Your guide to doing historical research in management and organisations: archival research, oral history, process approaches, and digital methods for management scholars
I think they usually selectevely disclose because the strategic, political, financial, legal, or symbolic benefits outweigh the risks. Building identities is valuable.
Silvia, I have no academic credentials in this area. I am an ordinary civilian. However I did I in the past work for a large British financial institution with a strong underlying Scottish identity. Before the Great Financial Crisis, an internal staff newsletter had a spotlight on its small archival team. The bank had received a royal charter centuries previously and possessed a strong sense of its own history.
In 2008 the bank failed and was taken over by the UK government at enormous public expense. Then and after there has been considerable public interest in the “supervision“ exercised by its Board of Directors before its failure. 2 well regarded business books were published on the saga, but I’m not convinced these nailed precisely who knew or didn’t know what, at the time.
I am all in favour of maximum transparency and of the importance of academics getting every opportunity to research and draw deep lessons, including the results of particular regulatory philosophies. The UK has implemented several corporate governance codes over decades, each one never enough for current challenges.
Institutions and proper institutional behaviour really matter.
Why would corporations open up their records to public scrutiny (even academic) given the potential legal risks?
I think they usually selectevely disclose because the strategic, political, financial, legal, or symbolic benefits outweigh the risks. Building identities is valuable.
Thank you.
You're very welcome! I am just learning, too :)
Silvia, I have no academic credentials in this area. I am an ordinary civilian. However I did I in the past work for a large British financial institution with a strong underlying Scottish identity. Before the Great Financial Crisis, an internal staff newsletter had a spotlight on its small archival team. The bank had received a royal charter centuries previously and possessed a strong sense of its own history.
In 2008 the bank failed and was taken over by the UK government at enormous public expense. Then and after there has been considerable public interest in the “supervision“ exercised by its Board of Directors before its failure. 2 well regarded business books were published on the saga, but I’m not convinced these nailed precisely who knew or didn’t know what, at the time.
I am all in favour of maximum transparency and of the importance of academics getting every opportunity to research and draw deep lessons, including the results of particular regulatory philosophies. The UK has implemented several corporate governance codes over decades, each one never enough for current challenges.
Institutions and proper institutional behaviour really matter.