NAU professor works with GM to patent collaboration model

Anthropologists usually get attention from helping us understand cultural differences around the world or discovering patterns from the past, but NAU's anthropology department recently helped secure a patent with General Motors for a model of behavior to be used when companies collaborate on projects.

Some of the key tools in the model include identifying core conflicts, ways for improving communications, methods for assessing relationships and analyzing data from various working relationships.

Robert Trotter, an anthropology professor at NAU, is listed on the patent with GM for developing the method that improves the performances of collaborative relationships.

"Before we developed this model, GM was working with three other universities on a variety of projects, and now that the company is using the model we developed, it is successfully managing 14 collaborations," Trotter said.

Trotter said 40 percent to 60 percent of joint business ventures fail because they have no model of how to work together.

"Now there is a method of collaboration that not only will work at General Motors, but can be useful for numerous companies, universities and community-based organizations to follow for success," Trotter said.

The patent was approved this month.

Last year Trotter also led a team of graduate students to use typical culture-study methods to investigate and improve GM's work culture at its factory and headquarters in Detroit. He said the patented method also was used to improve partnerships and working relationships within the plant.