Insights and Strategies for Real-World Impact

Consulting for research teams, businesses, and organizations

About Us

At Applied Ethnographic Services, we provide deep, contextual, and actionable insights into the human dimensions of your research or organization.

Our tailored recommendations and practical strategies inform decision-making, problem-solving, and cultural transformation.

Whether you are a research team seeking to deepen your understanding of human behavior or an organization aiming to transform workplace culture, we deliver research-based insights that drive real-world impact.

People often ask me how an anthropological perspective and ethnographic toolkit might help their business, organization, or research team. I say:

“If humans are involved, we can help.”

Ryan T. Klataske, PhD, founder and principal, Applied Ethnographic Services

Our Value

  • Research team working together

    Research Teams

    With expertise and experience in cultural anthropology, ethnography, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international, cross-cultural, and applied research, we address the need for deeper understanding of lived experiences, perspectives, motivations, decision-making, and needs of communities.

    Through immersive and interactive research, our partnerships with diverse teams contribute valuable insights into the cultural and complex human dimensions of research problems.

  • Feedyard cowboys in winter

    Organizations

    By exploring the cultural dynamics underlying organizational challenges, we help businesses and organizations achieve their goals more effectively by better understanding employees, members, customers, and the communities they care about.

    We tackle complex issues related to workplace culture and organizational performance including safety, communication, collaboration, engagement, and turnover.

    Our research-based insights and tailored recommendations support strategic decision-making, problem-solving, and change initiatives.

Our Services

  • Interviewing feedyard worker

    Customizable Ethnographic Research & Assessments

    Enhance your research with our specialized expertise. We collaborate with interdisciplinary research teams to provide deep ethnographic insights that enrich your projects.

  • Workers processing cattle on feedyard

    Organizational Consulting

    Transform your workplace with strategies grounded in rigorous ethnographic research. We help you create a thriving, engaged, and safe work environment.

  • Milking cows as participant observation

    Work Culture Assessments

    Comprehensive ethnographic evaluations of workplace culture, offering deep insights and tailored recommendations to improve employee engagement, safety, retention, and other areas of performance, with practical strategies for cultural transformation.

  • People learning together

    Training for Teams, Businesses, and Organizations

    Equipping your team with the knowledge and skills to understand and address cultural dynamics effectively.

Why Choose Us?

  • Expertise and Experience

  • Deep Actionable Insights

  • Research-based Strategies

  • Tailored Recommendations

  • Real-World Impact

Profile pic of Ryan Klataske
  • PhD from Michigan State University in anthropology with doctoral specialization in environmental science and policy

    Research and work experience related to agriculture and food production, safety and health, work culture, labor and immigration, wildlife conservation and resource management, tourism, grasslands, and rural communities, along with diverse people including farmers and ranchers, agricultural workers, meat processing workers, business and civic leaders, rural community members, and many others.

    Co-owner of Ancient Ocean Beef Co.

    Affiliate Fellow, Center for Great Plains Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Adjunct professor in the Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center

    Taught cultural, applied, and engaged anthropology at Kansas State University

    Worked for grassroots prairie conservation organization

    Serves on boards related to beef sustainability research and environmental eduction