Creating Organizational Memory (Classic Reprint): Systematic, Management and Internal Communication, in Manufacturing Firms, 1880-1920 - Softcover
Synopsis
Explore how early 20th‑century factories built lasting knowledge from daily work. This concise study traces how manufacturing firms moved from relying on individual memory to creating durable organizational memory. It shows how policies, procedures, and internal reports were captured, stored, and used to boost efficiency and control.
From filing systems to centralized records centers, the book explains the shift to scrupulous documentation. It highlights how vertical filing and accessible archives transformed internal communication, reduced friction, and enabled data‑driven decisions across plants and departments.
Through examples from firms like Du Pont, Scovill, and Repauno, you’ll see how memory moved from people to files, how operational data became a strategic resource, and how reporting routines supported comparisons, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- How early records centers and filing systems created a durable store of knowledge.
- The move from personal memory to organizational memory across management levels.
- Examples of friction, documentation, and how memory was used to resolve conflicts.
- The shift to vertical filing and centralized reporting to guide operations.
Ideal for readers of business history and organizational science who want concrete examples of how memory and communication evolved in American manufacturing.
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About the Author
JoAnne Yates, Deputy Dean and Distinguished Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management, is the author of Control Through Communication: The Rise of System in American Management, also available from Johns Hopkins.
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Creating Organizational Memory (Classic Reprint)
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Paperback. Condition: New. Print on Demand. This book takes a fascinating look at the evolution of organizational memory within American manufacturing firms between 1880 and 1920. The author explores how the emergence of "systematic management" - a philosophy that sought to bring order and efficiency to business practices - led to the development of formal communication systems that served as a repository for corporate knowledge. Before this era, organizational memory was largely a matter of individual knowledge and memory, relying heavily on the experience and expertise of individual workers and managers. However, as firms grew in size and complexity, the limitations of this informal system became apparent. The need to transcend individual memory in favor of a more comprehensive organizational memory became increasingly urgent. The author meticulously traces the ways in which firms began to document policies and procedures, operational data, and even internal friction, creating a lasting record of their internal workings. This shift in record-keeping practices fundamentally transformed the way businesses operated, allowing for greater efficiency, control, and accountability. By meticulously analyzing primary source materials from the period, the author sheds light on the historical development of organizational memory as a crucial component of modern business practices. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book. print-on-demand item. Seller Inventory # 9781332256808_0
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Creating Organizational Memory Systematic, Management and Internal Communication, in Manufacturing Firms, 18801920 Classic Reprint
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PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # LW-9781332256808
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Creating Organizational Memory Systematic, Management and Internal Communication, in Manufacturing Firms, 18801920 Classic Reprint
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PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # LW-9781332256808
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