Dictionary definition of “chief memory officer”

chief memory officer

n. a person in charge of maintaining an organization’s collective knowledge, experience, and history. Subjects: English, Business

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Citations: 2000 Eric Abrahamson Harvard Business Review (Cambridge, Massachusetts) (July 1) “Change Without Pain” p. 75: Appoint a Chief Memory Officer. Only by remembering the past as we tinker and kludge can we avoid making the same old mistakes—and take advantage of valuable opportunities. 2001 Simone P. Joyaux Strategic Fund Development (Mar. 1) p. 52: Change is great but only if you learn from the past. Your chief memory officer remembers the past so that you avoid repeating mistakes while tinkering and kludging. 2003 Eric Abrahamson Change Without Pain (Dec. 4) p. 200: Some company hire historians to write their histories, whereas others remember the simple truth that their long-tenured employees are their best historians. These “chief memory officers” are informally asked to look back over past projects, successful and unsuccessful, before any “innovation” is launched or relaunched. Every company needs memory keepers. 2005 Fara Warner Power of the Purse (Sept. 8) p. 91: The company could take a big leap of faith based on Schaeffer’s gut instinct that women really were hungry for a digital camera that put them back in the position of “chief memory officer,” as he had begun referring to them.

Posted 9 Aug 06 | Permalink | Tell a Friend