Presentation for Cas Study

The Shackelton Case • The major project for the course will be the HBS case on

Ernest Shackleton’s voyage on the Endurance.

• This is a team project. As such, I expect you to apply course concepts to your teamwork on this case.

• The requirements: – On the last day of class, you will need to conduct oral discussion

and presentation of the case. • This needs to include your team as part of the discussion…not just ☺). • The presentation and discussion needs to be between 35 and 50

minutes.

– Your team also needs to prepare a written case analysis (15 pages max, double spaced; does not include references and appendices).

– The case is worth 40% of your final grade (equally divided between the oral and written portions).

The Shackleton Case • The voyage of the Endurance has captivated much

attention, especially by business leaders. There are lessons of management, leadership, teams and entrepreneurship within the story.

• The case provides background info on the expedition and events after its failure.

– The case is meant to serve as a resource, but there is quite a bit of information online about Shackleton.

– http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/25/business/leaders hip-lessons-from-the-shackleton- expedition.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

The Shackleton Case • As you prepare the case, I would like for you to be sure and address the following

issues/questions during the case discussion: – Background information

• Background (e.g., purpose of the original mission, competitors, social and historical context)

– Details of the original mission, and the new mission once things changed.

– Please be creative when addressing the leadership, team, and management issues illustrated by the Shackleton case, but please touch upon the basic questions below (this is NOT an exhaustive list, so please expand as you like). • How did Shackleton design his teams? What type of teams? • How did Shackleton and his team handle the change in mission? • Was Shackleton an effective leader? • Was Shackleton an effective manager? Why? • What can we learn from Shackleton in terms of leading during a How do you lead and manage in the

midst of a crisis?

• His mission changed dramatically, how did he handle this and get the team home alive? – What was his original mission? – What was his new “north star”? – When did he realize this?

• Massively changing endpoint. • Team changes, environment changes, how do you stay on the way to true north.

The Shackleton Case • What do we see in our day-to-day lives? Do

we see the “gorilla in the room” or do we get lost in the details.

• At one point, he owned the life of the men (a new task).

• Leadership lessons

– Once you see where you are headed (and convinced) then how do you stay on that path?