Why is anthropology important when understanding organisations? In this talk, Sadie King (formally TIHR) and John Curran share their experiences of applying their training in social anthropology to organisational research and consultancy issues.

Sadie discusses the way she has used the anthropological frame to understand the complex challenges typical of the public and voluntary sectors (from children’s services to the social change sector) and John brings his vast experience of working in the corporate world with global brands on various assignments that focus on OD, Leadership, conflict resolution and innovation.

Both Sadie and John have 25 years of experience in working in a transdisciplinary way with key theories and methodologies from anthropology meeting other disciplines, methods and approaches from the social sciences, arts and psychology. They both work with a systems psychodynamic approach and are anthropologists are researchers, consultants and executive coaches. 

John is also faculty on the Tavistock Institute’s Practitioner Certificate in Consulting and Change programme.

Recording of the talk