Many students do not immediately associate an anthropology degree with a career in business. Yet increasingly, anthropologists are being recruited by local and international corporations for their specific skills in cross-cultural communication and their ability to analyse human behaviour, organisational structures, and corporate cultures.
Anthropologists working in business may be involved in market research looking at product design, social trends and intercultural marketing. They may also be involved in analysing consumer behaviour, researching purchasing trends, and identifying cultural responses to advertising. Alternatively, anthropologists can act as organisational consultants, investigating organisational procedures and assessing the performance of workplaces.
Anthropologists can be found working for organisations such as Intel, IBM, General Motors, Hewlett Packard, Saatchi & Saatchi, and a growing number of manufacturing and service companies around the world.
Recommended Resources
Films
In the following film anthropologist Grant McCracken, author of ‘Chief Culture Officer’ explore how companies should employ a Chief Culture Officer to ensure they remain cutting edge.
Books
Doing Anthropology in Consumer Research by: Sunderland, P. and Denny, R. (Left Coast Press, 2007)
Advertising and Anthropology: Ethnographic Practice and Cultural Perspectives by: Waal Malefyt, T. and Morais, R. (Berg, 2012)
Chief Cultural Officer- How to Create a Living and Breathing Corporation by: McCracken, G. (Basic, 2010)
Getting started in consulting by: Weiss, A. (Wiley, 2013)
Articles
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2005/11/14/smallb2.html – how anthropologists are employed in various business organisations.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-23-fi-6253-story.html – an article from the LA Times about a corporate anthropologist’s work.
General
http://businessanthropology.blogspot.co.uk/ – a blog by Robert Guang Tian a business professor with anthropological training
http://www.aaanet.org/profdev/careers/ – The American Anthropological Assocation’s collection of articles about anthropologists working in business
https://www.epicpeople.org/conference/ – The EPIC Conference promotes the use of ethnographic investigations and principles in the study of human behavior as they are applied in business settings
http://cultureby.com/ – Anthropologist Grant McCraken’s blog which explores the intersection between anthropology and economics
http://www.anthropology.ca/consulting-2/
Radio
See our Anthropology on the Radio webpage for podcasts on business and anthropology.
Recruitment
The following companies have hired anthropologists for market research: Intel, IBM, Motorolla, General Motors, Packard, Saatchi & Saatchi amongst others.
Professional Groups, Organisations and Associations
The Federation of Small Businesses – is the UK’s largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms.
