The History of SAMS: Shaping the Field of Management Studies
Celebrating Our Founder: Professor William Grigor McClelland, CBE
The Society for the Advancement of Management Studies (SAMS) was founded on the vision and values of Professor William Grigor McClelland, CBE. As the first Editor of the Journal of Management Studies (JMS), McClelland helped establish management as a respected academic discipline in the UK.
In the early 1960s, management was still emerging as a field of study. McClelland recognised the need for a credible academic platform that could support both rigorous research and practical insight. In 1964, he launched JMS to meet that need; laying the foundation for what would become one of the world’s leading management journals.
A Life of Service, Scholarship, and Enterprise
McClelland’s journey began in the North East of England, where his parents, Arthur and Jean McClelland (née Grigor), ran the popular North East grocery company Laws Stores. His early experiences in retail shaped his practical understanding of business, while his academic potential earned him a Ruskin Scholarship to study Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Balliol College, Oxford.
World War II interrupted his studies. As a conscientious objector and Quaker, he joined the Friends Ambulance Unit, serving in North Africa and Europe. After the war, he continued humanitarian work in post-war Germany; experiences he later captured in his memoir, Embers of War.
Returning to Oxford in 1948, McClelland achieved a first class degree in two, rather than the usual three years. He spent the next decade in the family business before returning to academia as the first Fellow in Management Studies at Balliol College.
Founding JMS and SAMS
At Balliol, McClelland recognised the need to raise the profile of management studies within UK academia. In 1963, he founded the Society for the Advancement of Management Studies (SAMS) to support the field’s development and academic standing.
With the support of SAMS, leading academics, and corporate sponsorship, McClelland launched the Journal of Management Studies in 1964; establishing a respected journal that would shape the future of management research. As its founding Editor, he brought together a distinguished editorial board and set a clear vision for scholarly excellence and practical relevance.
Early contributors included Derek Pugh, Chris Argyris, and Herbert Simon whose paper The Business School: A Problem in Organizational Design remains a landmark in management education.
Leading Innovation at Manchester Business School
In 1965, McClelland became the founding Director of Manchester Business School and was appointed Professor of Business Administration in 1967. His vision for the school was bold and inclusive. Inspired by business schools across the USA, he championed a multidisciplinary, collaborative approach which later became known as the Manchester Experiment.
He believed business schools should serve not only academia but also their local communities. By developing more effective managers, he argued, schools could help create jobs and drive regional growth.
Despite the challenge of uniting diverse academic traditions, McClelland’s approach succeeded. His ideas laid the foundation for the Manchester Method, a practical, experience-based approach to management education that remains central to the school’s MBA programme today.
A Life of Contrasts
McClelland’s achievements extended far beyond his leadership roles. He was a prolific scholar, publishing in journals such as the Journal of Industrial Economics and Management Today and authoring two influential books: Studies in Retailing (1963) and Costs and Competition in Retailing (1966).
He advised Harold Wilson’s government in the late 1960s, served on the National Economic Development Council, chaired the EDC for Retail Trades, and contributed to the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation. He later became a Visiting Professor at Durham University Business School and was awarded a Doctorate in Civil Law.
Even in retirement, McClelland remained engaged with JMS, offering thoughtful feedback and championing high standards in scholarship. His commitment to originality and constructive dialogue shaped the journal’s editorial ethos.
“At a time when most managers believed in the University of Life and few thought management could be taught or researched, Grigor was well ahead of his time.” Sir Andrew Likierman, Dean of London Business School.
A Lasting Legacy
Professor McClelland’s legacy lives on through SAMS and JMS. For over 60 years, JMS has reflected his vision of rigorous, relevant, and inclusive scholarship. Today, it is recognised globally.
To honour his contributions, SAMS established the Grigor McClelland Doctoral Dissertation Award, celebrating doctoral research that demonstrates originality and critical thinking.
More than anything, McClelland’s humility, developmental approach, and belief in the power of ideas continue to inspire. When asked why he worked so tirelessly to advance management education, he simply said he was fortunate to have had the opportunity.
Professor William Grigor McClelland, CBE, passed away in November 2013. His influence endures in the institutions he helped build, the ideas he championed, and the people he inspired.