Knowledge preservation and corporate archives: Valcucine case study.

Abstract

This thesis is based on two main concepts: knowledge and corporate archives. While the former is characterised by mere data, the latter is the collector of the company’s identity and values, which represent the cultural identity of the firm. The reuse of existing knowledge and culture benefits new design and redesign, but also communication. In the last two decades, corporate archives and museums have become meaningful cultural actors. They give a concrete connotation to the identity of the company and contribute to social culture, providing education and training about business topics. They are also incisive tools of communication. The problem of many firms – especially if young – is that they preserve knowledge and create corporate archives without establishing how to use them efficiently first. In order to deepen this argument, the thesis will be centred on a case study focused on Valcucine s.p.a. The objective is to examine how this company uses the archives, in order to define how their use can be optimized. The case study will also examine Valcucine Accademia, an exceptional and unique model of collection and exhibition of currently-manufactured items. Considering the pioneering characterisation of Valcucine within the furniture industry, the case study will try to define if the Accademia could become a model for other young medium enterprises that want to contribute to CSR and to preservation of historical memories as a contribution to social culture.