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Using Ethnography to Identify Cultural Domains within a Systems Engineering Organization

bwanamfupi{at}juno.com University of Connecticut,

Many engineering corporations are attempting to adapt successful manufacturing quality initiatives to the office environment. These adaptations can be improved by considering the cultural domains in which knowledge is created and transferred. Ethnographic research conducted at a research engineering company identifies several shared cultural domains within the systems engineering group. It is suggested that the elements in these domains be incorporated into quality improvement, new employee training, and career development opportunities. This research identifies technology design as a common concern for both anthropologists and engineers. The nature of emerging technology practice will change to the degree that these and other disciplines interact to shape choices affecting how technology is designed rather than waiting to discuss how it should be used.

Key Words: technology practice • engineering design • applied anthropology • technology • values

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