Strategic Management Society

Strategic Management Society
Name	Strategic Management Society
Founded	0 1981
Location	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Key people	Rajshree Agarwal (President, 2023-2024)
Focus	Strategic management research and practice
Website	https://strategicmanagement.net

Strategic Management Society. It is a premier global professional society dedicated to the advancement of strategic management and organization science. Founded in 1981, it brings together academics, consultants, and executives from over 80 countries to foster the development and dissemination of knowledge on strategic issues. The society is renowned for its influential journals, international conferences, and its role in shaping the intellectual agenda of the field.

History

The society was established in 1981 by a group of leading scholars including Dan Schendel and Charles Hofer, who were instrumental in defining strategic management as a distinct academic discipline. Its formation was closely tied to the launch of the Strategic Management Journal, which became its flagship publication under the founding editorship of Schendel. Early growth was supported by key figures from institutions like Harvard Business School, the University of Michigan, and Purdue University. A significant early initiative was the establishment of the Business Policy and Planning Division of the Academy of Management as a foundational partner. The society has since expanded globally, establishing its permanent headquarters in Chicago and creating a network of regional divisions and interest groups to serve an international membership.

Mission and activities

Its core mission is to advance the theory and practice of strategic management by facilitating the exchange of ideas among scholars, educators, practitioners, and policymakers. Key activities include organizing the annual SMS Annual Conference and specialized SMS Special Conference events in locations such as London and Hong Kong. The society supports doctoral students and early-career faculty through the SMS Doctoral Consortium and the SMS Emerging Scholars Program. It also honors scholarly and professional achievements with awards like the SMS Lifetime Achievement Award and the SMS Best Conference Paper Prize. Furthermore, it engages with the corporate world through executive outreach and the activities of the SMS Practice Interest Group.

Publications

It publishes several of the field's most cited and prestigious academic journals. The Strategic Management Journal, published in partnership with John Wiley & Sons, is consistently ranked among the top journals in management and business. The Global Strategy Journal, launched in 2011, focuses on strategy in an international context. The Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, co-sponsored with the Diana International Research Institute, bridges strategic management and entrepreneurship research. It also publishes the SMS Book Series with Edward Elgar Publishing and distributes a regular newsletter, SMS Impact, to its members. The editorial direction of these publications has been guided by notable editors like Richard Bettis, Alfredo Enrione, and Mike Wright.

Conferences and events

The society organizes a major annual international conference each fall, hosted in cities such as Toronto, Minneapolis, and Berlin, which attracts thousands of attendees for paper presentations, symposia, and keynote addresses from leaders like Clayton Christensen and Rita McGrath. Specialized conferences are held globally, including the SMS Special Conference in Sydney and the SMS India Conference. Pre-conference events include the SMS Doctoral Consortium, often held at universities like INSEAD or the University of St. Gallen, and executive workshops. These gatherings are central to the intellectual life of the discipline, facilitating networking and collaboration across institutions such as Bocconi University, the National University of Singapore, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Leadership and governance

Governance is provided by an elected Board of Directors and an executive committee led by the President, a position held annually by distinguished scholars like Jay Barney, Margarethe Wiersema, and Kathy Eisenhardt. The board includes representatives from global regions and various interest groups. Day-to-day operations are managed by an executive director and a professional staff based in Chicago. Strategic direction is often set through committees such as the Conference Committee and the Nominating Committee, which include past presidents like Michael Hitt and Constance Helfat. The society maintains close ties with related academic bodies, including the Academy of International Business and the European Academy of Management.

Affiliated organizations

The society maintains formal affiliations with several specialized organizations to broaden its reach and impact. These include the Strategic Management Forum in the United Kingdom and the Strategic Leadership Forum in India. It has a collaborative relationship with the Diana International Research Institute, focusing on women's entrepreneurship. The society also supports the SMS Interest Groups, which are communities focused on specific topics like corporate strategy, stakeholder strategy, and cooperative strategy. These groups often organize tracks at the annual conference and sponsor awards, fostering deeper engagement within sub-fields of strategic management.

Category:Management organizations Category:Professional associations based in the United States Category:Strategic management