Stuck memory

Recent research demonstrates that animals can get stuck in a state of pain by the memory in the brain even though the stimulus that caused the original pain is long gone. This is interesting at multiple levels. For humans, this may lead to a cure for ghost pain as well as the alleviation of true pain by dampening the possible feedback mechanisms in the memory.  The ability to erase pain in this way can be powerful in the treatment of a variety of conditions – both physical and psychological.

Large organizations, may be affected by a similar phenomenon – stuck memory leading to actions that are irrelevant to present conditions. Such organizational memories can easily transcend individuals and may be responsible for significant productivity loss. Actions taken in the presence of certain stimulus may continue even after the conditions that required such actions have long vanished. Or, organizations may react to new stimulus incorrectly by following the templates stored in its memory. For example, the planning processes in many companies continue to reflect attributes of the past, even though such processes have been rendered irrelevant by new information. Similarly, organizations may react to new information (for example, competitive entry or regulatory change) in a fashion that was characteristic of its past actions.

Selective and continuous erasing of organizational memories may be required to create a flexible and adaptable structure. This may be a necessary condition for success in the future.

Reference: Flexibility : Flexible Companies for the Uncertain World   http://tinyurl.com/flexibilitybook