Using business anthropology for strategic cost reduction

When business anthropologists work with the C-suite of large companies, the clients or employers tend to be the chief marketing officer (for consumer research), the chief strategy officer (for strategy work anchored in an outside-in perspective), the chief innovation officer (for new product development work) or the head of HR (for corporate culture work).

Cost reduction, on the other hand, lies at the hands of the chief operating officer or the chief financial officer, corporate offices that are rarely visited by business anthropologists.

Andreas Wester Hansen believes a fruitful new alley of engagement for corporate anthropologists would be to get involved in cost optimization initiatives in large companies