Ethnography Field Notes by Angeline Jane Lim https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography Participant Observation on Monday, 12 September 2022 en-us 2022-09-04 02:15:31 UTC 2025-11-27 02:39:02 UTC hello@padlet.com A group of colleagues went to lunch with their boss. There is tension as demonstrated by the positional hierarchy. https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292055085 2022-09-12 10:15:55 UTC https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292055085 Top-down culture demonstrated. https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292055959 2022-09-12 10:16:38 UTC https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292055959 https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292055990 what are the power relations within the group

what is the office culture

what are the acceptable and unacceptable social behaviours that are implicitly agreed upon by all characters]]> 2022-09-12 10:16:40 UTC https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292055990 The main decision maker is the boss with a Chanel bag!!! https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292056935 2022-09-12 10:17:39 UTC https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292056935 Field Notes - 12 September 2022, Start: 6.10pm; End: 6.15pm https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292058174 4 Ladies - Angeline and Pearlyn entered the "restaurant" and sat at the table nearest to the door. Ms Ho entered the room later and demanded that Angeline and Pearlyn join her at the table in the middle. At the same time, she instructed Angeline to clean the table, saying that "her bag is more than her monthly pay". Pearlyn moved the trash to another table and prompted the "service staff" to remove. Chia Yen walked in subsequently as she talks on the phone (phone call seems to be from a teacher who is informing her of her son's unacceptable behaviour in school). She then moved over to sit between Angeline and Pearlyn.
Ms Ho, Angeline, Chia Yen and Pearlyn entered the restaurant]]> 2022-09-12 10:18:43 UTC https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292058174 Power Relations pycheng4 https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292059151 3 subordinate and 1 boss
authoritative, very hierarchical 
--Lilian said, "Come sit down here. Make sure table is clean." But they were already seated somewhere else. 
--Angeline was the "yes person." 
--Pearlyn would still follow, but she would argue more. "But can't we call him Paul?" 
--Chia Yen speaking to teacher, called teacher by 1st name--> start of hierarchical culture in SG?
--Lilian insisting on organic food; might be influencing at the start but eventually became dominant; Angeline said, "Let's go Dutch."]]> 2022-09-12 10:19:41 UTC https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292059151 What are the power relations within the group? https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292059818 Ms Ho seems to be the demanding middle manager. 
Angeline is the most "obedient" and "respectful". 
Chia Yen is less aware or aloof of the dynamics within the group. 
Pearlyn shows resistance to the power relations. ]]> 2022-09-12 10:20:20 UTC https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292059818 Acceptable social culture which is 'agreed upon' is subservience to leadership. https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292059948 2022-09-12 10:20:28 UTC https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292059948 What is the office culture? https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292060454 Top-Down - although Pearlyn seems to say that Paul who was the GM practises Servant Leadership ]]> 2022-09-12 10:20:57 UTC https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292060454 Office Culture pycheng4 https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292061056 --Very hierarchical; very top-down; insist
--No shared decision making
--Angeline was a "poser"; talks behind back
--3 don't stand up to her; not allowed to]]> 2022-09-12 10:21:29 UTC https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292061056 What are acceptable and unacceptable social behaviours that are implicitly agreed upon by all characters? https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292061727 The acceptable social behaviour seems to be obedience towards the one with a more superior position (i.e. Ms Ho). 

Unacceptable social behaviour is to address superiors by their first name.

]]> 2022-09-12 10:22:05 UTC https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292061727 Behavior pycheng4 https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292062086 (+)
-Eating as a team
-"want" to be servant leaders--but disconnect with actual practice

(-)
-Can't call bosses by 1st name; can't call Paul; call Ms. Ho ]]> 2022-09-12 10:22:26 UTC https://padlet.com/angelinejanelim/ethnography/wish/2292062086