The information and skills learned from this program will enhance: 

Students’ understanding of anthropology can be a means of “sense making” from their observations and study.  The topics in the program courses may be used in almost any career to apply cultural knowledge and insights, which is especially valuable in a multicultural context.  Most work now is done with people from different backgrounds (both in the US and from around the world) and so it is vital to have an understanding of cross-cultural issues, such as differing values and behavior.  It also is essential to have the ability to investigate cultural differences in a comprehensive way, which moves beyond surface distinctions to a more profound identification of varied worldviews and assumptions.  Anthropology is a very useful tool to facilitate this kind of analysis.

Doing an exploration of this type also provides a way for students to discover their own cultural assumptions.  This self-awareness is a useful means for understanding how behavior is linked to cultural values.  Being cognizant of their own background and values may lead to more successful interactions with others, regardless of their role. This goes beyond workplace rules – it provides a knowledge of values and attitudes, which are fundamental parts of every person.  This knowledge opens up insights that makes the worker very valuable to the employer. 

It can be said that almost every profession is incomplete without a comprehension of culture.  All organizations are social creations, and as such they have their own organizational culture, behavior, norms, symbols, rituals, artifacts and values.  These are often “hidden” or subtle, and it takes skill to uncover them, especially in complex environments.  Each member in a working environment needs to discover these as they are usually not articulated, or if so, only briefly.  The employee must make an effort to uncover these realities, because they’re commonly below the surface and sometimes are unknown to even long-serving employees.

As almost all work is built in a social context, it is made of integrated networks, and individuals trained in anthropology are better equipped to understand and navigate these complex structures.  The knowledge and skills from this discipline can therefore help in advancing their career.  These individuals will comprehend the organizational culture, and then may be able to be more effective in knowing how to act, to interpret meanings of information, to choose appropriate goals, and to even make career decisions.

In addition, this training reveals what values drive an organization.  On the basis of this, the informed individual can better choose between alternate options in different situations.  Cultural knowledge provides guidance for more informed decisions of all kinds.  It also reveals how organizations have “blind spots” and bias, and how these can be addressed.  This is especially significant in the highly competitive global economy.

Finally, anthropology provides insights on communication, especially in cross-cultural teams.  Global team members must have a high “cultural competency” – the skills and behaviors to facilitate and interact among diverse cultures, thereby positively impacting employee engagement.  They must develop and promote skills such as resilience, flexibility, and agility as part of the overall strategy, and also need the ability to help team members accept accountability and responsibility for their work.  These are learned skills.

Cultural differences and language differences create barriers in communicating messages across cultures, particularly when there are different mental perception frameworks.  Understanding communication differences can counter the barrier so that relevant information connects team members.  For this to take place openness, trust, and knowledge sharing must be developed.  Multi-language teams have an added challenge with multiple translations, meanings, and contexts, making it even harder to establish trust, balance power, and build relationships.  So anthropology can be a major help in building positive teams.