1. About SMS Membership

When you join the Strategic Management Society (“SMS”), you agree to follow these terms. SMS is a global professional society for people interested in strategic management research and practice. Membership connects you to a worldwide community and provides access to professional resources, events, and opportunities.

2. Who Can Join

Membership is open to individuals who study, research, teach, practice, or have a general interest in strategic management or related fields.

SMS offers membership on an individual basis. Institutional memberships are not offered with the Society.

3. Membership Timeframe

Membership runs on a calendar-year basis (January 1–December 31). If you join during the year, your membership lasts until December 31 of that year.

4. Membership Fees

Members must pay the annual fee associated with their membership category. If dues are not paid, access to member benefits will be suspended or ended.

Membership fees are non-refundable.

5. What You Get as a Member

As an SMS member, you may receive benefits such as:

  • Access to SMS journals, webinars, and digital resources
  • Participation in Interest Groups and Communities
  • Networking with scholars and practitioners worldwide
  • Discounted registration for SMS conferences and events
  • Opportunities to volunteer, lead, and apply for research funding

All SMS members are automatically included in the SMS online community platform, SMS Member Circle, which is a key member benefit designed to support networking, collaboration, and communication across the Society.

SMS may update, modify, or discontinue benefits at any time without notice.

6. SMS Behavior Expectations

SMS is committed to a respectful, inclusive, and professional community. All members are expected to follow the SMS Code of Conduct and to:

  • Act with integrity and respect toward all members, regardless of background or perspective
  • Support inclusion and diversity and engage constructively with differing viewpoints
  • Behave professionally while participating in SMS activities, events, and online spaces
  • Represent qualifications honestly and avoid speaking on behalf of SMS without authorization
  • Protect the reputation of SMS through responsible and ethical conduct

These expectations apply to in-person, virtual, written, and online interactions, including conferences, webinars, meetings, submissions and applications to programs, and community platforms.

7. Online Community Participation

As part of your membership, you will be added to the SMS Member Circle, SMS’s online community platform.

When participating in SMS Member Circle and other SMS online spaces, members are expected to:

  • Communicate respectfully and professionally
  • Avoid offensive, harassing, defamatory, bullying, or threatening language
  • Respect confidentiality and privacy
  • Give appropriate credit for ideas and contributions

Failure to follow these guidelines may result in restricted access, revocation of membership, or other action under SMS policies.

8. Privacy, Data Use, and Communication

To administer your membership and provide member benefits — including access to SMS Member Circle — SMS collects and uses certain personal information (such as your name, affiliation, email address, and professional interests).

By providing your information, you agree that:

  • Your information will be shared with SMS’s authorized service providers and used for the purpose of administering relevant services
  • SMS will use your information to communicate about programs, events, communities, and opportunities

All personal data is handled in accordance with the SMS Privacy Policy.

9. Problems and Complaints

If a member does not follow the Code of Conduct, concerns may be reported through SMS’s established complaint procedures. Reports are reviewed by the appropriate governance bodies, including the SMS Ethics Committee.  SMS reserves the right to take immediate action in certain circumstances.

10. Ending Membership

SMS may suspend or end a membership for failure to pay dues or for violations of these terms or the Code of Conduct. Any outstanding fees remain the responsibility of the member.

11. Changes to These Terms

SMS may update these terms from time to time without prior notice.

12. Governing Policies

These terms operate alongside SMS’s Bylaws, Code of Conduct, and other governance policies, which together guide membership and participation in the Society.

Questions or Concerns?

To find answers to frequently asked questions about SMS Membership, visit the FAQs page.

If you have any questions or concerns on this information or other aspects of SMS, please email sms@strategicmanagement.net or visit the Contact Us page to learn more.