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Reflections on Strategic Management Concepts
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Reflections on Strategic Management Concepts
Lord Nelson’s Victory against Napoleon
A French leader, Napoleon Bonaparte is best famed for the enviable success of his military strategies. His gifts and prowess saw him conquer so much of Europe that he deemed it time to go outside the continent for more. He, however, met his match in Lord Nelson Horatio, who managed to come up with a plan that not only defeated the military genius but also brought the beginning of the end to what is commonly referred to as the Napoleonic Wars.
In his overseas ambitions, Napoleon was convinced that the invasion and conquering of England would add another medal to his already colorful collection. He already had control of the European North Sea and Atlantic coasts. Also, he had managed to get Spain to fight alongside him in what came to be famously known as the battle of Trafalgar. In his hunger for victory and the prestige that would be borne of it, Napoleon overlooked several loopholes in his military strategy that eventually spelled his doom and the miserable end of an illustrious career.
One of the greatest mistakes committed by Napoleon in the planning for the Battle of Trafalgar is underrating the ability of his enemy. The French and Spanish fleets were much bigger than the English fleet. He, therefore, assumed that because his material resources were far more than those possessed by England’s naval force, he would easily triumph. In this, he failed to recognize the part that skill, experience and the forces of nature would play in determining whether he won or lost. In other words, he had been used so much to winning and conquering that he could hardly envisage any chance that would lead to his loss and, thus, eliminates it.
On the other hand, Lord Nelson was more hesitant and unassuming. He knew that he had not only to work but think hard for his victory. He also knew that, like himself, his men were better trained and experienced than their French-Spanish rivals. He was, however, outnumbered. He, thus, came up with an innovative plan which included getting his adversaries by surprise.
Naval combat traditionally involved fighting ships firing at close range and slow speed. Also, the ships fought at parallel lines. Lord Nelson, against the French and Spanish coalition plans attacked from the rear and front. He also attacked at high speed in an attempt to reduce his casualties by lowering the amount of fire hitting his fleet. The innovativeness of his strategy earned him victory in the form of 18 destroyed enemy ships out of the 21 that went to sea and a high number of his adversary’s casualties.
Lord Nelson’s valor and leadership by example played a part in his victory. Even when he was warned that his four-star jacket would make him a prized target for the enemy, he did not back down, claiming that it was too late to remove it.
On the other hand, Napoleon sent out a less experienced Admiral Villeneuve to lead his battleship. By the time the battle began, Napoleon knew that he was defeated. This culminated in the capture of the admiral and his death by suicide l...