Organizational identity and memory

Abstract

The concept of organizational identity refers to members’ beliefs and understandings about the most central, enduring, and distinctive features of the organizations. Organizational culture and heritage are among the most common and powerful referents for organizational identity. When members of an organization reflect on what their organization is and stands for, their beliefs are often rooted in the organizational history. In this paper, I discuss how organizational memory and mnemonic practices are important for the preservation or rediscovery of organizational identity and for supporting future-oriented initiatives in design, branding, and human resource management.