Business Anthropology

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 144 pages
• Published by: Waveland Press November 1, 2002
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 157766213X
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1577662136
• Book Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.4 inches
• Weighs: 7.2 ounces

Product Description
Advances in technology open the doors for business expansion and facilitate the creation of complex organizations. It is in this world that anthropological techniques play a distinctive role. Business anthropologists tap various sources of information by getting to know the people within the organization. They take a "holistic" approach, see old realities in new ways, and understand the value of diverse groups, doing their work in both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. This cutting-edge text first familiarizes readers with anthropological methods. It then presents real-world examples of how these methods have been used in business organizations to analyze various phenomena, including consumer behavior, marketing, product design, organizational change, globalization, and diversity. Readers who wish to learn about highly effective ways to guide organizations in a competitive world will find Business Anthropology to be down-to-earth, on target, and immeasurably valuable.

From the Inside Flap
Jordans book provides an easy-to-read and informative overview of the work that many anthropologists do. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this text and highly recommend it for those interested in business anthropology or anthropology of the workplace and marketplace. Elizabeth K. Briody, Anthropology of Work Review

Reader Reviews
As a former student of Dr. Jordan's, I really had a chance to have 20/20 hindsight once I left her Anthropology Fieldmethods class at UNT and entered into the practicing anthropologist's workforce. As a practicing anthropologist doing consulting/qualitative research within a major department store retailer in the US, her book came in as a handy and worthwhile guide to those little ins-and-outs of observational and interviewing techniques you may have dozed-through occasionally in class. Invaluable as a quick-reference guide, "Business Anthropology" is as timely now as it was when first printed I'd imagine. The retail industry is constantly changing, and still in major upheaval in many ways-and the practicing anthropologist is steadily making waves in the emerging "customer experience" realm of retail. This holistic approach to training, human/tech interface, web, store and catalog shopping can yield information that is generally disregarded or flatly overseen without the training and study anthropologists can bring to the party. While the job market may be lean, the modern consumer just keeps on spending, and learning their tastes, reactions to and feelings on how they shop, where, when, why and what clinches the deal is of major interest to companies finding themselves in ever-shrinking neighborhood blocks of customer loyalty. This book, was a great, fast read...easy to peruse and apply to one's own observational research and a handy reminder of all those notes you have tucked away in that old college notebook. Sorry for being sleepy in class, Dr. Jordan, but thanks for the book!