Abstract
Organizational memory is the knowledge that has been accumulated from past experiences, which resides in the organization and can be used towards making decisions. This article explicates some of the subtleties of organizational memory and explores its impact on organizations. By reviewing existing research on the understanding of antecedents and consequences of organizational memory, we suggest future research needs further clarification on the antecedents of memory, the level in which memory occurs and the performance implications of memory. We also introduce the concept of ‘global shared memory’, which reflects recent advancements of knowledge storage beyond organizational boundaries.
Organizational memory is the knowledge that has been accumulated from past experiences, which resides in the organization and can be utilized towards making decisions (Walsh and Ungson 1991; Olivera 2000; Argote 2012). The temporal processes in organizational memory where information is acquired, interpreted and retained constitute a complex phenomenon that extends far beyond the mere collection and storage of information. Information has to be internalized as organizational knowledge, retained and be readily available for use. Consequently, not all information is retained by an organization. Actors select according to the importance of information and the availability of organizational capabilities required for retaining the information. Organizations also need specific storage and retrieval processes, so that they can easily access and present the information as useful knowledge at the specific moment that a decision is made.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ackerman, M.S. 1996. Definitional and contextual issues in organizational and group memories. Information Technology and People 9: 10–24.
Anand, V., C.C. Manz, and W.H. Glick. 1998. An organizational memory approach to information management. Academy of Management Review 23: 796–809.
Argote, L. 2012. Organizational learning: Creating, retaining and transferring knowledge. New York: Springer Science and Business Media.
Argote, L. 2015. An opportunity for mutual learning between organizational learning and global strategy researchers: Transactive memory systems. Global Strategy Journal 5: 198–203.
Argote, L., and D. Epple. 1990. Learning curves in manufacturing. Science 247: 920–924.
Argote, L., and E. Miron-Spektor. 2011. Organizational learning: From experience to knowledge. Organization Science 22: 1123–1137.
Argote, L., and Y. Ren. 2012. Transactive memory systems: A microfoundation of dynamic capabilities. Journal of Management Studies 49: 1375–1382.
Benkard, C.L. 2000. Learning and forgetting: The dynamics of aircraft production. American Economic Review 90: 1034–1054.
Camisón, C., and A. Villar-López. 2011. Non-technical innovation: Organizational memory and learning capabilities as antecedent factors with effects on sustained competitive advantage. Industrial Marketing Management 40: 1294–1304.
Casey, A.J., and F. Olivera. 2011. Reflections on organizational memory and forgetting. Journal of Management Inquiry 20: 305–310.
Chang, D.R., and H. Cho. 2008. Organizational memory influences new product success. Journal of Business Research 61: 13–23.
Cohen, M.D. 1991. Individual learning and organizational routine: Emerging connections. Organization Science 2: 135–139.
Cohen, M.D., and P. Bacdayan. 1994. Organizational routines are stored as procedural memory: Evidence from a laboratory study. Organization Science 5: 554–568.
Cross, R., and L. Baird. 2000. Technology is not enough: Improving performance by building organizational memory. MIT Sloan Management Review 41: 69–78.
Cyert, R.M., and J.G. March. 1963. A behavioral theory of the firm. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.
David, G., and T. Brachet. 2011. On the determinants of organizational forgetting. American Economic Journal: Microeconomics 3: 100–123.
de Holan, P.M. 2011. Organizational forgetting, unlearning, and memory systems. Journal of Management Inquiry 20: 302–304.
Flores, L.G., W. Zheng, D. Rau, and C.H. Thomas. 2012. Organizational learning subprocess identification, construct validation, and an empirical test of cultural antecedents. Journal of Management 38: 640–667.
Garud, R., R.L. Dunbar, and C.A. Bartel. 2011. Dealing with unusual experiences: A narrative perspective on organizational learning. Organization Science 22: 587–601.
Heavey, C., and Z. Simsek. 2016 (forthcoming). Distributed cognition in top management teams and organizational ambidexterity: The influence of transactive memory systems. Journal of Management.
Jain, A., and B. Kogut. 2013. Memory and organizational evolvability in a neutral landscape. Organization Science 25: 479–493.
Levine, S.S., and M.J. Prietula. 2012. How knowledge transfer impacts performance: A multilevel model of benefits and liabilities. Organization Science 23: 1748–1766.
Meschi, P.-X., and E. Métais. 2013. Do firms forget about their past acquisitions? Evidence from French acquisitions in the United States (1988–2006). Journal of Management 39: 469–495.
Miller, K.D., B.T. Pentland, and S. Choi. 2012. Dynamics of performing and remembering organizational routines. Journal of Management Studies 49: 1536–1558.
Moorman, C., and A.S. Miner. 1998. Organizational improvisation and organizational memory. Academy of Management Review 23: 698–723.
Nelson, R.R., and S.G. Winter. 1982. An evolutionary theory of economic change. Cambridge, MA: Belknap.
Olivera, F. 2000. Memory systems in organizations: An empirical investigation of mechanisms for knowledge collection, storage and access. Journal of Management Studies 37: 811–832.
Ren, Y., K.M. Carley, and L. Argote. 2006. The contingent effects of transactive memory: When is it more beneficial to know what others know? Management Science 52: 671–682.
Schultz, M., and T. Hernes. 2013. A temporal perspective on organizational identity. Organization Science 24: 1–21.
Stein, E.W. 1995. Organization memory: Review of concepts and recommendations for management. International Journal of Information Management 15: 17–32.
Walsh, J.P., and G.R. Ungson. 1991. Organizational memory. Academy of Management Review 16: 57–91.
Wegner, D.M. 1987. Transactive memory: A contemporary analysis of the group mind. In Theories of group behavior, ed. B. Mullen and G.R. Goethals. New York: Springer.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2018 The Author(s)
About this entry
Cite this entry
Bhandary, A., Maslach, D. (2018). Organizational Memory. In: Augier, M., Teece, D.J. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Strategic Management. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-00772-8_210
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-00772-8_210
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-230-53721-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-00772-8
eBook Packages: Business and ManagementReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences