Associative Patterning: The Unconscious Life of an Organization

Source Title: Building Organizational Memories: Will You Know What You Knew?

ISBN13: 9781599045405|ISBN10: 1599045400|ISBN13 Softcover: 9781616925598|EISBN13: 9781599045429

DOI: 10.4018/978-1-59904-540-5.ch014

MLA

Bennet, David, and Alex Bennet. "Associative Patterning: The Unconscious Life of an Organization." Building Organizational Memories: Will You Know What You Knew?, edited by John P. Girard, IGI Global, 2009, pp. 1-24. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-59904-540-5.ch014

APA

Bennet, D. & Bennet, A. (2009). Associative Patterning: The Unconscious Life of an Organization. In J. Girard (Ed.), Building Organizational Memories: Will You Know What You Knew? (pp. 1-24). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-59904-540-5.ch014

Chicago

Bennet, David, and Alex Bennet. "Associative Patterning: The Unconscious Life of an Organization." In Building Organizational Memories: Will You Know What You Knew?, edited by John P. Girard, 1-24. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2009. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-59904-540-5.ch014

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Abstract

This chapter begins with a brief discussion of the basic concepts related to the unconscious life of an organization, and then addresses specific aspects of knowledge, learning, and memory, developing a language and framework for comprehending their application to organizations. Knowledge is addressed in terms of an information part and a proceeding part. Tacit knowledge is divided into embodied, intuitive, affective, and spiritual parts, with each of these aspects carried over to corresponding descriptions of memory. Organizational memory is then considered in light of a rapidly changing, uncertain environment. It is forwarded that organizational sustainability in an uncertain world requires a dynamic and responsive organizational memory. This highlights the challenge of keeping tacit memory updated as experienced personnel retire. Ideas and actions are briefly suggested to enhance and sustain organizational memory.