Jerry I. Porras

Professor Emeritus, Organizational Behavior
+1 (650) 723-2850

Jerry I. Porras

The Lane Professor of Organizational Behavior and Change, Emeritus

Academic Area:

Additional Administrative Titles

Co-Director, Latino Entrepreneurship Program

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

Publications

Journal Articles

James C. Collins, Jerry I. Porras
Harvard Business Review
September 1, 1996
Peter J. Robertson, Darryl R. Roberts, Jerry I. Porras
Academy of Management Journal
June 1, 1993 Vol. 36 Issue 3 Pages 619-634
Peter J. Robertson, Darryl R. Roberts, Jerry I. Porras
Research in Organizational Change and Development
1993 Vol. 7 Pages 1-39
James C. Collins, Jerry I. Porras
California Management Review
1991 Vol. 50 Issue 2 Pages 117-137

Books

Marlene Orozco, Alfonso Morales, Michael J. Pisani, Jerry I. Porras
Purdue University Press
April 2020
Jerry I. Porras, Stewart Emery, Mark Thompson
Wharton School Publishing
Philadelphia
2006
Jim Collins, MBA ’83, Jerry I. Porras
HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
October 1994

Working Papers

Service to the Profession

Board of Directors

  • Quaker Fabrics
  • ReloAction
  • State Farm General Insurance Company
  • State Farm Life Insurance Company
  • State Farm Mutual Insurance Company

In the Media

Insights by Stanford Business

May 01, 2023
With better access to loans, investment, and contracts, this rapidly growing sector could benefit even more Americans.
February 16, 2023
Latino-owned businesses have weathered the pandemic and the Great Resignation. Now they’re looking for new ways to grow and innovate.
January 28, 2022
Research finds Latino entrepreneurs leaning into tech, bolstering employee benefits.
January 29, 2021
A new report details the barriers to loan approval for Latino-owned businesses — and points to ways to break them down.
January 31, 2020
Latinos are launching businesses at an unprecedented pace, but barriers — some long-standing, some brand new — keep them from reaching their potential.
January 25, 2019
Latino-owned businesses struggle with discrimination when it comes to securing financing. A Stanford GSB initiative is trying to help.
January 25, 2019
Las empresas de latinos enfrentan discriminación cuando se trata de obtener financiamiento. Una iniciativa de Stanford GSB está tratando de ayudar.
February 07, 2018
Latinos are starting businesses at a higher rate than other ethnic groups, but scaling remains a challenge.
January 18, 2017
A new report surveys Latino entrepreneurs.
August 30, 2016
Stanford GSB professors suggest articles and books related to the concept of “equity.”
November 11, 2015
More Latinos are starting businesses than the general population, but they aren’t growing as large or making as much money.
February 15, 2010
Laura Sanchez, MBA ’94, a managing director at Goldman Sachs, is honored by the Hispanic Business Students Association

School News

July 25, 2018
The Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative is amassing a huge database and network to nourish the fast-growing sector.
January 26, 2017
Rupert Murdoch notes positive impact of Latino-owned businesses at Jan. 18 State of Latino Entrepreneurship Event
March 25, 2016
Event honored Fran Maier, MBA ’89, and highlighted recent research on Latino entrepreneurship.
March 01, 2008
Miriam Rivera, MBA/JD ’95, was elected to the Stanford University Board of Trustees a week after she received the Jerry I. Porras Award.