Leadership in Crisis
Sir Ernest Shackleton and the
Epic Voyage of the Endurance
Alliance University
Alliance School of
Business
Venkataraman K
Organization Behavior Assignment # 1, Date:18-Nov-2014
Overview
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (Aug,1914 ~ Oct,1916)
Milestones on Polar Expeditions (Mission were aimed to reach south
pole)
Objective of Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
The Protagonist : Sir Ernest Shackleton
Preparation for Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
Challenges foreseen by Ernest Shackleton before the expedition
Meticulous & Vital Preparation
Interview while selecting the Scottish Physician Dr.Alexander Macklin
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
Plan, Problems, Danger & Disaster and Missed Goal
Remembering Shackleton
Possible Solution
Leadership in Crisis : Shackleton s way (OBHR Concepts)
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
(Aug1914~Oct1916)
Milestones on Polar Expeditions (Mission were aimed to reach south
pole)
In 1895, 6th Geographical congress in London declared that understanding of
Antarctica to be the most urgent scientific issues of the era
Dec 1902, Scott & ES reach southernmost point attained by any expedition 350miles
of South pole
April 1909, ES Leads British Antarctic Expedition & trek to within 97miles of south pole
Dec 1911, Roald Amundsen & his team of 4 becomes 1st to reach south pole
Jan 1912, Scott & his team reach south pole & die on return trek
Objective of Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
Goal is to be first to cross Antarctic Continent
The Protagonist : Sir Ernest Shackleton
Born in 1874 in Ireland & he was enthralled by the idea
of man mastering nature and has fascination for sea
At 16 joined as boy, displayed self-confidence, scaled
the maritime ladder and Shackleton s audacity earned
him respect and promotions
Became member of National Antarctic Expedition (NAE) in 1901
Within 750 miles all
animal and plant life is
nonexistent
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
(Aug1914~Oct1916)
Challenges foreseen by Ernest Shackleton before the expedition
Dealing with Food, Emphasized the value of sugar, No Alcoholic stimulant
except tea/cocoa
Lack of Vitamin C, other nutrition & right combination of food results in many decease
like Scurvy etc
A 19-hour day is to be adhered to and save 25hrs in a week
8 hours of
2hrs rest, 1hr preparation & 8hrs sleep
Meticulous
&march,
Vital Preparation
Commissioned sealed pills of lemon juice, developed a Composite Cake which
produce 3000calories per cake with variety of ingredients
Sourced Quality equipment, clothing for the journey & buying only the latest
technology in polar wear
All the 22 crews were handpicked based on qualities of Optimism & Personal trait
and supported by his instinct for judging the character
Interview while selecting the Scottish Physician Dr.Alexander
Macklin
ES: Is your eyesight all right?... Why are you wearing spectacles?
Dr.Alexander : Many a wise face would look foolish without spectacles
ES : All right.Ill take you
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
(Aug1914~Oct1916)
Plan
First Ship (Endurance) to travel into Weddell Sea which bounded Antarctica,
deposit a crew of 6 men who would then journey overland across the
continent to the Ross Sea on the other side. Second Ship would sail directly to
Ross Sea and dispatch several men to lay supply for the second half of the
overland partys trek.
Problem, Danger, Disaster & Missed
goal
Jan 10,1915 the crew spotted Antarctica
land Dawson-Lambton Glacier and the
commander didnt stop there, hoping
instead to land at Vahsel Bay (200miles
southwest) to reduce the overland crossing
distance
Endurance within the sight of the desired
landing point (80miles offshore. Icebergs
forced to draw back from shore)
Wintering on the immobile Endurance
till July 13,1915 (Temp -34C). Boiler fire put
off & only maintenance /ordinary works done
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
(Aug1914~Oct1916)
Problem, Danger, Disaster & Missed
goal
Abandoning Endurance : Million of tons of
pack ice had pressed the ship on all sides &
weakened the timbers
Oct 27,1915, ES ordered crews to
abandon the ship & camped in thick ice
nearby (temp -26C)
ES decided to march the men across the
ice in the hopes of reaching Paulet Island
which is 350miles nothwest(to salvage
ration from storehouse of 1903
expedition)
3 boats salvaged from Endurance were
filled with supply till end of the ice pack &
launch an open boat journey to Paulet
island
Life on Ice: Nov 1, 1915, set up a
permanent camp(5 tents) & salvaged all the
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
(Aug1914~Oct1916)
Problem, Danger, Disaster & Missed
goal
Elephant Island: Men were ecstatic to spot
Elephant island after 16months
Launched a boat to South Georgia(800miles
away) to reach get the rescue. ES with 5
crew men left for South Georgea on April
24,1916 with ration for 6 weeks
Crew were plagued & fatigue forced ES to
land at west coast(uninhabited) 150miles
short of South.
Its a devil of a risk to claim up-down 5 peak
& finally reach May 20, 1916 South Georgia
Desperately scouted for funds to hire a boat
& reached Elephant Island on Aug 30,1916.
ES was very emotional & restless till he
rescued all the 22men
ES with 8 crew of former Endurance depart
London abroad QUEST as a leader of
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
(Aug1914~Oct1916)
Remembering Shackleton
Dedicated 22yrs of his life on polar work
which had brought him fame & knighthood
Discovered Beardmore Glacier & added
200miles of Antarctic coastline to the map
and conquered SCURVY
Never lost a man who was under his
protection
Fellow crew remember ES: ES was a proud
& dauntless spirited Englishman and demands
compelling loyalty. We would have gone
anywhere without a question just on his order
Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
(Aug1914~Oct1916)
Possible Solution:
Jan 10,1915 the crew spotted Antarctica land
Dawson-Lambton Glacier and the
commander didnt stop there, hoping instead
to land at Vahsel Bay (200miles southwest)
to reduce the overland crossing distance
Had ES launched the boats to Vahsel Bay(Jan
10,1915), he could have easily trekked the
250miles through Land to achieve his goal of
first ever Imperial Trans-Antarctic
Expedition
Leadership in Crisis
:Shackleton s way
(OBHR Concepts)
Diversity & Demography
All 22 crew members were hand picked from 6 different countries like
England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand & United States
Apart from common maritime experience the profession of the crews varied
from Surgeon, Geologist, Meteorologist, Physicist, Biologist, Photographer,
Artist, Carpenter & Cook
Many of them lacked Polar expedition experience & 1st time to see the pack
ice, floes & ice berg
Networking
& People
Skill
The crew carry
a perceived
social & professional disparities among themselves
First week on board, all the crew members are surprised by interaction ES
have had with them. ES had very intimate discussion with everyone to know
about them, their past, skill, hobby and also shared his love of poetry into
conversation on deck.
Quickly the crews gave a good-natured nick-name Boss
Attitude, Authentic, Authoritarian & Transformational
Leadership
Demanded unquestioning loyalty and responsiveness to his orders, avoiding
direct arguments or negotiations with his men
Wild, Shckletons second in command and most trusted mate of crew. The
crew approaches Wild instead of ES on any complaints & problems due to
Leadership in Crisis
:Shackleton s way
(OBHR Concepts)
Resolving Conflict (Interpersonal)
Wintering on the Endurance
9months long wait on Endurance with its boilers fires
off
Dreaded the effects of idleness and boredom on a
crew which has no responsibilities or routine
Insisted to maintain the regular & ordinary duties as
closely as possible like, keeping anchor free of rust,
swabbing the decks/hulls, organizing and rationing
supplies and ordered to hunt for seal/penguin
whenever supply of fresh meant ran low.
Conflicts: Waiting out the winter aboard an inert
ship was extremely unpleasant. Physical &
Psychological discomfort owing to the .cramping of
the work and forced association with amiable crowd
who are not the scientific staff
The situation were tensed & flared up at times,
when they were
forced to reconciled to their shared
situation when everyone had different specialties
Leadership in Crisis
:Shackleton s way
(OBHR Concepts)
Resolving Conflict (Interpersonal)
Wintering on the Endurance
Achieving Group Cohesiveness & Establish
close relationship:
Deviation from military/maritime norms, ES had
ordered Officers, Scientists and sailors to share the
manual drudgery on ship equally
For few of them keeping aside the pride of their
caste/position power etc. ., were very tough.
Sharing the labor worked well to extinguish
jealousies among crew and humbled one & knockout all any last remnants of false pride.
Leadership in Crisis
:Shackleton s way
(OBHR Concepts)
Intuitive Decision Making & Motivation
Abandoning Ship, Life on Ice, Fight the Death & Desperation to
reach shore
ES Quoted I realized the loneliness and penalty of leadership
Intuitive Decision Making
Although Worsley suggested to camp on the nearest floe and wait for the ice
drift to carry them to the island (might be safer),.ES ordered a march on ice
by dragging the 3 salvaged boats (with supply) as it ensures the march
towards land & safety instead of idling on ice.
Called off the 1st grueling trek & made a permanent camp (5 tents) and
ordered a 2nd march after realizing a eastward drift of floe.. The 2nd march
proved very costly as the crew were getting Angry, exhaustive, discouraged &
plaugued and challenged the decision of ES.
ES review the situation & announced to pay in full for each day until
they reach safety (legally ES is not obligated to pay the team for their time
after the ship was lost)
ES announced the need for change in plan as march didnt yield much
progress and the crew were seriously worn & strained.. ES has changed the
destination 4th time & decided to use southeast wind to reach Elephant Island
Leadership in Crisis
Sir Ernest Shackleton and the
Epic Voyage of the Endurance
Alliance University
Alliance School of
Business
Venkataraman K
Organization Behavior Assignment # 1, Date:18-Nov-2014
