Most S.A.M. members are introduced to the Society through personal contacts. That was one of the findings of a study conducted by Burke Marketing Research, Inc. for S.A.M. The random telephone survey was designed to determine how S.A.M. and AMA divisional members perceive their memberships and how they came to join S.A.M., information that should be useful to local chapters in developing their membership recruitment plans.
Of interest to local chapters, for example, may be the fact that only one in every ten of the over 100 S.A.M. members queried said they had been introduced to the organization through direct mail. Most of the members surveyed said that they had been attracted to the Society because of the opportunity for professional interaction, and that they particularly enjoy this aspect of their membership. Their interest in S.A.M. for the business contacts it provides was further evident in the high rating given the monthly chapter meetings, along with receipt of the S.A.M. Advanced Management Journal and Management Review, as a membership entitlement.
Personal contacts appear to be less important to AMA divisional members, according to the findings. While the divisional members surveyed said they had been intrigued by the chance for professional contacts, most of the 75 telephoned indicated that they had joined for the hard management information and job-related assistance promised.
Only one-third of the divisional members queried said that they had joined S.A.M. to become involved in the activities of a local chapter. Moreover, less than one-half of the divisional members reported actually attending monthly chapter meetings.
Personal contact also played little or no role in the actual recruitment of the divisional members. As a group, they were introduced to S.A.M. through AMA or as a result of direct mail promotions. SAM-NI
This SAM News International article is from our historical archive, information provided is for reference and archival research about the activities and developments of the Society.