How to use anthropology, in business and ADVENTURE!!!!
“Another feature of ethnographic thinking is a conception of the research process as inductive or discovery-based; rather than as being limited to the testing of explicit hypotheses.”
Genzuk , M. (2003). A synthesis of ethnographic research. Retrieved from www-bcf.usc.edu/~genzuk/Ethnographic_Research.html…
“PowerPoint presentations to clients are not so much a form of obliterating anthropological theory as of presenting it under a disguise required for effective communication.”
Oliveira, P. (2012). Ethnography and co-creation in a portuguese consultancy: Wine branding as an example. Journal of Business Anthropology, 214. Retrieved from rauli.cbs.dk/index.php/jba/article/view/3943/4281…
How to Use Anthro | Tip #C9
A single event, like a holiday, can mean different things to different people. Ask about those meanings firsthand. Accept no substitutes from textbooks!
How to Use Anthro | Tip #C8
Everyone’s biased. Instead of pretending otherwise, anthropologists should use “reflexivity” to document their own biases, and contextualize their research.
How to Use Anthro | Tip #C6
Want to screen your ethnographic film? Build an educational showcase around it! Book a guest speaker, and get teachers to offer extra credit for attending.
How to Use Anthro | Tip #C5
Remember, you’re just as “exotic” as any remote island culture. Use autoethnography to observe, and raise questions about, your own community.
Autoethno. 101: Church & State
Autoethno. 101: Violent Crime
*Note that I’ve heard more reasons beyond “that’s what the police are for.” Examples include perceived “low odds” of violence, and staying “on the good side” of town. As usual, more research is required.
Autoethno. 101: Health Insurance
*I wish I’d used the pronoun “I” instead of “you” in this illustration, because I’m speaking as a bachelor approaching his late-twenties. For my demographic, however, the point still stands.
How to Use Anthro | Tip #C4
Short video clips contain lots of data. Use them to document short processes, from ‘exotic’ greetings, to how employees perform tasks.
How to Use Anthro | Tip #C3
You can use tallying to collect data and discover behavioral patterns, even if you’re short on time and don’t speak the native language.
How to Use Anthro | Tip #C2
Anthropologists know that one saying can mean many things across cultures. Apply that knowledge to word-of-mouth adwork.
How to Use Anthro | Tip #C1
You never know what details may become important later, so record everything in painful detail — including data outside your immediate research goals.
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