AIMS
SAMRA’s main objectives are:
- to promote and maintain professional standards in marketing research;
- to provide members with an educational, information and social forum for the enhancement and promotion of professionalism in marketing research;
- to represent the Southern African marketing research profession in the wider world, and to promote understanding of its contribution to a healthy society and economy.
SERVICES
Events An annual conference, with eminent speakers from SA and abroad.
Numerous other events, including breakfast, luncheon and evening meetings where issues pertinent to the profession are discussed, hosted by the branches.
Standards A Professional Practice Committee that is the ethics and practice watchdog for marketing research, deals with complaints, enquiries and other issues contained in the Code of Conduct, as well as training, education and accreditation services.
PUBLICATIONS
Yearbook Produced annually, the SAMRA Yearbook contains important documents relating to SAMRA and marketing research practice, including information on members.
Newsletter The SAMRA newsletter is distributed electronically to members via e-mail and the website.
Journal The Southern African Journal of Marketing Research is distributed to members and contains technical research information relevant to the industry.
Conference The SAMRA Conference Papers publication is a digest of all Papers Papers presented at the annual Conference. The award winning papers are available on the website, and copies of all other papers are available from the SAMRA office.
Code The Code of Conduct is constantly under review and the current version is included in the SAMRA Yearbook.
Articles of The Memorandum and Articles of Association are available on the Association SAMRA website.
Website www.samra.co.za
RELATIONSHIPS
SAMRA Corporate SAMRA Corporate [originally Research Suppliers of Southern Africa
Membership (RSSA)] was founded during October 1998 as the special interest
body for those members who are active in the supply of research
services and products. Further details are contained in this Yearbook.
In 2002 the RSSA name was changed to SAMRA Corporate.
Research Users The Research Users Forum (RUF) is a special interest group for those members who represent the interests of buyers of research services and products.
General SAMRA actively pursues mutually constructive relationships with related associations, academic and training bodies, the state, media and other roleplayers in society at large. It does this through a professional secretariat as well as through the various sub-committees that have been established by the SAMRA Chairman’s Council.
MEMBERSHIP
SAMRA is not a trade association and the membership consists of private individuals.
The membership categories are:
- Founder Member
- Honorary Member
- Accredited Member
- Full Member
- Associate Member
- Student Member
- Field Member
- Distance Member
Only Full, Accredited or Honorary Members who have been Full Members may vote on SAMRA affairs.
SAMRA Corporate is the body through which companies can become members of SAMRA.
STRUCTURE
A SAMRA Chairman’s Council, which consists of a number of specialist sub-committees headed by Portfolio holders, currently manages SAMRA. There are four regional branches in South Africa based in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and they are managed in a manner similar to the National Council. Namibia also has a small branch.
At the changeover to a Section 21 Company in June 2000, the structure was changed to incorporate an Advisory Board consisting of marketing and research related industry figures and an Executive Board. The Executive Board manages the Company and is headed up by the National Chairman and other senior members of National Council.