Institutional Memory in the Civil Service
A recent article by Susan Allott in the Winter 2025 edition of Civil Service World (p.68-71) adds to the debate on whether the civil service values its institutional memory and the role that the Government Knowledge and Information Profession plays in securing it. The importance of organisational culture and Ministerial expectations, in this context, are also outlined. Allott provides some examples of where capturing knowledge and effective transfer hasn’t happened, and contrasts this with aspects of good practice. E.g. “ There are examples of excellence, such as the FSDO, which has both held on to its physical library and supplemented it with extensive digital resources ” (p.70) going on to praise an incredible treasure trove of old Foreign Office documents, as well as research analysts who can provide the historical analysis required. The article also quotes our Chair, Becky Dorsett (MoD) from a 2023 CSW article “if we use KIM professionals in the right way, m...
