Paper
Anthropology Beyond Academia: Reflections on taking anthropological insights into the corporate workplace in South Africa
presenters
Hannah J. Dawson
Nationality: South Africa
Residence: South Africa
University of Johannesburg
Presence:Face to Face/ On Site
Work is a fundamental part of our lives and yet for many of us it is not a place where we flourish. Work has also become a widely debated topic as it undergoes massive transformations driven by technological advancements, globalisation, demographic shifts, and evolving societal expectations. In this paper, I will reflect on my experiences of taking anthropological insights into the corporate workplace to address issues like work retention, workplace culture, and innovation, through workshops with corporate leaders in South Africa between 2021-2023. For many business leaders, this is the first time they encounter anthropology and its unique method or ‘way of working’ that offers fresh insight into their individual and organisational challenges. The goal of these workshops is two-fold: to unpack the ethnographic method and its relevance for understanding workplace culture and dynamics, and to foster an anthropological approach to studying organisational culture by viewing organisations as ethnographic 'field sites.' In my presentation, I will describe my experience of introducing an anthropological perspective into the corporate environment and discuss the possibilities and limitations of taking anthropological perspectives to wider publics, particularly in shaping public debates on the economy, corporations, and the workplace.
Keywords:
applied anthropology, public anthropology, work, South Africa