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Using Tournaments to Reduce Agency Problems: The Case of Franchising

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  • William E. Gillis
  • Ellen McEwan
  • T. Russell Crook
  • Steven C. Michael

Abstract

Anecdotal evidence suggests that franchisors use multiunit franchising to reward franchisees. In this paper, we model multiunit franchising as the reward in a tournament—one solution to the franchising agency problem. We use a unique database of 68 restaurant franchisors and find support for the tournament model. Franchisors that seek franchisees with managerial experience and franchisors that build routines to share knowledge use more multiunit franchising. Also, franchisors that grow faster use more multiunit franchising than franchisors that grow more slowly, suggesting that faster–growing franchisors use multiunit franchising as a reward in a tournament to reduce agency problems.

Suggested Citation

  • William E. Gillis & Ellen McEwan & T. Russell Crook & Steven C. Michael, 2011. "Using Tournaments to Reduce Agency Problems: The Case of Franchising," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(3), pages 427-447, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:35:y:2011:i:3:p:427-447
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6520.2011.00438.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Norazman Saharum & Ahmad Rahman Songip & Nurul Fadly Habidin & Mas Bambang Baroto, 2017. "A Review Evolution Dominant Theories in Adaptation to Franchising System," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 7(3), pages 528-538, March.
    2. Griessmair, Michele & Hussain, Dildar & Windsperger, Josef, 2014. "Trust and the tendency towards multi-unit franchising: A relational governance view," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(11), pages 2337-2345.
    3. Melih Madanoglu, 2018. "Theories of economic and social exchange in entrepreneurial partnerships: an agenda for future research," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 649-656, September.
    4. William E. Gillis & James G. Combs & David J. Ketchen Jr., 2014. "Using Resource–Based Theory to Help Explain Plural Form Franchising," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 38(3), pages 449-472, May.
    5. Watson, Anna & Dada, Olufunmilola (Lola) & Grünhagen, Marko & Wollan, Melody L., 2016. "When do franchisors select entrepreneurial franchisees? An organizational identity perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(12), pages 5934-5945.
    6. James G. Combs & David J. Ketchen Jr & Jeremy C. Short, 2011. "Franchising Research: Major Milestones, New Directions, and its Future within Entrepreneurship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(3), pages 413-425, May.
    7. Dildar Hussain & Marijana Sreckovic & Josef Windsperger, 2018. "An organizational capability perspective on multi-unit franchising," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 50(4), pages 717-727, April.
    8. Dildar Hussain & Josef Windsperger, 2013. "A property rights view of multi-unit franchising," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 35(2), pages 169-185, April.
    9. Muriel Fadairo & Cintya Lanchimba & Josef Windsperger, 2015. "Network Form and Performance. The Case of Multi-Unit Franchising," Working Papers 1502, Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon St-Étienne (GATE Lyon St-Étienne), Université de Lyon.
    10. Evelien Croonen & Hans van Der Bij & Rozenn Perrigot & Assaad El Akremi & Olivier Herrbach, 2022. "Who wants to be a franchisee? Explaining individual intentions to become franchisees," Post-Print hal-03281669, HAL.
    11. Esther Calderon-Monge & Ivan Pastor-Sanz, 2017. "Effects of Contract and Trust on Franchisor Performance," Contemporary Economics, University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw., vol. 11(4), December.
    12. Boulay, Jacques & Caemmerer, Barbara & Evanschitzky, Heiner & Duniach, Krista, 2020. "Multi-unit franchising from franchisor and franchisee perspectives: Antecedents, performance outcomes, and the optimal mini-chain size," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 49-58.
    13. Josef Windsperger, 2013. "The governance of franchising networks," Chapters, in: Anna Grandori (ed.), Handbook of Economic Organization, chapter 27, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    14. Muriel Fadairo & Cintya Lanchimba & Josef Windsperger, 2015. "Network Form and Performance. The Case of Multi-Unit Franchising," Working Papers halshs-01128075, HAL.
    15. Clark, Derek J. & Nilssen, Tore, 2020. "Creating balance in dynamic competitions," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    16. Begoña López-Fernández & Susana López-Bayón, 2018. "Antecedents of early terminations in franchising: franchisor versus franchisee cancelations," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 50(4), pages 677-695, April.
    17. Guo, Shiau-Ling, 2023. "The governance implication of the geographic concentration of franchise activities for franchise relationships," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    18. Semrau, Thorsten & Biemann, Torsten, 2022. "When sergeants can outrank generals: Person-organization fit and the performance of franchisees as agents of their franchisor," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(2).
    19. Gillis, William E. & Combs, James G. & Yin, Xiaoli, 2020. "Franchise management capabilities and franchisor performance under alternative franchise ownership strategies," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(1).

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