Final answer:
Memos can uphold verifiability by including evidence or references that can be verified, but they can also breach verifiability when they contain uncorroborated information based solely on memory, which might be inaccurate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Memos serve as a tool for communication within organizations and can both uphold and breach verifiability depending on how they are used. Verifiability is a key aspect of reliable communication which ensures that the information shared can be confirmed or substantiated by evidence or by establishing a consensus among experts.
In the context of an organization, when a memo is based on accurate, citeable, and clear references to data or events, it upholds verifiability by providing recipients with information that can be checked and verified.
However, just as our memory can be fallible, leading to misremembering events or facts, memos can also breach verifiability.
This can occur when they include information based solely on memory without corroboration or present assertions that are not supported by evidence.
When employees seem to remember an event or a piece of information and record it in a memo without verification, they may unintentionally distribute false or inaccurate information, undermining the memo's credibility and verifiability.
The challenge lies in distinguishing between what is accurately remembered and what only seems to be remembered. Providing corroborative evidence, such as reports, documents, or testimonies, can help reinforce the reliability of the information contained in memos.
Organizations should encourage practices that enhance the verifiability of the contents of memos to ensure effective and reliable communication.