Business Anthropology

Abstract

The recent past has witnessed the steady growth of anthropology as a discipline along with its application in various fields. One of the most talked‐about fields of applied anthropology is anthropology in business. The world has recognized that business is not just an economic endeavor but is also an activity that has a human angle. Hence, neoclassical principles have replaced classical thinking. More and more organizations are embracing research to understand the people side of their businesses. For this, anthropologists are being hired to investigate vital processes such as organization policies, product design, corporate culture, leadership, consumer behavior, and so on. This entry discusses the theoretical concepts and meanings of this recently arrived discipline of business anthropology and goes on to probe its contribution to business in the twenty‐first century. Further, it also elaborates the relevance and practical issues faced by business anthropologists in the newly emerging branches of business anthropology.

Reform and Innovation in New Period: An Anthropological Study of Chaoshan Chambers of Commerce in Shenzhen

“…It emphasizes case-study perspectives, focusing on particular periods of a society, particular social groups and particular cultural contexts. In the field of business administration, the ethnographic method is widely used in the study of organizational reform, group behavior, and so on (Tian, 2014;Tian, Van & Lillis, 2013.). It has accordingly been adopted as the basic research method for this paper.…”

Un Espace Commun Pour Le Comportement du Consommateur et L’Anthropologie : Le Comportement de Don

“…Par exemple, "l'anthropologie du marketing" ("anthropology of marketing"; "marketing anthropology") fait référence à l'utilisation de méthodes de recherche de l'anthropologie pour identifier les significations et les perceptions symboliques dans les recherches en marketing (Applbaum, 1998;Gummeson, 2005;Herselan, 2008). Le concept d'anthropologie des affaires ("business anthropology") signifie que les entreprises, qui deviennent une structure multiculturelle et complexe avec la mondialisation, bénéficient des approches de la discipline de l'anthropologie pour atteindre leurs objectifs de rentabilité et de durabilité (Tian, Sigamani, & Malhotra, 2018).…”

The Relevance of Anthropology in Management Education in India

“…Business anthropologists include all anthropologists who study business fields, including management, operations, marketing, consumer behaviour, organizational culture, human resources management, international business, and so on through anthropological methods, particularly through ethnographic methods. Business anthropologists play a vital role in the business world by supporting corporations in building up ethically correct ways of carrying out business with suppliers, business partners and customers (Baba 2006;Tian et al, 2013). Today, in the globalized world, there is a significant need for anthropologists in business consulting, organizational behavior, human resources management, competitive intelligence, globalization, product design and development, marketing and consumer behavior studies (Baba 2014;Jordan 2010;Tian et al, 2013).…”

“…Business anthropologists play a vital role in the business world by supporting corporations in building up ethically correct ways of carrying out business with suppliers, business partners and customers (Baba 2006;Tian et al, 2013). Today, in the globalized world, there is a significant need for anthropologists in business consulting, organizational behavior, human resources management, competitive intelligence, globalization, product design and development, marketing and consumer behavior studies (Baba 2014;Jordan 2010;Tian et al, 2013). Considering the relevance of business anthropology in the present, ever-changing business scenario, it is imperative for business schools to provide this understanding to the graduates about the reasons for individual behavior, the functioning of organizations, and consumer behavior at large (Jordan 2003;Tian et al, 2013).…”

“…Today, in the globalized world, there is a significant need for anthropologists in business consulting, organizational behavior, human resources management, competitive intelligence, globalization, product design and development, marketing and consumer behavior studies (Baba 2014;Jordan 2010;Tian et al, 2013). Considering the relevance of business anthropology in the present, ever-changing business scenario, it is imperative for business schools to provide this understanding to the graduates about the reasons for individual behavior, the functioning of organizations, and consumer behavior at large (Jordan 2003;Tian et al, 2013). Business schools, as well as educators, can effectively apply anthropological theories and methods to their teaching practice, and in fact many business schools have started to remodel their curricula with the use of anthropological contributions (Tian, 2014;Tian and Walle, 2009;Tian, 2005).…”