Porras & Robertson Model of Organizational

Change

By- Neetu Pal

Jerry PorrasJerry Porras Peter RobertsonPeter Robertson

Introduction

Jerry Porras and his associates developed a model of how organization development works; it is described in a discussion by Porras and Peter Robertson.

• The basic idea is that OD interventions adjust features of the work setting causing changes in individuals’ behaviors, which in turn lead to individual and organizational improvements.

Work setting factors

Organizing arrangements

Social factors

Physical setting

Technology

The work setting plays a central role in this model and consists of four fac tors: organizing arrangements, social factors, physical setting, and technology.

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• This model shows how OD interventions can be linked to factors in the work set ting. For example, OD interventions that focus on goals, strategies, and rewards will af fect organizing arrangements. Interventions that focus on culture, management style, and interaction processes will affect social factors. Interventions that focus on job de sign and work flow design will affect technology.

Models and theories Contd..

Organizing arrangements:Goals, strategies, structure, policies, procedures

Social Factors:Culture, management style, informal networks, individual attributes

Physical Settings:Space configuration, physical ambiance

Technology:Machinery, tools, IT, job design

The idea modeled here is that work setting factors influence organizational members’ cognitions (they learn what is expected, required, rewarded), which influence on-the job behaviors, which determine organizational performance and individual develop ment. It is how OD works, according to Porras and Robertson.