Abstract

Organizational ethnography involves researchers immersing themselves in complex social environments to observe, document, and interpret the language, behaviors, and interactions of employees in close proximity. This review covers organizational culture, cultural control, and the self. These three areas are central to organizational ethnography because their analysis exposes the underlying systems of cultural and subcultural meaning and employees’ subjective experiences. The literature concerning organizational culture focuses on multifaceted arguments by encompassing normative and critical perspectives. In particular, it draws attention to the interpretation of organizational cultures in search of meaning. Literature pertaining to cultural control includes power relations and behavioral socialization processes. From a sociological perspective, conceptions of the self are highlighted to assist organizational ethnographers in interpreting employees’ subjective experiences. Given the changing nature of 21st century organizations, this article provides a framework to guide organizational ethnographers’ analytical approach, enabling them to offer accurate and worthwhile interpretations concerning employees’ subjective experiences in context.