his political connections to obtain reinforcement. He had powerful friends at court, and was well regarded by the regent, Prince John.

Prince John was vicious and volatile. He was consumed by his unpopularity among the people, who wanted the imprisoned King Richard back. He also lived in constant fear of the barons, who had first given him the regency, but were now beginning to dispute his claim to the throne. Several of these barons had set out to collect the ransom that would release King Richard the Lionheart from his jail in Austria. Robin was invited to join the conspiracy in return for future amnesty. It was a dangerous proposition. Provincial banditry was one thing, court intrigue another. Prince Johns spies were everywhere. If the plan failed, the pursuit would be relentless and retribution swift.

The sound of the supper horn startled Robin from his thoughts. There was the smell of roasting venison in the air. Nothing was resolved or settled. Robin headed for camp promising himself that he would give these problems his utmost attention after tomorrows raid.