Tim Harford 

The value of institutional memory

In 1978, a dredging gang working for British Waterways was struggling with a problem. They were trying to clear obstacles on the Chesterfield Canal so they could stabilise a concrete wall — not an easy day’s work. But what really had them stumped was a heavy iron chain on the canal bottom. After various attempts, they hooked the chain to their dredger. That did

https://timharford.com/2025/05/the-value-of-institutional-memory/

#UndercoverEconomist

The value of institutional memory

In 1978, a dredging gang working for British Waterways was struggling with a problem. They were trying to clear obstacles on the Chesterfield Canal so they could stabilise a concrete wall — not an …

Tim Harford
May 15 at 5:01pmWeb
Show threadColin RowatMay 16
@TimHarford "Consider Volkswagen’s disastrous scandal, in which the company designed its cars to fool emissions tests by regulators. No, not the scandal of 2015, which cost the company its reputation, its CEO and well over €30bn in fines, settlements and legal fees. I mean the scandal of 1973, in which VW was accused by the [EPA] of designing its cars to fool emissions tests by regulators. VW settled out of court and, it seems, spent the following decades forgetting..."
Show threadïng Frank THM van den HeuvelMay 16

@rowat_c @TimHarford Not to forget how they lied about the Volkswagen Beetle design was by a Jewish Engineer.

https://josefganz.org/

Josef Ganz | True father of the Volkswagen Beetle Concept

This website celebrates the life and work of JOSEF GANZ, a Jewish engineer, and the true father of the Volkswagen Beetle concept.

Josef Ganz
Show threadCode of Amor 💘May 16
@TimHarford @Microplastics101 An excellent article. Well written. Interesting. Not overwhelming or filled with fluff. 💯
Show threadConfused Middle Aged DadMay 16
@TimHarford reminds me of some of Trevor Kletz's writing about the chemical industry and incidents that occur e.g. his book Lessons from Disaster: How organisations have no memory and accidents recurr https://icheme.myshopify.com/products/lessons-from-disaster-how-organisations-have-no-memory-and-accident-recur
Lessons From Disaster - How organisations have no memory and accidents recur

Show threadmirabilosMay 16
@TimHarford but where did the canal water go? 🙀
Show threadJeff GriggMay 16

@mirabilos @TimHarford

Good question.

.

In a "similar" event, we do know where the water in The Great Chicago Flood went. (... into building and business basements. You know; where they keep computers and high powered electrical equipment.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_flood

Chicago flood - Wikipedia