The Need for Organisational Resilience Chapter 5

Leading to

Trouble.

(Tzu 2008, 50)

Leadership

This chapter focusses on an essential function that enables strategic, operational and

tactical resilience: leadership. Leadership provides

• Vision, the ability to determine a future with imagination or wisdom

• Direction and the ability to change direction if necessary

• Alignment of resources and capabilities

• Commitment to allow dedication towards a common direction to flourish.

The story so far: May 13 – May 17 1940

The beleaguered Dutch Forces could not withstand the continuous pressure. They

capitulated on May 14th. The surrender of Holland hastened the retreat of the French 7th

Army. In Flanders, the Luftwaffe took its toll on Blanchard’s 1st Army. However, in the north,

the thrust by German forces was contained, for now. Despite the setbacks, the French

Armoured divisions showed that they were more than a match for the Germans. During May

14th/15th, the Battle of the Gembloux Gap inflicted losses of up to 50 per cent on the

German 3rd and 4th Panzerdivisions.

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