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Walsh’s dissertation investigates the persistence of “organizational afterlife,” or ongoing organizing to preserve valued organizational elements after an organization dies. His study focuses on two defunct minicomputer companies: Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and Data General Corporation (DG). While DEC and DG are no longer independent entities, former employees of both organizations have gone on to create alumni associations, corporate museums, and spinoff companies that have preserved their historical contributions and legacies for future generations of managers and scholars. Walsh’s dissertation examines why individuals participate in such organizational afterlife. He develops and tests a model of the role of deep structure identification in individuals’ propensity to participate in activities that sustain an organization’s afterlife and legacy.
His research combines traditional archival research as well as conducting and analyzing detailed surveys with retiree groups of both DEC and DG. He is planning on visiting the Babbage Institute this coming academic year to use a range of collections. These include the DECUS (DEC’s user group) records, Market Research collections, and a variety of other materials.
Walsh’s scholarship has been published in Human Relations and the International Encyclopedia of Organization Studies. In addition, Walsh has taught courses in organizational behavior and career planning at Boston College and was recently nominated for the Donald J. White Teaching Excellence Award. He has received a Master of Science degree from Boston College, a Master of Business Administration degree from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. Prior to enrolling at Boston College, Walsh worked for 8 years as a human resources manager at Data General and Teradyne, Inc.
The Tomash Fellowship is made possible by generous support of Erwin and Adelle Tomash, the founders of the Charles Babbage Institute.
Jeffrey R. Yost