Organizational Memory
(Walsh Ungson)

Knowledge Center

What is Organizational Memory?

The Organizational Memory model of Walsh and Ungson can be used for information retention, acquisition, and retrieval in an organization.

Walsh and Ungson suggest that the structure of organizational memory can be classified within six information "storage bins":

• Individuals,
• Culture (stories, mental models),
• Transformations (the various processes and procedures),
• Structures (roles within the organization),
• Ecology (physical setting of the organization), and
• External archives (information documentation).

Organizational memory refers to stored information from an organization that can be used for current decisions. It is not centrally stored, but distributed across different facilities where it is retained.
The model helps HRM managers to improve an organization's chances to exploit better its memory potential, by shaping and influencing these memory locations.

Origin of Organizational Memory. History

There are several modern scholars who publish work regarding organizational memory. But it is clear that the origins of this concept are based upon the work of early twentieth-century scholars such as Durkheim and Vygotsky. According to Wexler (2002), the notion of organizational memory originates from the work of Durkheim and his protégé and was built upon the concept of collective memory. Spender (1996) claims that organizational memory is inextricably linked to the work of Vygotsky and social construction theory. He offers the argument that socially embedded activity preceded the development of individual consciousness (p. 71). Walsh and Ungson (1991) cite the work of March and Simon (1958), who posit that the memory of an organization or institution can be housed in policies and procedures. This retention characteristic can also result in negative consequences. Walsh and Ungson (1991) also cite the work of Starbuck and Hedberg (1977), who claim that structured artifacts such as roles can do harm to an institution, when they lose their efficacy over time and actually become impediments to change.

Usage of the Organizational Memory model. Applications

• Human Resources
• Knowledge Management

Strengths of the Organizational Memory concept. Benefits

• Gives a simple framework for guiding HR efforts in improving knowledge management.
• Allows institutions to benefit from historical information and from learnings. Despite the transient nature of organizational membership (Berthon, Pitt & Ewing, 2001).
• Can serve as a competitive advantage (Wexler, 2002; Croasdell, 2001).
• Can actually reduce transaction costs (Croasdell, 2001).
• Can serve a political role in organizations. This can have both positive and negative implications (Walsh and Ungson, 1991).

Limitations of Organizational Memory. Disadvantages

• A too high emphasis on organizational memory can disable learning in an organization, causing rigidity and blindness: companies no longer notice changes in the environment.
• Organizational memory is a function of an institution's age, size and success (Sinkula, 1994; Lukas, Hult and Ferrell, 1996; and Berthon, Pitt and Ewing, 2001).
• Prior history may cause habitual decision making and in Single-loop learning (Berthon, Pitt and Ewing, 2001).
• Artifacts such as roles and organizational structure, that are stored within the culture of institutions, may also become impediments to change (Walsh and Ungson, 1991).

Assumptions of the Organizational Memory model. Conditions

• According to Walsh and Ungson (1991), when you think about organizational memory, you must consider three critical factors: retention, acquisition, and retrieval.

Forum Forum discussions about Organizational Memory. 🔥 Organisational Memory Blocks Innovation I have found that memory is always the worst deterrent for accepting new challenges - for welcoming new recruits, new ideas. Memory is good only for history writers - in an ever changing market envir... 3   2 comments Start a new topic about Organizational Memory Sign up for free

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Expert Tips Advanced insights about Organizational Memory. Here you will find professional advices by experts. Consultancy Tips Teaching Tips Practical Implementation Tips Barriers that Hinder Effective Knowledge Sharing Effective Knowledge Sharing, Pitfalls to Avoid, Knowledge Management Implementation According to Chris Collison, there are seven common barriers or syndromes that hinder effective knowledge sharing and se... Strategies to Change Employee Habits, Hearts and Heads Changing Organization Cultures According to J.E. Kee and K.E. Newcomer ("Why Do Change Efforts Fail? What Can Leaders Do About It?", The Public Manager... How to Identify and Map Knowledge Knowledge Identification, Knowledge Capturing, Knowledge Storage In his article “Knowledge Mapping: The Essentials for Success”, Wesley Vestal provides following six tips to identify an... Pitfalls and Best Practices in Culture Change Changing Organizational Cultures, What to DO and what NOT According to Jon Katzenbach and Ashley Harshak ("Stop Blaming Your Culture", strategy+business, Spring 2011, Issue 62), ... Critical Activities to Build a Learning Organization Implementing Organizational Learning, Best Practices Learning organizations are distinguished because they are undertaking certain activities to foster the internal learning... Knowledge Management Scope Knowledge Management, Level of Know-how Research by Deishin Lee (HBS) and Eric Van den Steen (MIT) shows that recording mediocre know-how can actually be counte... Knowledge Management Focal Point Knowledge Management Focus Research by Deishin Lee (HBS) and Eric Van den Steen (MIT) shows that information about successes is typically more usef... PROs and CONs of a Strong Corporate Culture Corporate Culture Change, Change Management, Organizational Change Implementing a significant change is generally easier when the corporate culture is not strong. By strong Corporate Cult...

Information Sources Various sources of information regarding Organizational Memory. Here you will find powerpoints, videos, news, etc. to use in your own lectures and workshops. Organizational Forgetting and Memory Organizational Memory, Organizational Forgetting This presentation elaborates on the concept of organizational memory, and includes the following sections: 1. Introduct... How to Integrate Internal Organizational Knowledge with External Online Communities Knowledge Management, Knowledge Creation, Knowledge Sharing, Interaction, Knowledge in Organizations Due to many online and web-based technological developments in today´s digital economy, sharing knowledge in online comm... Three Levels of Knowledge Management Initial Understanding Knowledge Management, Organizational Learning According to Jury (2007), knowledge management can be categorized into three different levels, and organized in a pyrami... Knowledge Management Systems Architecture Knowledge Management, Knowledge Creation, Knowledge Systems, Knowledge Architecture This presentation is about knowledge development and management, including the following sections: 1. Overview 2. Know... Introduction Into Organizational Memory Organizational Memory Introduction into Organizational Memory, including the following sections: 1. Organizational Memory (OM): definition 2... Organizational Memory Diagram Information Management Download and edit this 12manage PowerPoint graphic for limited personal, educational and business use. Republishing in ...

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