How Can Institutional Memory Affect Us?

Institutional memory can be defined as information held and passed down within an institution, such as a religion, a cultural group, or a business. This type of knowledge can be given through various texts (such as a religious book, company handbook, or school textbook), or it may be spread to others verbally. If you’ve encountered challenges related to memory, such as conflicts between your beliefs and the institutional memory of groups you’re a part of, speaking to a licensed therapist about these issues can be helpful.

What is institutional memory, or organizational memory?

What types of organizations have institutional memories?

Institutional memory can be contained in many organizations, such as:

• Workplaces: Aside from official work information, coworkers often gossip and give other forms of information.
• Government bodies: Even a simple government office generally requires quite a bit of institutional memory.
• Religious groups: The knowledge about one's religion, one's interpretation of religious texts, and more can be considered institutional memory.
• Schools: How a school is supposed to operate, and what knowledge is supposed to be taught, can be passed down in quite a few ways. Teachers may teach their techniques, and textbooks can also be a form of institutional memory.
• Cultures: The culture you live in can have its own form of institutional memory. Types of cultures may include the town, state, or country you live in, or they may involve cultures associated with various ethnicities.

How institutional memory can affect an organization

Institutional memory can affect who is allowed into the institution. For example, in college, certain application requirements can affect whether you're accepted as a student. In a workplace, having connections to the institution may increase your chances of being hired. 

This information also can determine the organization's identity. Their branding, philosophy, philanthropy, and other factors can be impacted by organizational memory. In addition, the actions of the people in the institution can be affected by institutional memory. Someone may act differently based on institutional memory than they would without that information.

How institutional memories and knowledge can be gained

Institutional knowledge can occur when people use the historical information available to them. For example, in a religion, someone's interpretation of a religious text can affect how the group is run or the rules they follow. In a company that has been around for over a century, the current CEO's interpretation of the founder's philosophy can affect how the organization is run. In a school, the philosophies of past teachers and administrators may influence the current staff. Institutional memory can be affected by the way details are preserved and passed on, as well as how others analyze the information. Methods for gaining and preserving cultural memories in organizations include:

• Identifying high-value information
• Encourage open sharing across the organization
• Leverage personal stories and organization history (successes, failures, etc)
• Be persistent, and treat knowledge preservation as a continuous activity
• Leverage technology to gain and preserve knowledge

When it comes to interpreting a text, no two people may have the same interpretation. There are often thousands of interpretations of religious texts, for instance. Some people may take the text literally, while others may only take certain parts literally, and others may believe the text is entirely metaphorical. Some may try to obey all the teachings of a religious text, and others may select a few teachings to live by.

In an organization, the founder's interpretation of how to run the company will likely be spread everywhere in the organization. They may present their institutional knowledge to customers or stakeholders. There is also a theory that economic determinism, or the belief that economic relationships are the foundation for all other societal arrangements, may determine institutional knowledge and memory.

The challenges of preserving institutional memory 

When it comes to institutional memory, preservation can be key. Without institutional memory, the world as we know it may cease to exist. However, institutional memory tends to change with the times, even when we have detailed records to look back on. The way this information is interpreted, and the motivations behind the person or group interpreting it, can change its meaning. 

It can be difficult to preserve institutional memory perfectly. Often, the founders of the organization or original participants of the group may have passed away, so it’s not possible to consult them on what they meant by their philosophy. Words can be misinterpreted, or they may develop different meanings over time. It can be challenging to precisely preserve any form of information. Still, keeping detailed written records, whether physical or digital, can be helpful in passing down information for years to come. There are other reasons why organizations may have trouble preserving institutional memory, including:

• Experienced members leave the organization—this can be particularly problematic in organizations with high turnover rates
• Information overload
• Prioritization of immediate results over a knowledge-sharing culture
• Policy and procedure erosion

How online therapy can be helpful

Sometimes, reconciling the beliefs or institutional memory of a group you’re a part of with your own morals can be difficult. Perhaps you consider yourself a part of a certain religious or political group, but you don’t hold all the same beliefs as the rest of the group, for example. Talking to a licensed mental health professional about your thoughts and feelings can give you clarity.

If meeting with a therapist in person is uncomfortable or difficult for you, another option may be online therapy. When you match with a therapist through an online therapy platform, you may be empowered to receive the professional guidance you deserve from the comfort of your home at a time that fits your schedule. Research suggests that online therapy can often be as effective as in-person therapy when it comes to addressing a variety of emotional and mental health challenges.

Takeaway

The information held and passed on within a group is often referred to as institutional memory. This type of knowledge can impact the way groups function and determine who may or may not be a part of the group. For example, many colleges only accept applicants that have a certain grade point average. If you’re experiencing difficulties with memory, whether that may be your own memory or the institutional memory of a group you’re a part of, talking about it with a licensed therapist is often beneficial.