The Things We Can’t Touch
Stephen Schleicher discusses the critical importance of institutional memory within corporations and the risks of losing it during major mergers. He argues that discarding experienced staff often leads to the loss of vital knowledge that is difficult to recover.
The author highlights how companies frequently lose essential operational knowledge when long-term employees are fired or retire. He expresses concern that upcoming corporate mergers may treat this intangible institutional memory as redundant overhead. Losing this expertise can lead to repeated mistakes and organizational instability. Ultimately, the piece serves as a warning about the long-term consequences of failing to document the wisdom of experienced workers.
