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.
Hi Corioborius - thanks for the engaged comments! Also, a really interesting background. I posted a longer response in the business archives and then accidentally deleted it in the app (doh).
Basically, the legal requirements to keep documents are fairly minimal, but many companies build up archives (often around anniversary celebrations) and find ways to make their history useful. And you are right, not always do researchers get access. The UK and other European countries are quite good at giving verified researchers access. For example, I have been at the Barclays archives quite a lot, and so have other researchers. In the US, it is a bit different; Coca-Cola, for example, gets great value from its archive for its museum, and a few researchers get access.
The Barclays archivist told me she highlights to the business the money the company saves. I'm sure you remember the misselling scandal - turns out only the archives kept the specific customer agreements/ terms & conditions over time. This was important for their legal defence (not that they won, but it allowed them to be precise about what they did and did not do).
So, it varies, but for quite a few companies, it is part of good corporate citizenship. Hope that helps!
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.
Hi Corioborius - thanks for the engaged comments! Also, a really interesting background. I posted a longer response in the business archives and then accidentally deleted it in the app (doh).
Basically, the legal requirements to keep documents are fairly minimal, but many companies build up archives (often around anniversary celebrations) and find ways to make their history useful. And you are right, not always do researchers get access. The UK and other European countries are quite good at giving verified researchers access. For example, I have been at the Barclays archives quite a lot, and so have other researchers. In the US, it is a bit different; Coca-Cola, for example, gets great value from its archive for its museum, and a few researchers get access.
The Barclays archivist told me she highlights to the business the money the company saves. I'm sure you remember the misselling scandal - turns out only the archives kept the specific customer agreements/ terms & conditions over time. This was important for their legal defence (not that they won, but it allowed them to be precise about what they did and did not do).
So, it varies, but for quite a few companies, it is part of good corporate citizenship. Hope that helps!