Institutional memory and organizational memory: faces of the same coin

ABSTRACT Memory has the characteristic of being ubiquitous and is considered a phenomenon of identification and belonging in which the individual is both subject and object. In this context, the objective is to present some differences between institutional memory and organizational memory in order to show that both are integrated, with no subordination. With regard to methodological procedures, this research is qualitative, typologically descriptive and exploratory. For that, a Systematic Literature Review protocol was carried out, covering the period from 2009 to 2019. It is considered that the findings can contribute to enrich the theoretical framework of the scientific field of Information Science, more specifically with regard to institutional memory related to legitimacy and organizational memory linked to the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations. As a result, it is evident that there are no subordinations, but some particularities and individualities between institutional memory and organizational memory, demonstrating that institutional memory is related to the social value of the group, has difficulty in being practical, realistic and objective, it is in the whole instituted, it is not pragmatic, it is an intentional object and a collective phenomenon that deals with power relations; organizational memory, on the other hand, is practical, pragmatic, objective, at the service, focused on concrete actions and on the construction of management processes, and is focused on productivity. As similarities, it was identified that both memory processes are cyclical, mutable, are under constant construction, are unique and should be considered social phenomena, as they are products of social relations. It is considered that the findings can contribute to enrich the theoretical framework of the scientific field of Information Science, more specifically with regard to institutional memory, related to legitimacy, and organizational memory, linked to the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations.

【摘要】记忆具有无处不在的特性，被视为一种兼具认同与归属属性的现象，其中个体同时作为主体与客体存在。在此研究背景下，本文旨在厘清制度记忆（institutional memory）与组织记忆（organizational memory）之间的差异，以证明二者相互融合而非存在从属关系。在研究方法层面，本研究属于定性研究范畴，类型上兼具描述性与探索性。研究采用系统文献综述（Systematic Literature Review）范式，检索时限覆盖2009年至2019年。本研究认为，其研究发现可丰富信息科学（Information Science）领域的理论框架，尤其在与合法性相关的制度记忆，以及与组织效率和效能挂钩的组织记忆方向上具有补充价值。研究结果表明，制度记忆与组织记忆之间并无从属关系，但各自存在独特属性与特质：制度记忆与群体的社会价值相关联，难以具备实践性、现实性与客观性，存在于完整的建制体系之中，不具有实用主义倾向，是一种涉及权力关系的意向性客体与集体现象；反观组织记忆，则兼具实践性、务实性与客观性，以服务为导向，聚焦具体行动与管理流程构建，核心指向生产力提升。二者的共性在于，两类记忆过程均呈现循环性、可变性特征，始终处于持续构建之中，具有独特性，且均应被视为社会现象，因为它们都是社会关系的产物。本研究的发现可进一步丰富信息科学领域的理论框架，尤其在与合法性相关的制度记忆，以及与组织效率和效能挂钩的组织记忆方向上具有补充价值。