Regarding Crisis Management

Regarding Crisis Management

In Technology and Business on March 13, 2009 at 4:18 pm

 

 

By : Dr. Kostas Mitropoulos ( President of the Board of Directors                                                 Eurobank EFG Telesis Finance)

 

 

The summer of 401 BC saw the battle of Cunaxa. Cyrus, Satrap of Lydia moved to overthrow his brother the Great King. Cyrus’ allies included the Great King’s mother
(of all things!) as well as about 13500 Spartan troops under Clearchus.
The Spartan contingent was loaned to the Satrap since it was believed
that the Satrap’s move was within Greek (or at least Spartan) interests.

Well,
the battle took place and Cyrus was killed, but the Spartan contingent
managed to demolish the left flank of the immortals but with Cyrus
gone, the victory was pointless.

After
the disbandment of Cyrus’ army, the Spartan contingent was faced with a
hostile environment (they were in Persian territory and about 800 klm
from any allies), without a supply chain. Regardless, the Spartans
within 18 months found themselves in Trapezus  (where upon witnessing the black sea shouted Thalatta, Thalatta (the
sea, the sea)) and finally Byzantium by the shores of the black sea,
where once in Dorian controlled territory made their way back to the
Peloponnese.

 

The whole predicament is documented by Xenophon in his celebrated book.  The success of the Spartan trek back to Lacedaemon can be attributed to three major factors:

 

1. A
   tangible vision to hold on too. The Greeks did not want to die in the
   dry desserts of Lydia. They longed to see the Aegean, or at least the
   sea. This vision shared by all was translated into sheer will power for
   survival.
2. Discipline
   and a common culture, and commonly shared values. This meant that even
   when their leadership (Clearchus) was captured and executed by the
   Great King, the contingent was quick to vote in a new chief and start
   moving towards fulfilling their goal, which was survival.
3. A
   focused strategy to reach friendly territory in the north (the Dorian
   colonies of the Black Sea) with minimal casualties. The contingent
   generally followed the route of least resistance which meant that it
   had to change directions (tactics) many times sometimes heading west,
   and sometimes east. Regardless of tactical changes, the contingent
   always resumed its march towards the north.

 

These
three points above are vital when it comes to surviving any type of
crisis, whether economic, environmental, corporate or cultural.