The Challenges of Power in Practice

Society for Applied Anthropology

Dallas, 2004

Crossing Borders

Design

“Basic” research

Retail

Usability

Work Place

Anthropology

Panel Participants

• Melissa Fischer– The Insight Works, Inc.

• Natalie Hanson– Temple University

• Martin Ortlieb– Sapient

• Inga Treitler– The TerraNova Group

Agenda

• Career paths

• Tales of attempted border crossing

• Tales of successful border crossing

• Lessons learned: politics of research in a “profit driven” environment

Career Paths

• Educational– Four field– Cross/interdisciplinary

• Fieldwork • Personal motivations• Driving research interests• Commitment to anthropological theory• Cascading work experiences• serendipity

Attempted Border Crossing

• Case study: trying to contribute findings to anthropology

• Countervailing circumstances and obstacles

Successful Border Crossings

• Case study: – publications of research findings– Participation in research forums– Policy formation/influence

• Supportive circumstances– Partnerships/collaborations– Historic moment: widespread interest in public or

research communities– Legal agreements/contracts– Status in firm vs. outsider contractor status

Lessons Learned

Expectations within traditional anthropological community

Value of non-standard avenues of knowledge transmission– Listservs, chatrooms, invited lectures, teaching

Competition within research community

DISCUSSION