The School of Communication Studies will host its spring Colloquium Series beginning Friday, Feb. 5 at 4 p.m. in Taylor Hall, room 146. The series will kick-off with Paul Sommer, assistant professor of communication studies from СƬƵ Stark.
Sommer will present his dissertation “The Communicative Accomplishment of Knowledge Work: An Investigation of the Domestic Construction Industry.”
“I’m interested in learning how individuals talk about what they know with others in an organization,” Sommer said. “Particularly in project-based organizations – like the construction industry – that face situations unique to each differing project, how do individuals discuss or communicate problems?”
Sommer’s presentation will include findings from a nationwide survey of construction organizations. The findings will cover construction organizations’ process for capturing, developing, sharing and effectively using organizational knowledge.
Sommer said that in order to overcome the unique challenges faced by project-based organizations, a distinction between communicating in an anticipatory or reactive manner is necessary. His presentation will further discuss that distinction and how individuals might anticipate and communicate potential problems.
The presentation is free of charge and all faculty and graduate students are invited to attend. The series provides an opportunity for faculty and students to foster intellectual and collaborative discussions, and to stay informed about current research efforts.
The dates for future Spring 2016 semester colloquiums are:
• Friday, March 4
• Friday, April 1
Additional details about the upcoming colloquiums will be available at www.kent.edu/comm at a later date. For questions or consideration for a future colloquium, contact Suzy D’Enbeau at sdenbeau@kent.edu.