Business anthropology: An overview

Abstract

Business anthropology is a multidisciplinary field that applies anthropological theories, methods, and insights to understand various  aspects of business organizations, practices, and interactions within the corporate world. It emerged as a response to the increasing  recognition of the importance of cultural factors in shaping business dynamics, consumer behaviour, organizational structure, and  management strategies. It offers a valuable framework for understanding the complex interplay between culture and commerce in  today's interconnected world required for more effective decision-making, innovation, and sustainable development within organizations. It is continually evolving, driven by ongoing changes in the global business landscape, technological advancements, and  shifting consumer preferences. The present review article based on secondary sources of data provides an overview of business anthropology and its various dimensions including meaning, scope, historical background, key concepts, methods and approaches,  related theories, ethical considerations, current trends, applications, challenges and future dimensions in a simple way, which may not  only be beneficial for students and other interested readers to understand the application of anthropological knowledge in the field of  business management but can also stimulate them to make innovations in the field which is required in this changing era of  globalization.