Robin Hood faces several problems in the campaign against the Sheriff. The band is challenging to maintain due to its size, with confiscations serving as the main source of provision and revenue (Lampel, 2021). Simultaneously, travelers started avoiding the forest, making food procurement difficult (Lampel, 2021). Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s side has grown in strength, possessing the resources to discover the band’s weaknesses and having powerful allies, including the regent (Lampel, 2021). Thus, he has to address the issues of supply, revenue, the Sheriff’s advantages and make a decisive move against him.
Robin Hood’s band needs a new strategy, as the current one is not sustainable. As travelers avoid the forest, they cannot be a stable source of supply and revenue, and relocation would defeat the campaign’s purpose. The overall mission might need an updated focus on changing the system that is likely to remain even with the Sheriff’s defeat, and the objectives should be adjusted. For instance, gathering more people will probably not impact the outcome, considering the rival’s resources.
The present strategy is not viable, but the band has many options to consider, according to the analysis. Still, killing the Sheriff is no one of them, as he could easily be replaced by the system, which is majorly responsible for the poor population’s condition. Moreover, the violence is likely to hinder the barons’ support, who will probably become wary of the band. Some options include becoming involved with the plan to release King Richard, which has its advantages and risks. For example, accepting the offer will remove the imprisonment weakness, and the monarch may join forces with the band to change the system. On the other hand, Robin Hood and valuable combatants could perish during the venture, endangering the campaign; the failure will not bring any benefits, and King Richard’s behavior might contradict the band’s goals. It is still worth taking the opportunity while having mitigating measures prepared.
Robin Hood should use an integrated strategy involving the band’s reduction, the acceptance of the baron’s offer, and further disruption of the situation in Nottingham. Consequently, the leaders are to remove those contributing to the disarray and lacking loyalty, allocate the most skillful for the King Richard initiative, find the negotiable points if it fails or results in Richard’s non-compliance, and thwart the Sheriff’s intel-gathering attempts. Ultimately, the band will have enough resources either for a forceful move or a peaceful one.
Reference
Lampel, J. (2021). Case 25: Robin Hood. In A. Thompson et al. (Eds.), Crafting & executing strategy: The quest for competitive advantage: Concepts and cases (23rd ed., pp. C291-C292). McGraw-Hill Education.