Organizational emotional memory

Abstract

Purpose - As a fascinating concept, the term of organizational memory attracted many researchers from a variety of disciplines. In particular, the content of organizational memory, which involves declarative and procedural memory, found broad research interest in the management literature. Nevertheless, there is sparse research in the management literature on the emotional content aspect of organizational memory. Emotional memory is a less obvious aspect of the organizational memory and should be conceptualized, defined and investigated to enhance the literature on the organizational memory. The purpose of this study is to: define and establish the characteristics of organizational emotional memory; discuss the process of emotional memory in organizations such as how emotional memory can be developed and retrieved, and where it can be stored in organizations; and develop arguments regarding the roles of emotional memory in organizations to enhance the current theory on organizational memory. Design/methodology/approach - This study reviews a variety of literature on the organizational memory and emotions. Findings - This study demonstrated that emotional memory of organizations influences their routines, beliefs and procedures, and management should consider the past emotional experience of organizations to be more innovative. Practical implications - By introducing the emotional memory process in organizations, this study helps managers to control, regulate or manipulate the recollections of past emotional events to perform effectively. Originality/value - This study offers a contribution to the management literature by identifying the emotional memory concept and its processes, and presenting a model of interrelationships among emotional memory, declarative and procedural memory. In particular, this study adds new insight to the literature on the emotional life of organizations and offers literature a tool for both understanding and theorizing about emotion in organizations by making emotional memory concept explicit in a multidisciplinary understanding of organizational phenomena, and by providing a framework to clarify how we might conceptualize emotional memory.