shared mental models - Blog - Global Risk Community2024-03-29T10:45:31Zhttps://globalriskcommunity.com/profiles/blogs/feed/tag/shared+mental+modelsForms of Organizational Forgettinghttps://globalriskcommunity.com/profiles/blogs/forms-of-organizational-forgetting2021-06-11T08:05:32.000Z2021-06-11T08:05:32.000ZMark Bridgeshttps://globalriskcommunity.com/members/MarkBridges<div><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}9076515663,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-right" src="{{#staticFileLink}}9076515663,RESIZE_400x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="9076515663?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="297" height="198" /></a>Organizations have, in recent times, become more aware of the worth of regulating their Organizational Knowledge. Extensive studies in academia have been conducted on the subject, because of its importance.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Organizations learn with time and experience. The cause-and-effect relationship is gathered in the collective memory of the organization in the form of:</span></p><ul><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Shared mental models</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Standard operating procedures</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Rules and routines</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Assets</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">This learning, in some cases, becomes a source of Competitive Advantage for the organization.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">New learning, in organizations, is possible when redundant knowledge and bad habits are effectively erased from the organizational memory. Managing Organizational Forgetting has to be part of Strategic Planning because of:</span></p><ol><li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Wasted resources</strong>—Knowledge forgotten, that should not have been, has to be re-acquired by diverting resources that could have been used elsewhere or for acquiring new knowledge.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Opportunity cost</strong>—Required knowledge not available (because it was forgotten) at the time an opportunity arose.</span></li></ol><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Effective Organizational Forgetting should be an Organizational Culture so as to keep organizations on their toes and maybe preserve or gain <a href="https://flevy.com/business-toolkit/competitive-advantage">Competitive Advantage</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Organizations that intend to manage their Organizational Forgetting effectively, need to comprehend 2 dimensions of Forgetting and the relationship between them:</span></p><h3><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Dimension 1: Accidental Forgetting vs. Intentional Forgetting</strong></span></h3><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">The 1<sup>st</sup> element pertains to loss of valuable knowledge; the 2<sup>nd</sup> to increased competitiveness as a result of Forgetting.</span></p><h3><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Dimension 2: Entrenched Knowledge vs. New Knowledge</strong></span></h3><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">The 1<sup>st</sup> element relates to knowledge embedded in relatively durable objects like machines, databases, taken-for-granted routines; the 2<sup>nd</sup> to a transient setup like individual minds, association among small teams, makeshift organizational groups.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">The process of Forgetting is altered depending on the interaction of the elements of the 2 dimensions.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Interaction of the above 2 dimensions results in 4 processes that constitute the Forms of Organizational Forgetting:</span></p><ol><li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Memory Decay</strong></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Failure to Capture</strong></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Unlearning</strong></span></li><li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Avoiding Bad Habits</strong></span></li></ol><p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><a href="https://flevy.com/browse/flevypro/organizational-forgetting-5657"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9242" src="https://flevy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Slide-Deck-image-Organizational-Forgetting.png" alt="" width="684" height="514" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">The interaction of the 4 processes has been conveyed in the form of a matrix dubbed the Organizational Forgetting Matrix. These processes explain an array of Organizational Forgetting that may occur. Each of the 4 processes need distinct management approaches because each process is connected with a disparate set of challenges.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Let us delve a little deeper into some of the processes.</span></p><h3><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Memory Decay</strong></span></h3><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Memory Decay occurs when concepts, practices, values are lost because of non-use or key personnel leaving the organization. Organizations can forget elements long ingrained in their collective memory triggering costly and harmful consequences, like spending large sums to regain knowledge that was a source of Competitive Advantage.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Memory Decay is exacerbated in the process of downsizing. Extremely valuable pieces of knowledge and skills can be lost if proper retention measures are not put in place.</span></p><h3><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Failure to Capture</strong></span></h3><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Failure to capture new knowledge and disseminate it throughout the organization, results in loss when individuals bearing that knowledge leave. Knowledge Articulation and Knowledge Institutionalization are 2 processes that can prevent such loss.<strong> </strong></span></p><h3><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Unlearning</strong></span></h3><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Intentional Forgetting enhances organizational capability. Intentional Forgetting can be achieved in 2 ways. The 1<sup>st</sup> is strategic removal of knowledge.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:12pt;">Interested in learning more about Organizational Forgetting? 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