December 2022
The Strategic Management Society (SMS) is committed to understanding and improving strategic management practices in organizations around the world. SMS members contribute to this objective by researching and disseminating scientific and professional knowledge regarding strategic management through teaching and publishing and by engaging in consulting and managerial practice. As noted on our Web site and materials, we are a ‘professional society for the advancement of strategic management.’ This Code of Conduct focuses on values and professional behaviors that constitute a platform upon which strategic management scholars and practitioners can build their academic and professional work. It is the individual responsibility of each member to aspire to the highest possible standards of conduct in research, teaching, practice, and service. Following well-articulated values will improve the welfare of the individuals within our Society, as well as enhance the reputation of our profession.SMS members contribute to the field by supporting the mission and objectives of the Strategic Management Society and participating in the collective efforts of the Society. SMS members benefit from the Society’s institutional infrastructure that disseminates members’ research and knowledge and helps members network with each other. The values listed in the following sections foster the development of a society interested in supporting the profession.
1) Honesty and Integrity
SMS members conduct their professional affairs in ways that inspire trust and confidence. As such, they aspire to truth, honesty, accuracy, and the avoidance of fraudulent activity, and they act in ways that respect others’ welfare and dignity.
2) Openness
SMS is a multidisciplinary society and, therefore, respect for different perspectives is encouraged. Members strive to be open in their interactions with others so they can most effectively learn from and build on knowledge from other areas. They seek to treat others with respect and dignity and as equal members of the Society through mutual trust and respect.
3) Respect for People’s Rights, Dignity, and Diversity
SMS members affirm: (a) we do not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, health condition, or marital, domestic, or parental status; (b) everybody has the right to hold and express their opinions and beliefs without prejudice and persecution; (c) everybody is entitled to express opinions that are different from those of the majority; and (d) everybody has equal rights and responsibilities as members of the Society.
4) Professional and Scientific Accountability
SMS members form a society of scholars and practitioners who believe in and promote ethical scientific and professional behaviors. We seek to help all be accountable for their actions by promoting such sound professional standards of conduct.
5) Organizational Accountability
SMS members will strive to refrain from actions that bring the Society and/or its reputation into disrepute.
6) Managerial Practice and Consulting
Understanding and improving strategic management practices in organizations is a mission that benefits organizations and society at large. Therefore, SMS members regularly bring their research and knowledge to bear in the decision-making process of private organizations and public institutions and contribute to debates about public policy wherever possible. It is a privilege of our profession to contribute knowledge that affects business and public policy, and we should welcome such opportunities to contribute to organizations and society. This privilege also involves certain responsibilities of the users of our knowledge, as well as society at large. The following principles govern the activities of SMS members as they offer advice to organizations or institutions:
7) Volunteerism
The SMS is an association of volunteers that depends on involvement and leadership from its members. SMS members should contribute their time and competencies to support the activities of the Society, including serving as officers, presenters, editors, and reviewers.
8) Responsibility and Citizenship
Officers and members of the Society and the Interest Groups seek to discharge their duties responsibly and according to the bylaws of the Society, and without conflicts of interests. They foster the quality and diversity of activities in the field, and do not use their roles to further their own research or promote personal agendas.
9) Knowledge Exchange and Dissemination
The SMS encourages meaningful exchange and dissemination of knowledge among its members and society at large. To make that exchange possible, SMS members should give priority to presenting and disseminating their work in SMS-sponsored conferences and publications.
10) Integrity in the Research Process
Much research and knowledge creation in strategic management has prescriptive implications for managers or regulators. It is the authors’ responsibility to disseminate their research and knowledge (through presentations, publications, teaching, or consulting) in ways that reduce the risk of misinterpretations.
11) Editorial and Review Process
The SMS facilitates the development, evaluation, and dissemination of research through the review process for conference and journal publications. The review and editorial process is critical to the health of the field, and SMS members should contribute to this process.
12) Teaching
SMS members involved in teaching or executive education should strive to develop informative and challenging classes for their students. Likewise, helping prepare future teachers in the profession is a goal of the SMS.
13) Use of SMS Online Platforms
SMS members have access to a number of online platforms (e.g., SMS Member Circle) that are designed to provide direct, peer-to-peer interactions on topics such as research, events, careers, and other subjects. Use of these platforms is subject to SMS ethical and professional conduct expectations.
14) Respectful Engagement
Members using online platforms are expected to behave respectfully to others at all times and should be cognizant of the additional considerations involved in online professional interactions. In particular, the absence of nonverbal cues and context in such interactions can make it harder for readers and message recipients to interpret some communications. Members using online SMS platforms should therefore strive for clarity and be cautious when using humor, culture-specific subtleties, and/or language that could easily be misunderstood. For further guidance, see the SMS Online Community Guidelines.
15) Harassment and Bullying
SMS members do not engage in unwelcome actions or behavior that demean, humiliate, embarrass, or harass others. Bullying, or physical/verbal aggressiveness toward others, is also not acceptable behavior for Society members.
16) Sexual Harassment
SMS members do not engage in sexual harassment, including sexual advances, solicitation, and physical, verbal, or nonverbal conduct of a sexual nature that is offensive, unwelcome, and/or creates a hostile environment. Sexual harassment can occur via a pattern of persistent actions or via a single intense action.
17) Abuse of Power
SMS members do not exploit for personal gain those over whom they have significant power, influence, or evaluative authority.
18) Misrepresentation
SMS members do not intentionally mislead, misrepresent, make knowingly false statements, or fail to declare appropriate information in their professional activities.
18) Expectation of Familiarity
SMS members have an obligation to be familiar with the Society’s Code of Conduct. These are expectations relating to members’ interactions with each other and the Society, which members agree to abide by as a condition of Society membership.
19) Filing a Complaint
An SMS member who wishes to report an ethical and/or professional conduct violation should follow the process outlined in the SMS Code of Conduct Investigation Process.
20) Expectation of Fair and Just Procedures
All parties involved in ethical or professional conduct disputes – including the petitioner, respondent, evaluative bodies, and other involved parties – should be treated fairly. Complaints should be handled using best practices for investigating and resolving disputes, including, but not limited to due process, the presumption of innocence, confidentiality, and protection for whistle-blowing.