Multi-unit franchising, antecedent variables and performance: a comparative study between Latin-american countries

• Grant number: 20/13301-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2021
• End date: May 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Administration - Administration of Specific Sectors
• Principal Investigator: Eugênio José Silva Bitti
• Grantee: Eugênio José Silva Bitti
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Economia, Administração e Contabilidade de Ribeirão Preto (FEARP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Cintya Catalina Lanchimba Lopez
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/05559-8 - Assembly of a Database for Research on Multi-Unit Franchisees in Internationalized Franchised Chains, BP.TT; 22/13138-0 - Assembly of a Database for Research on Multi-Unit Franchisees in Internationalized Franchised Chains, BP.TT

Abstract

For a long time, multi-unit franchisees (MUF) were treated as "anomalies" by literature in franchising. That's is probably because MUFs are a sort of evidence that directly contradicts one of the most traditional approaches used in the study of the franchised arrangement: the agency theory. From the 2000s onwards, a still small literature began to form, typically being set in more consolidated markets in North America and Europe. Emerging markets such as Latin America, on the other hand, have gone practically ignored, despite empirical evidence indicating that this practice is common in chains operating in Brazil, for example (ABF, 2018). Despite many similarities, Latin-American countries present some notable differences, which are expected to influence the design and governance structures of franchised networks, including the presence of MUFs, their causes and effects in terms of network performance. The central idea of the project is to draw a comparative map between countries in the continent. For this, the researcher who presents the present project has already started conversations with the Iberia-American Franchising Federation (FIAF) with a view to supporting data collection. Two main contributions are expected. First, develop a comparative picture between countries regarding the presence of MUFs in networks, determining factors and performance effects. Second, it is intended to provide more objective references relating to design and governance structures and the performance of franchised chains, which is important given the already remarkable degree of internationalization of Brazilian franchised chains. (AU)