Business

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

General

http://www.businessculture.com/ - articles on business etiquette, cross-cultural communication, gifts in business culture, manners and protocol around the world.

http://www.businessanthropology.info/ - a consultancy firm using anthropological techniques and linking anthropologists involved in this sector.

http://phillipkarren.blogspot.com/- a blog on corporate anthropology.

http://www.practicagroup.com/about.shtml- Practica is a qualitative market research group. There are several anthropologists on the team.

Professional Groups, Organisations and Associations

Chartered Institute of Marketing-is the leading international body for marketing and business development.

ESRO- a research-based organisation which employs anthropological/ethnographic research techniques and consult with various privat and public sector business.

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.

Public Relations Consultants Association - is the trade association representing the UK’s voice in public relations

Books

  Doing Anthropology in Consumer Research
  By Patricia Sunderland and Rita M. Denny (Left Coast Press, 2007)

  Getting Started in Consulting (Second Edition)
  By: Alan Weiss (John Wiley & Sons, 2003)

Articles

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2005/11/14/smallb2.html - how anthropologists are employed in various business organisations.

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/CAREER/dayonthejob/05/23/corp.anthropologist.idg/ - an article from CNN about corporate anthropology.

http://www.stpt.usf.edu/~jsokolov/211corporate.htm - an article from the LA Times about a corporate anthropologist’s work.


Film

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_fSzkxpS0c – A corporate anthropologist sharing her views on how an anthropologist can help companies in times of change.

Radio

See our Anthropology on the Radio webpage for podcasts on business and anthropology.


Recruitment

www.jobsincredit.com

http://www.economist.com/

http://www.careersinrecruitment.com/

Disclaimer: The above information is provided for information and guidance only. It should not be interpreted as endorsement or otherwise by the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) for any external institution listed.  Furthermore, the RAI accepts no responsibility for material created by external parties or the content of external websites.