I’ve just read a book with a very different view on change management than that of consultants and managers, namely that of an anthropologist. The book ‘Patronen’ (Patterns) by Danielle Braun describes how she applies the outside-in view and tools of an anthropologist to observe and change organisational cultures.
What you see depends on who you are. The author uses the metaphor of the rhinoceros horn to show this: in every image that the rhinoceros, i.e. you, sees the horn is in the middle of the view. (For this metaphor we will ignore the fact that in reality the eyes of the rhinoceros look sideways not forwards.)
It’s a very different way of observing organisations because she sees them as tribal groups of people. She uses the words to match: rituals, totems, magicians, chiefs. It feels somewhat unusual. I wonder how much of this view I will notice in my own work in organisations.
My review of the book (in Dutch) is available at managementboek.nl.
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