AWARD CRITERIA
The Strategic Management Society first presented this prize in 1998 to honor the best paper presented at the SMS Annual Conference. Nominated authors are invited to submit a full paper version of their submitted proposal for consideration by the selection committee. These papers are reviewed and 10 finalists are named prior to the conference. The committee determines the winner to be announced during the conference. Decisions are based on the following criteria:
- Soundness of the conceptual development
- Originality and new contribution(s)
- Appropriate methodology well applied
- Relevance to management practice
- Effective communication of the central ideas of the work
The Prize for the best conference paper consists of a US $2,000 cash award. Additionally, four other papers receive Honorable Mention prizes consisting of a US $1,000 cash award. All winners are also recognized at the conference during a prize presentation ceremony.
The Co-Directors of the 2025 SMS Annual Conference Best Paper Prize are Helen Hu, University of Melbourne, and Laszlo Tihanyi, Rice University.
SMS Annual Conference Best Paper 2025 Prize Recipient
“Arbitrage or Decoupling: Firms’ Opportunistic Responses to Regulation” By Lingling Xie, Heli Wang, Jiayi Hou, and Xuan Wang
Honorable Mentions:
“Integrating Strategic Misfits: Pathways for Circular Economy Ventures in Fossil-Based Firms” By Heinrich-Jakob Wild, Fabian Takacs, Karolin Frankenberger, and Joakim Vincent
“Alliance Partner Litigiousness and Collaborative Scope” By Harsha Tadikonda
“DOES IT PAY TO TAKE A STAND ABROAD? MNC-COUNTRY FIT AND CONSUMERS’ REACTIONS TO SOCIOPOLITICAL ACTIVISM IN HOST COUNTRIES” By Fangwen Lin, Ishva Minefee, and Lori Yue
“How do Entrepreneurs Set Wages?” By Innessa Colaiacovo