WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?MAKING THE ACADEMY-TO-BUSINESS TRANSITION

AS A PRACTICING ANTHROPOLOGISTAmy Santee, UX Researcher @ Empirical

Society for Applied Anthropology, Albuquerque, NMMarch 19th, 2014

Article currently in press - Practicing Anthropology 36(2) 2014

2004-2008

2009-2011

2011-2012

2013-present

= Level of Understanding of

Doing Anthropology

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Eckerd College

University of Memphis

State Farm

Empirical

CONSIDERATION No. 1

Practicing anthropology in business means creating your own opportunities for application and success, and re-thinking your approach to practice.

“”

= ANTHROPOLOGY

DOING ANTHROPOLOGY

Image via uthinkido.com

ANTHROPOLOGIST AS: STRATEGIST

EDUCATORADVOCATENETWORKEREMPLOYEECONTRIBUTOROPPORTUNITY-CREATOR

CONSIDERATION No. 2

Doing a job isn’t about “doing anthropology.” It’s about solving problems with an anthropological perspective. This involves constantly re-conceiving practice and adopting a flexible professional identity.

“”

SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE:

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FLEXIBILITY ADAPTABILITY OPEN-MINDEDNESS

= EXPANDING YOUR ANTHROPOLOGICAL HORIZON

ANTHROPOLOGISTS ARE: RESEARCHERS

PROJECT MANAGERSTHINKERSCONSULTANTSSTRATEGISTSEXPERTS& PROBLEM-SOLVERS

CONSIDERATION No. 3

Being an effective business professional involves making compromises, sacrifices and adjustments to academically informed work practices (e.g., communication, research, producing information, etc)...

...even if you are trained in an applied program.

“”

VS

What I know about cats:

•Fluffy•Adorable•Unique personalities•Best pet ever

YOUR TERM PAPER YOUR POWERPOINT

IMMERSIVE EMPLOYMENTEMBRACE IT.

LANGUAGE BUSINESS TERMINOLOGY, CONCEPTS, ACRONYMS

CULTURAL CAPITAL DOMAIN EXPERTISE, STRATEGIC THINKING

VALUES TIME, COMPETITIVENESS, USEFUL INFO AND $$$

Stress

Project Budget

Project Timeline

Quality ???????Depth of Insight

TO CONCLUDE...

• NEW INSIGHTS• REAL WORLD LEARNING• PROFESSIONALISM• CREATING OPPORTUNITIES • FLEXIBILITY, ADAPTABILITY• COMPROMISES, ADJUSTMENTS• DEFENSE OF VALUES

BUILDING A KNOWLEDGE BASE & EVOLVING CONCEPT OF PRACTICE