This talk will present findings from joint work with Prof. Janet
Vertesi of the Princeton University Department of Sociology. In our
project, we examine the consensus building process in remote/hybrid
scientific collaborations. We studied the decadal planning processes of
three groups of NASA scientists, which occurred during or just after the
COVID-19 pandemic. From ethnographic observation and interviews with
scientists, we identify three paradoxes of the remote consensus process,
united by the general theme that remote consensus processes involve
greater diversity of thought but complicate prioritization necessary for
decision-making: a paradox of voice, a paradox of constraint, and a
paradox of transparency. We also examine some of the consequences of
these paradoxes by analyzing the documents produced from these decadal
processes.
Bio:
James Mellody’s research
explores the intersection of technology and coordination. In one stream
of work, he uses natural language processing and social network analyses
to study coordination in online communities—specifically how
individuals with different interests and tastes come together to consume
and produce culture in online spaces. In a second stream of work, he
uses ethnographic methods to study the impact of technology on
coordination in traditional organizations—specifically how people from
different backgrounds and areas of expertise can make use of technology
to coordinate across differences.
Mellody received a Ph.D. in
management, with a focus on economic sociology and organization studies,
from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Prior to MIT, he received a
B.A. in East Asian languages and civilizations from the University of
Pennsylvania.
In-person attendance is open to Princeton University faculty, staff and students.
If you need an accommodation for a disability please contact Jean Butcher at butcher@princeton.edu at least one week before the event.
Sponsorship of an event does not constitute institutional endorsement of external speakers or views presented.
