Social representations of the challenges linked to the Anthropocene: a qualitative study of managers

The aim of this research study was to identify the perception that managers have of the main challenges facing their company, and their impact on human resource and career management practices. The focus was on the place of the ecological transition among these challenges. The structural model of social representation was used as theoretical framework. A total of 30 managers of 20 organisations in the industry and cultural sectors based in France took part in a semi-structured interview. The data were analysed using consensual thematic analysis. The results show that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the digitalisation of society were mentioned first. The ecological transition is mentioned by just over half of managers. The discussion deals with the current mindset of managers regarding the Anthropocene crisis.