Workshop

Hosted by: National Association for the Practice of Anthropology

Of interest to: Graduate students, new Ph.D.s and current faculty with interest in organizational consulting using anthropological tools.

Primary Theme: Practicing / Applied Career Development, Technical Skill Development

(3-0270) Consulting in Organizational Culture and Change

Level of Audience: Intermediate

Click here to register for this workshop and add it to your existing Annual Meeting registration.

This workshop builds on anthropological tools in organizational culture and change. The workshop may to help you discover whether a consulting career may be in your future, or hone the consulting work you already do. The workshop will help you discover and hone the practical skills needed to help organizations understand and act on the problems they encounter. First: “consulting basics.” Who to approach? What to do and/or say, and how to build and sustain client relationships? We’ll discuss when to follow up, and why perseverance, compassion, and your own anthropological approach(es) matter. Second, we’ll explore how client problems connect with anthropological methods and theory to become the basis for a consulting project built upon tools you likely already have (or new tools you will discover during the workshop). Our team’s own experience in different organizational contexts, and the experiences of our participants, will highlight practical examples of pitfalls and opportunities. Third, we will examine the range of ways in which clients may work alongside us as partners, adapting anthropological practice to create and communicate emerging understandings guiding clients toward beneficial action. Fourth, we discuss how to work effectively with clients to assist them in addressing the often beneath-the-surface issues they face or the questions they have not asked. Finally, we focus attention on the thorny issue of resistance to change – including individual and organizational issues and dysfunction. We consider various strategies mitigate it. Bring your thoughts, experiences, and recommendations; we hope to see you there!

Learning Objectives:

• On completion, participants will be able to employ key communication skills to initiate, develop, and sustain long-term relationships with clients as partners.
• On completion, participants will be able to describe at least five techniques to capture interest in understanding the current culture(s) and building a future culture(s).
• On completion, participants will be able to identify at least three strategies to mitigate resistance to change within organizational settings (e. g. apply enablers, design/pilot test, engage leaders, collaboration models).

Organizer(s)

• Elizabeth Briody

  Founder and Principal
  Cultural Keys LLC

Workshop Presenter(s)

• Jo Aiken

  NASA/University College London

• Keith Kellersohn

  Adjunct Lecturer
  Salisbury University

Organizer(s)

• Ken Erickson

  Clinical Assistant Professor of International Business
  Moore College of Business, University of South Carolina