Conversations Of Change

Social anthropology defined – study of how people make meaning / attribute meaning to their environment. What does a social anthropologist lens bring to organisational change work? Working with symbols People who are impacted by the change are best placed to design and implement the change Change should be iterative and collaborative Example of how symbols are important In the UN – how much carpet you had in your office denoted hierarchy. If you had a square of carpet it denoted you were very important and you would be listened to. So to use in change – symbolism of senior leaders seen to be leading change and committed to the change has much greater impact than communicating the change. Examples of people impacted by the change best to manage it? Only people who are part of the culture can change it – external vendors cannot achieve this There needs to be a partnership – organisations need to bring in change expertise, but they need to work with people in the organisation to make it work. Social anthropol