Inside Organizations : Anthropologists at Work

4e de couverture : Most of us work in or for one, but there are surprisingly few sustained analyses of the problems and peculiarities of organizations. Anthropologists are increasingly turning their attention to the study of western organizations, and this timely collection addresses the pleasures and pitfalls of ethnographic research undertaken across a range of organizational contexts. From museums to laboratories, health clinics, and multinational businesses, leading anthropologists discuss their fieldwork experiences, the problems they encountered, and the solutions they came up with. This book highlights the practical, political and ethical dimensions of research in organizations. Among issues vividly described are the relations between gender and politics in organizational hierarchies. How are sexual politics played out and experienced in health clinics? How does a business manager's personal biography affect the relationships within the organization as a whole? How are language and metaphor used to refigure the way people think about and act in organizations? Institutions often have well-defined procedures for bringing in visitors and guests. When is the anthropologist an insider to the organization, and when an outsider? What ethical issues arise when researchers are caught between observing organizations and participating in their work? In answering these and other questions the authors consider both the current status and future prospects for organizational ethnography. Comprehensive and varied, the book represents an invaluable aid to anyone interested in the politics and complexities of working life Ethnography of organizations and organizations of ethnography -- Eric Hirsch and David N. Gellner Social anthropology and business studies : some considerations of method -- Malcolm Chapman What is an ethnographic study? -- Alexandra Ouroussoff Ethnography in the laboratory -- Christine Hine Ethnography in the Science Museum, London -- Sharon Macdonald Swords into ploughshares : manipulating metaphor in the divorce process -- Bob Simpson Observing other observers : anthropological fieldwork in a unit for children with chronic emotional and behavioural problems -- Simon Pulman-Jones Stuck in GUM : an ethnography of a clap clinic -- Melissa Parker Social research in rural development projects David Mosse -- 'Among professionals' : working with pressure groups and local authorities -- Simone Abram Understanding the working environment : notes toward a rapid organizational analysis -- Stella Mascarenhas-Keyes Participation or observation? some practical and ethical dilemmas -- Martin O'Neill Natives 'R' us : some notes on the ethnography of organizations-- John Van Maanen. Social Anthropology And Business Studies : Some Considerations Of Method / Malcolm Chapman -- What Is An Ethnographic Study? / Alexandra Ouroussoff -- Ethnography In The Laboratory / Christine Hine -- Ethnography In The Science Museum, London / Sharon Macdonald -- Swords Into Ploughshares : Manipulating Metaphor In The Divorse Process / Bob Simpson -- Observing Other Observers : Anthropological Fieldwork In A Unit For Children With Chronic Emotional And Behavioural Problems / Simon Pulman-jones -- Stuck In Gum : An Ethnography Of A Clap Clinic / Melissa Parker -- Social Research In Rural Development Projects / David Mosse. Amongst Professionals : Working With Pressure Groups And Local Authorities / Simone Abram -- Understanding The Working Environment : Notes Toward A Rapid Organizational Analysis / Stella Mascarenhas-keyes -- Participation Or Observation? : Some Practical And Ethical Dilemmas / Martin O'neill. Edited By David N. Gellner And Eric Hirsch. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Most of us work in or for one, but there are surprisingly few sustained analyses of the problems and peculiarities of organizations. Anthropologists are increasingly turning their attention to the study of western organizations, and this timely collection addresses the pleasures and pitfalls of ethnographic research undertaken across a range of organizational contexts. From museums, to laboratories, health clinics, and multinational businesses, leading anthropologists discuss their fieldwork experiences, the problems they encountered, and the solutions they came up with. When is the anthropologist an insider to the organization, and when an outsider? What ethical issues arise when researchers are caught between observing organizations and participating in their work? Among issues vividly described are the relations between gender and politics in organizational hierarchies. This book highlights the practical, political and ethical dimensions of research in organizations Anthropologists are increasingly turning their attention to the study of Western organizations. This book highlights the practical, political and ethical dimensions of research in work places from museums to multinational businesses, addressing issues such as gender and politics