Collective memories play a pivotal role in shaping identity, innovation dynamics, and institutions. Yet, until recently, organizational scholars have often employed a reductionist view of organizational memory, treating it merely as a static repository of knowledge. In my talk, I present various perspectives on the study of collective memory in organizations, emphasizing its dynamic, socially constructed, and power-laden nature. Drawing on my recent publications and ongoing research, I illustrate how collective remembering both shapes and is shaped by organizations and their practices. The talk covers a range of empirical studies, including memory & identification in purpose-driven organizations, performative memory & technological innovation among DJs, and the struggle over hegemonic memory of corporate wrongdoing.
