In 1914, Ernest Shackleton set sail aboard the Endurance with a crew of 27 men – their goal to be the first team ever to cross the continent of Antarctica.
While not successful in achieving their initial trans-Antarctic dreams, the Endurance expedition, its crew, and its leader – Ernest Shackleton – have
nevertheless gone down as one of the greatest stories of human survival, teamwork, and leadership in the history of human exploration.
In this activity, you will explore the details of the Endurance expedition and you will examine its leader, Sir Ernest Shackleton, and his actions through the
course of the expedition through the lens of different leadership theories discussed in your management textbook. Your instructor will provide you with
directions for obtaining this background case information about Shackleton’s Endurance expedition (i.e., a case reading, and/or video documentary about the
expedition shown in class or link to online video to watch prior to class). After reviewing the case reading (or video), you will conduct the case analysis
portion of the assignment by completing the table (please see below under “Case Analysis”), of examples from the Shackleton case which illustrate the
different leadership theories from your textbook.
Activity Steps
• Step 1: Review the textbook chapter on leadership, focusing on different theories and perspectives on what makes a “great leader great.” Specifically, make
sure to understand the key defining concepts behind the “trait-based,” “behavior-based” and “contingency” or “situational” theories of leadership.
• Step 2: Read the Shackleton Endurance case materials provided to you by your instructor.
• Step 3: Conduct “Case Analysis” by completing formatted APA paper of at least 2-5 pages of leadership theories, examples from the Shackleton case
illustrating each theory, and your rationale for how/why each example fits with the given leadership theory. Include a title page and reference page also in
current APA format.
• Step 4: Be prepared to share one of your examples (and rationale) during the class discussion/debrief of the assignment.
Written Case Summary – Shackleton’s Endurance Expedition
On December 5th, 1914 the Endurance set sail on an expedition to be the first to cross the Antarctica. The expedition was led by Sir Ernest Shackleton, the
brainchild of the mission who not only raised its funding by marketing to wealthy investors, but also recruited and hand-selected the crew of 27 men.
Amongst the reportedly 5000 responding to Shackleton’s recruitment advertisement noting the treacherous nature of the mission, Shackleton interviewed
and selected his crew members, basing his decision not only on their technical skills and abilities but also on those personality characteristics and aspects
of temperament Shackleton deemed most important for teamwork, stamina, and resilience.
On January 18th, 1915, little more than one month into the expedition, the mission went awry, the Endurance becoming stuck in pack ice before it was to
reach its intended destination of Vahsel Bay, Antarctica. Initial attempts to free the Endurance by digging it from the pack ice were ordered by Shackleton,
whose journals indicate to later scholars of the expedition that his purposes in ordering the digging efforts were mostly for the purpose of keeping the men
productive and allowing them to see for themselves the futility of such attempts. Indeed, the men soon abandoned their efforts to release the ship from the
pack ice, resolving to wait out the months until the ice melt camped aboard the Endurance. To pass the time and keep up spirits, Shackleton enforced daily
routines and chores (even when the performance of chores arguably was not necessary from a practical standpoint). Moreover, the delegation of chores
amongst the crew was egalitarian and without regard for the men’s titles, rank, or role on the mission; Shackleton had scientist, surgeon, and sailor alike
scrubbing floors, cooking, and performing any type of work for which they were able. Socialization and team-building also were made part of daily life during
this time, with nightly sing-alongs in “The Ritz” dining facilities on the Endurance and dogsled races and other games and competitions outside on the ice
during the days. From Endurance Captain, Frank Worsley’s journal (cited in Martens & Hilscher, 2004; p. 8):
Shackleton had a genius … for keeping those about him in high spirits. We loved him. To me, he was a brother. The men had felt the cost … but [Shackleton]
had inspirited the kind of loyalty which prevented them from allowing themselves to get depressed over anything.
Unfortunately, the crew’s less-than-ideal situation was to grow worse as the shifting and pressure of the pack ice took toll on the Endurance – its exterior
eventually cracking, allowing the icy waters of the Antarctic Sea to seep inside. Seeing that the ship was to ultimately sink, Shackleton ordered the crew to
remove its essentials and contents and set up camp on the ice. Over the next days and weeks, they watched as the Endurance continued to sink and
disappear beneath the ice, leaving them without shelter save for the tents and supplies they had retrieved. More than ever, the crew looked to Shackleton,
whom they called “The Boss” and showed no outward signs of fear or discouragement, for leadership. From crew member Frank Hurley’s journal (cited in
Martens & Hilscher, 2004; p. 5):
He [Shackleton] possessed fearlessness, indomitable will of a born leader…He was a physically and mentally strong man, an able organizer, and accustomed
to having his own way.
In turn, Shackleton instituted necessary rations for food and drink, and once again reinforcing principles of egalitarianism amongst the men regardless of
their prior rank and role, he conducted lotteries to determine the recipients of limited supplies such as the warm-skin sleeping bags. He During this time, the
crew made two failed attempts to march on foot across the ice to safety. From Shackleton’s journal (cited in Martens & Hilscher, 2004; p. 7):
After the tents had been pitched, I mustered all hands and explained the position to them briefly, and I hope, clearly. I have told them the distance to the
barrier and the distance to Paulett Island and have stated that I propose to try to march with equipment across the ice in the direction of Paulett Island. I
thanked the men for their steadfastness and good morale they have shown in these trying circumstances. And I told them I had no doubt that, provided they