Organizations of memory: a simulation

The purpose of this work is to further the understanding of the impact of information technology on organizational remembering and forgetting. Simulation is used to investigate the mechanics of collective memory and the impacts of information technology that are suggested by a conceptual model based upon structuration theory. Three mnemonic forms are modeled (hierarchy, network, and hub) under different levels of market stability, workforce stability, and cost. Findings indicate that hierarchies are most vulnerable to turbulence, networks to turnover, and hubs to cost. While hierarchies learn faster and better than networks at problem resolution, networks outperform hierarchies at problem recognition. Hubs outperform both hierarchies and networks in their ability to recognize opportunities in the environment and to successfully resolve them. At the same time, they remain vulnerable to the costs of information technology.<>