Almost everyone has at least one memory of working with a ‘lifer’ or ‘old-timer.’ In some cases these employees have been at the organization since its inception, in other cases they have worked there for their entire career or as long as anyone can remember. The phrase “can remember” is often at the heart of discussions about institutional memory.
The Society of American Archivists’ glossary of archival and records terminology defines institutional memory as:
“The information in records and in individuals’ personal knowledge that provide an understanding of an organization’s or group’s history and culture, especially the stories that explain the reasons behind certain decisions or procedures.”
All too often memories of an organization’s past projects, milestones, and failures are kept only in the minds of employees. When an employee moves on, retires, or simply ceases to remember, details these memories are lost to the organization. Without establishing a culture and practices which foster institutional memory the tangible past of an organization can quickly become non-existent.