Abstract
The study reported in this paper examined the influence of certain factors on the perception of organizational change in 12 community colleges within a single state community college system. The sample consisted of 510 professional staff who completed an original 71-item survey instrument. Results suggest that the primary areas where change is perceived in significantly different ways include the value of organizational change and the process by which change occurs. A conceptual model was developed based on a review of the literature. Descriptive statistics, factor analyses, and multiple regression were then conducted to explore the efficacy of the model. Overall, the model explained 29% of the variance in the dependent variables. Strategic understanding and years of service were two of the most significant factors influencing the perception of change. Implications for research and practice are discussed to explore insights on critical aspects for understanding and managing organizational change successfully.