Presentations
Talks and conference presentations on product strategy, user experience, organizational design, and applied anthropology.
-
Across the Wall: Ethnographers and Technologists at Work Together
Across the Wall: Ethnographers and Technologists at Work Together Panel Participants Natalie Hanson, SAP (Organizer & Chair) Jill Boncek and Jeff Pierce, Pitney Bowes Brigitte Jordan and Richard Tyo, Intel Tracey Lovejoy and Nelle Steele, Microsoft Session Abstract More and more, corporate decision makers and technologists recognize the value of ethnographic insights. As a consequence,… Read More ->
-
The Challenges of Power in Practice: A Storytelling Session
The Challenges of Power in Practice: A Storytelling Session Panel Participants Natalie Hanson, SAP (Organizer & Chair) Inga Treitler, The TerraNova Group Melissa Fisher, The Insight Works, Inc. Martin Ortleib, Sapient Corporation Panel Abstract Research in a corporate setting is competitive – driven by the bottom line. But when we research anthropologists are brought onto teams,… Read More ->
-
Electronic Communication: Implications for Human Interaction and Social Change
This paper was presented at a panel at the American Anthropological Association meetings, December 2, 1998 in Philadelphia entitled Seeing Culture: The Anthropology of Visual Communication at Temple University. Do not cite without author’s permission. Electronic Communication: Implications for Human Interaction and Social Change There are a number of different theoretical approaches in the field of… Read More ->
Podcasts & Press
Podcast appearances and interviews on building product organizations, the anthropologist-as-operator, and what it takes to scale.
-
Field Research / Philly CHI
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to present to the Philadelphia chapter of CHI on the campus of Philadelphia University, where I am also serving as an Industry Fellow in the College of Design, Engineering, and Commerce (DEC). Here is a link to event details, and the blurb that was circulated about my… Read More ->
-
Michael Krigsman podcast
This week I had the opportunity to speak with ZDNet blogger Michael Krigsman. About 30% of all IT projects fail, and his blog is focused on why that is the case, and what can be done about it. Michael runs his own consulting business that is part of the SAP ecosystem. He has become interested in… Read More ->
Podcasts & Press
Podcast appearances and interviews on building product organizations, the anthropologist-as-operator, and what it takes to scale.
-
Forget willpower
As people start the traditional making and breaking of New Year’s resolutions, willpower seems to be at top of mind for many. I have been ruminating on what I want to accomplish this year, and how I’ll put the right steps in place to get there. I’m sure many of you have been doing the… Read More ->
-
User Experience & Lean
Over the past few years I’ve written a few times about SAP’s internal transformation efforts. We just pre-announced record Q2 results yesterday (35%+ growth in all regions – go SAP!), and so I thought it fitting to return to the topics of growth and change and talk a little bit about the good things that… Read More ->
-
The Brand Called You
In several of my recent posts, I referenced a Tom Peters’ article in Fast Company entitled The Brand Called You. Tom Peters has been described as the best-selling business author in history, but he is perhaps most well known for his book In Search of Excellence, which he has said he wrote in response to the cookie-cutter… Read More ->
-
Talent Management
In my dissertation research, I explored the different mechanisms of control at work within the corporate context. I took advantage of my insider access as a corporate employee to describe and analyze varied of business practices and deconstruct them from an anthropological point of view. I looked at everything from employee communications, to budgeting, to… Read More ->