Organizational forgetting Part II: a review of the literature and future research directions

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this two-part paper is to provide a summary of current research opportunities in organizational forgetting literature and a future research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

The summary of current research opportunities and future research agenda is drawn from the systematic literature review and synthesis reported in Part I.

Findings

Two broad areas for future research are proposed: A first area that highlights a need to address integrative theoretical challenges that include issues of temporality, history, power dynamics, and organizational context. A second area that highlights a need to reconcile contradicting explanations – such as whether technological sophistication and codification practices versus social networks prevent knowledge depreciation and loss – through a multilevel perspective.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations relate to time span coverage and journal article accessibility.

Originality/value

This Part II paper provides a summary of current research opportunities and offers directions for future research on organizational forgetting.

Citation

Mariano, S., Casey, A. and Olivera, F. (2020), "Organizational forgetting Part II: a review of the literature and future research directions", The Learning Organization, Vol. 27 No. 5, pp. 417-427. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLO-01-2020-0003