People are the key to unlocking knowledge. That’s the central lesson M.S. in Information & Knowledge Strategy (IKNS) lecturer and alum Jessica Malloy (’21SPS, IKNS) has drawn from her professional journey—and the inspiration behind her new course, Business Anthropology.
As legal knowledge manager at Stryker, one of the world’s leading medical-technology companies, Malloy has seen firsthand how the academic field of anthropology offers a unique lens for solving complex business challenges. Her new course uses ethnographic approaches to organizational performance, helping students uncover the cultural, identity, and power dynamics that often remain hidden beneath the surface, yet hold the key to meaningful design and innovation.
The new course Business Anthropology embodies a hallmark of the IKNS program: a multidisciplinary and practice-oriented curriculum that asks the deeper “why” behind human behavior. By doing so, the course challenges students to bridge gaps, spark creativity, and craft strategies that stick.
What excites you about the M.S. in Information & Knowledge Strategy (IKNS) program?
We’re faced with a deluge of information every day, and thinking deeply and differently about information matters. What is hidden beneath the surface, and what others are missing, are key skills students learn in this program. The IKNS curriculum draws on many disciplines and combines both theoretical and practical learning. It equips students to bring structure and clarity to complexity while never losing sight of the people.
Can you tell us about your new course, Business Anthropology? What topics will students explore?
Business Anthropology is a rapidly growing field of study that explores how cultural insight and ethnographic methods can unlock better ways to lead, manage, and innovate within organizations. The workplace continues to globalize, increase in complexity, and demand innovation. In this course, students will learn to apply anthropological theories and methods to real problems that organizations face. We’ll explore how culture, tacit knowledge, power, and identity shape the way organizations function. Ethnographic interviewing and participant observation will serve as key tools for students to critically examine how insights can be turned into strategy, design, and innovation.
What inspired you to create this course, and why do you think business anthropology is especially relevant in today’s professional world?
During my time in the IKNS program, I was surprised and energized by the immense and important focus not just on data & analytics, but on people. Again and again, I was brought back to my undergraduate studies in anthropology. A key element of IKNS is about enabling people to work smarter and innovate faster, and anthropology gives us the lens to understand the hidden patterns, values, and assumptions that drive behavior.
How can taking an anthropological perspective help organizational leaders make better decisions and drive innovation?
An anthropological perspective pushes leaders to look beneath the surface. It teaches them to pay attention not just to what people say but to what they do, and why they do it. That lens helps uncover unspoken assumptions, cultural barriers, or tacit knowledge that analytics alone can’t reveal. Leaders who follow this approach are more likely to design solutions that stick because they are grounded in the real context.
What is your career advice to IKNS students?
Stay curious and open-minded. The most effective knowledge strategists bring insights from various fields to inform their work. Keep asking “why” until you reach the root of the issue, and watch out for insights lying beneath the surface of what is obvious.
About Columbia's IKNS Degree
Columbia University’s M.S. in Information & Knowledge Strategy (IKNS) degree provides students with foundations in information science, organizational psychology, and change management as well as practical skills in project management and executive leadership.
IKNS is available full-time or part-time, online or in-person on Columbia’s landmarked campus right here in New York City. To maximize opportunities for networking and community building, our online students join our New York-based students on Columbia’s campus for three in-person residencies during their studies. The STEM-designated Master of Science degree offers International Students (F-1/J-1 visa) an opportunity for Curricular Practical Training during their studies (CPT) and 3 years of work authorization in the US upon completing their studies (OPT).
Students train under world-class faculty, including former and current executives from Google, IBM, NASA, and Oliver Wyman, and join a powerful global alumni network in coveted positions, including at Alphabet, Goldman Sachs, Nike, Pfizer, and the World Bank.
For more IKNS insights, news, and events, please go to our website, connect with us on LinkedIn, or attend one of our online info sessions. Visit the School of Professional Studies website to learn more about the SPS Student Experience.
