Researching Memory Work: Challenges and Opportunities

This symposium aims to strengthen the academic community on organizational memory studies, . It will serve as a forum for academics interested in organizational memory studies to meet and discuss possibilities for future research. Six panelists with experience in researching collective memory will take part in a roundtable discussion focused on challenges and opportunities in the study of memory work and organizing. Memory work is defined as a set of practices through which the past is constructed, reconstructed, deconstructed, and destructed (Coraiola, Foster, Mena, Foroughi & Rintamäki, 2023). In particular, the symposium will provide a space where early career researchers can ask questions, exchange information, and network with more experienced researchers. This is particularly important given that the field of organizational memory studies is still young and opportunities for collaboration need to be fostered (Rowlinson, Booth, Clark, Delahaye, & Procter, 2010). Some core topics we expect to cover during the symposium include: i) how memory connects to related concepts such as history, legacy, and traditions, ii) how specific theories have limited our understanding of memory work, iii) how an open-systems view offers an alternative approach to the study of memory and organizing, and iv) what are the main challenges and opportunities for future research in memory work in and around organizations. The workshop can also be of interest to researchers from other areas such as institutional theory, organizational identity, and corporate social responsibility.