ABSTRACT
The course examines the place of organizations in the history of anthropological and sociological theory and sketches some of the current methodology for studying organizational cultures and for engaging in "applied" or non-academic anthropology.We focus also on the role of voluntary organizations and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in creating social capital, sustainable economic development, and community and world culture. Next the course examines two perspectives on pluralistic cultural theory, one developed by sociologist Joanne Martin, and the other by anthropologist Mary Douglas and her associates. Together, these perspectives constitute a critique of much of current social science. Finally, we use the empirical work of management theorist Jim Collins to ask what makes effective organizations, both for-profit and non-profit. We assimilate Collins' work into our pluralist theoretical framework. This critical perspective is particular important during an era of scandals in the American corporate and non-profit sectors.
REQUIRED READINGS
Books to purchase:
Ann T Jordan, 2003, Business Anthropology. Waveland Press: Prospect Heights, IL
Jim Collins, 2001, Good to Great: Why some companies make the leap and others don't. Harper Business: New York.
James C. Collins and Jerry I Porras, 1994, Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies. Harper Business: New York.
Mary Douglas and Steven Ney; Missing Persons: A Critique of Personhood in the Social Sciences. U. of California Press, Berkeley, CA.
The readings will include some student papers from the Grinnell-in-Washington Program, 2003. Other readings, listed on the schedule are either handouts or available electronically through the college library. Readings should be completed before class on the day assigned.
GRADES AND ASSIGNMENTS
20 % Class participation
20% Synthesis paper, developing some theme from the first half of the semester and incorporating 2 or 3 outside articles or chapters into the synthesis. Due March 30. 7-10 pages in length.
30% Application paper, using a theoretical framework from the course to examine the culture of some organization that you have participated in or made a study of . Due May 5. 7-10 pages in length.
30% Take-home final exam: One question in advance: How will you use the materials from this course in your career after Grinnell?
SCHEDULE OF CLASSES AND READINGS
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Tu Jan 20 |
Introduction: Overview of course |
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Th Jan 22 |
Organizations in Anthropological Theory: Historical Perspective: Evolutionary sequences, division of labor, and gender. 1996 Douglas Caulkins "Voluntary Associations", in David Levinson, editor, The Encyclopedia of Cultural Anthropology, A Henry Holt Reference Book. July, (pp 1351-1356) 2003 Douglas Caulkins, "Organizational Culture" and "Voluntary Organizations" in Encyclopedia of Community: Shared Places, Shared Meanings, from the Village to the Virtual World, edited by Karen Christensen, David Levinson, et al.(Sage Reference, 2003) 2003 Ann Jordan, Business Anthropology, Introduction and Chapter 1, "A History of Anthropology in Western Organizational Life." (pp.1-19) |
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Tu Jan 27 |
Methodology in the study of organizational cultures. Ann Jordan, Business Anthropology, Chapter 2 "Techniques for Conducting Field Work…(pp. 20-38) 1998 Douglas Caulkins "Consensus analysis: Do Scottish business advisers agree on models of success?" In Victor DeMunck and Elisa Sobo, editors, Using Methods in the Field: A Practical Introduction and Case Book. Walnut Creek (CA): Altamira Press (175-195). |
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Th Jan 29 |
Non-academic Anthropology 1995 Douglas Caulkins, "Stumbling into Applied Anthropology: Collaborative Roles of Academic Researchers." Practicing Anthropology 17 (1-2):21-24. February/March Ann Jordan, Business Anthropology, Chapters 3 (Seeing Cultural Groupings), 4 (Ethical Concerns), 5 (Marketing) & 6 (Design Anthropology) |
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Tu Feb 3 |
Voluntary Organizations, NGOs, and Social Capital Douglas Caulkins, 1995 "Are Norwegian Voluntary Associations Homogeneous Moralnets? Reflections on Naroll's Selection of Norway as a Model Society." Cross-Cultural Research Special Issue in Honor of Raoul Naroll (1920-1985), Part II, 29 (1): 43-57. 2002 Douglas Caulkins and Christina Peters. Grid-Group Analysis, Social Capital, and Entrepreneurship in North American Immigrant Groups. Cross-Cultural Research. 36 (1): 48-72. |
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Th Feb 5 |
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Tu Feb 10 |
Doing Good? The Politics and Antipolitics of NGO Practices William F. Fisher Annual Review of Anthropology, Vol. 26. (1997), pp. 439-464. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0084-6570%281997%292%3A26%3C439%3ADGTPAA%3E2.0.CO%3B2-U Grinnell-in-Washington Student presentations on NGOs |
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Th Feb 12 |
World Culture in the World Polity: A Century of International Non-Governmental Organization (in National and Global Political Trends) John Boli; George M. Thomas American Sociological Review, Vol. 62, No. 2. (Apr., 1997), pp. 171-190. Stable URL: http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0003-1224%28199704%2962%3A2%3C171%3AWCITWP%3E2.0.CO%3B2-H |
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Tu Feb 17 |
Toward a Pluralist Theory of Cultures in Organizations Ann Jordan, Business Anthropology, Chapter 7 (Organizational Anthropology) Douglas Caulkins and Elaine S. Weiner, 1998 "Finding a Work Culture that Fits: Egalitarian Manufacturing Firms in MidWales." Anthropology of Work Review. XIX (1) Fall 1998 |
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Feb 19 SCCR Caulkins at conference |
Time Out: Division of Labor Revisited: The factory system and "Scientific" Management Helga Drummond, Introduction to Organizational Behavior, NetLibrary Electronic Book, Chapter 2 http://emedia.netlibrary.com Video in class |
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Tu Feb 24 |
Joanne Martin, Organizational Culture, Chapter 1, (Introduction) and 2 (The Culture Wars) & Chapter 3 (Pieces of the Puzzle: What is and is not culture) |
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Th Feb 26 |
Joanne Martin, Organizational Culture, Chapter 4 (Single Perspective Theories), & 5 (Three Perspective Theories) |
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Tu March 2 |
Joanne Martin, Organizational Culture, Chapter 6 (Interests and claims of Neutrality) |
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Th March 4 |
Joanne Martin, Organizational Culture, Chapter 7 (To Count or Not) Douglas Caulkins and Susan B. Hyatt, 1999 "Using Consensus Analysis to Measure Cultural Diversity in Organizations and Social Movements." Field Methods.11(1):5-26. |
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Tu March 9 |
Joanne Martin, Organizational Culture, Chapter 8 (Putting it all together) & Chapter 9 (Writing about Cultures) |
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Th March 11 |
Joanne Martin, Organizational Culture, Chapter 10 (Cultural Boundaries) & Chapter 11 (Terra Incognita) Ann Jordan, Business Anthropology, Chapter 8 (Globalization), Chapter 9 (Holism), Chapter 10 (Where to go from here) |
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Spring Break |
HAVE A GREAT TIME! |
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Tu March 30 |
Toward a Pluralist theory of Culture II. Mary Douglas and Steven Ney, Missing Persons: A Critique of Personhood in the Social Sciences, Chapter 1, (Absent Persons) and Chapter 2, (The Strong Presence of Economic Man) |
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Thu April 1 SfAA |
Mary Douglas and Steven Ney, Missing Persons, Chapter 3, (Social Needs) and Chapter 4, (Toward Whole Persons) |
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Tu April 6 |
Mary Douglas and Steven Ney, Missing Persons, Chapter 5, (Four Whole Persons) Review Caulkins & Peters 2002 |
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Th April 8 |
Mary Douglas and Steven Ney, Missing Persons, Chapter 6 (Persons in Policy Process), & Chapter 7 (Adversarial Mode) 1999 D.Douglas Caulkins and Elaine S.Weiner, "Enterprise and Resistance in the Celtic Fringe: High Growth, Low Growth and No Growth Firms," In Local Enterprise on the North Atlantic Margin : Selected Contributions to the Fourteenth International Seminar on Marginal Regions, Reginald Byron and John Hutson, editors. Ashgate Aldershot. U.K. (191-204). |
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Tu April 13 |
Mary Douglas and Steven Ney, Missing Persons, Chapter 8 (Shackled by Institutions) & Chapter 9 (Economic Man: a way of saying nothing) |
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Th April 15 |
What Makes Organizations Effective? Jim Collins, 2001, Good to Great Chapter 1 (Good is Enemy of Great), Chapter 2 (Level 5 leadership), Chapter 3 (First who.. then What), Chapter 4 (Confront the brutal facts) |
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Tu April 20 |
Jim Collins, 2001, Good to Great Chapter 5 (The Hedgehog Concept) and Chapter 6 (Culture of Discipline) Presentations by Grinnell-in-Washington Students. |
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Th April 22 |
Jim Collins, 2001, Good to Great Chapter 7 (Technological Accelerators), Chapter 8 (The Flywheel & Doom Loop), Chapter 9 (From Good to Great to Built to Last) and Epilogue |
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Tu April 27 |
James C. Collins and Jerry I Porras, 1994, Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies. Chapters 1-4 |
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Th April 29 |
James C. Collins and Jerry I Porras, 1994, Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies. Chapters 5, 6 (Cult-like Cultures), & 7. Dave Arnott, 1999 Corporate Cults [Electronic Resource] London: McGraw-Hill NetLibrary; Electronic Book Chapter 1 (When a Culture becomes a Cult) |
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Tu May 3 |
James C. Collins and Jerry I Porras, 1994, Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies. Chapters 8, 9, 10 & Epilogue |
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Th May 5 |
Summary and Conclusion |