The author describes the model of social behavior in a social system first framed by Jacob Getzels, with the assistance of Egon Guba, in the middle 1950s. Significant changes in the conceptualization of organizational functioning have occurred in the years since then, though the methodological processes for studying that functioning have remained relatively stable. Getzels' contribution to the development of these new conceptualizations consisted of making substantial revisions in his original model. These revisions accommodated trends toward thinking of organizations as open rather than closed systems. The author comments on scholarly reactions to Getzels' models and touches on the possible reasons behind the tendency for Getzels' revisions to receive less attention or acclaim than his first model. (Author/PGD)