Shackelton Case Study
Essay title: Shackelton Case Study
1. The primary questions and issues you debated and discussed (ie. what did your team think was most relevant about the case?).
Issues discussed:
Impetuous hiring process
One member commented
He didnt have a set of hiring criteria.
Hired crew based on instinct and previously worked together in the past
Due to lack of time had 5000 applicants but didnt review all of them.
Other members thought it was a well rounded approach
Separated into 3 groups and only focused on the best group
Looked for humor
Required significant mental strength for what was ahead
Failures in planning and initial execution of the expedition:
Chose the Weddell Sea to deposit crew, where other expeditions resulted in failure due to conditions.
Reservations about ship used, because of overweight stern.
Taking sled dogs without a trainer, when Shackelton and his crew were unskilled with sleds.
Ignored warnings regarding ice flows.
Shackelton did not let his crew sit idly by just passing the time
People naturally thrive better when there is something to do
On the ship everyone always had something to do
When stuck in the ice he went one step further and made all the men equal in the duties each was assigned to. By doing this, Shackelton created equality among all the men (other then himself), thereby eliminating this potential problem area from causing a mutiny.
One member called this a smart decision instead of a leadership trait.
Another member said good leaders make smart decisions thus he was a good leader.
Use of Rewards to Maintain Unity
He declared every man would be paid in full when they reached safety
Used food and powdered milk as rewards
Rewards and recognition, regardless of how small, are strong motivators of people. This is a good lesson for all managers/leaders to acknowledge.
Is Good Leadership Based on What you are Facing?
Leadership is really just relevant to the situation you find yourself in
Shackelton would not be considered a good leader if this story stopped before the crisis
He did have some admirable qualities prior to the crisis, but they do not some up to conclude that he was a good leader
It is only though the crisis (the right situation presenting itself) that we then turn the corer to define him as a good leader.
Leadership is situational, we judge based on both the individual “and” the environment, you can not judge one without the other.
2. Your thoughts, insights, and/or conclusions about Shackletons leadership.
Insights:
He failed at every major expedition or did he?
Failed to reach the South Pole
He conquered scurvy
He returned with all his men
He discovered the Beardmore Glacier
added 200 miles to the map of Antarctic coastline
He had earned fame and was knighted
He was a failure for the ultimate goal of the South Pole but his successes benefited many other future expeditions and leadership ideas.
He was a crisis manager
Nobody want a crisis manager right?
Many different types of leaders exist
He would make a good HR, Risk or Operational manager because someone would be there to provide/manage the funds and provide guidelines to work in.
Equated