Jerry Porras

Research Statement

Jerry Porras’ research interests are the characteristics of visionary companies in both the United States and Europe; the dynamics of planned organizational change process; organizational vision and its influence on the long-term behavior organizations; and leadership.

Bio

Jerry I. Porras is the Lane Professor of Organizational Behavior, Emeritus. He received his BSEE from Texas Western College, his MBA from Cornell University, and his PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles. Among the honors he has received are the Brilliante Award from the National Society of Hispanic MBAs, the Silver Apple Award from the Stanford Business School Alumni Association, and the Kanter Medal from the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology. He joined the Stanford faculty in 1972. Professor Porras served as a Business School Trust Faculty Fellow as well as a Robert M. and Anne T. Bass Faculty Fellow. Professor Porras was the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the Graduate School of Business from 1991-1994. He also served as the Stanford’s faculty athletics representative to the Pacific-10 Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association from 1988 until his retirement.

Professor Porras is author of Stream Analysis: A Powerful Way to Diagnose and Manage Organizational Change (Addison-Wesley, 1987); co-developer of the Stream Analysis Software Package (1999); and coauthor of Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies (Harper Business, 1994) and “Building Your Company’s Vision,” Harvard Business Review (1996). He has served on several editorial boards including the Journal of Organizational Change Management, Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, Academy of Management Journal, and Academy of Management Review.

Academic Degrees

• PhD, UC Los Angeles, 1974
• MBA, Cornell University, 1968
• BSEE, Texas Western College, 1960

Academic Appointments

• At Stanford University since 1972, Emeritus since 2001
• Robert M. and Anne T. Bass Faculty Fellow, Stanford GSB, 1994–1995
• Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Stanford GSB, 1991–1994
• Business School Trust Faculty Fellow, Stanford GSB, 1989–1990
• Faculty Athletic Representative to NCAA and Pacific-10 Conference, Stanford University, 1988
• Director, Leading and Managing Change Executive Program, Director, Leading and Managing Change Executive Program, Stanford GSB, 1981

Professional Experience

• Internal Organization Development Consultant, Techint, S.A. (Argentina), 1970–1971
• Technical Marketing, General Electric Co., 1964–1966
• Ordnance Design Engineer, Lockheed Missiles and Space Corp.,1963–1964
• U.S. Army, 1960–1963

Awards and Honors

• Robert T. Davis Award, Stanford GSB, 2001
• Brillante Award, National Society Hispanic MBAs, 1991
• Kantor Medal, Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, 1991