NAU anthropology graduate Tracy Meerwarth, left, and current graduate student Emily Altimare were part of a study investigating the work culture at General Motors' headquarters in Detroit.

Anthropologists from NAU are putting on their hard hats and safety goggles as they move their attention from traditional cultures to a more modern one.

As another example of the rising interest in working across disciplinary boundaries within and beyond the research community, General Motors asked anthropology professor Robert Trotter and NAU graduate research students to use typical culture-study methods to investigate the factory's work culture at its headquarters in Detroit.

"This project offered us the unique opportunity to apply anthropological theory, knowledge and practice into the context of a large, national corporation," Trotter said.

Their study focused on identifying what GM automotive plant employees consider to be features of an "ideal plant culture." After discussing with hourly and salary employees, researchers asked them to describe obstacles they would face in moving toward that ideal and anything that might assist them.

"We used standard research methods such as conversations and observations while spending extended periods of time on the plant floor," said Tracy Meerwarth, NAU anthropology graduate and participant in the study. "Our analysis of their statements and stories led to the construction of the 'Ideal Culture Model,' which we used as a basis for creating a variety of solutions for plant use."

Termed the "Ideal Plant Culture" study, researchers set out to treat GM's plant as if it were simply another culture in need of conflict resolution. Using anthropological techniques, researchers were able to identify the company's core conflicts from the employee's point of view.

Through extensive interviewing, the researchers created 12 different tools to tackle the problem of inefficient corporate communication and enhance the quality of life for employees. They range from an instructional guide on framing questions to foster a collaborative spirit, to a video that explores workplace disagreements and disagreement resolution.

The research has resulted in internships and research assistantships for students, including Emily Altimare, an anthropology graduate student and participant on the project, who, with the other researchers, put her safety goggles on to collect employee data on the plant floor.

"Anthropology as a tool is really good at getting what we call the 'native perspective' or the user opinion," Altimare said. "We were able to help recognize conflict and guide plant managers on how to effectively communicate with their employees."

To showcase their work, Trotter and his students have developed a DVD that describes a variety of projects at GM, including the ideal plant culture study. It will be created as an instructional tool and available through the GM library system.