• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2013

Purpose - This study examines the adverse press coverage that has increased in proportion to the remarkable growth of various kinds of franchise businesses in the food service industry. Today, the trust of franchisees in relation to their franchisor, and the maintenance of good relations between the two, has become a significant social issue. This study investigates relationship satisfaction and the long-term commitment between the franchisor and franchisee. Research design, data, methodology - We used a path analysis to investigate the relationship between justice and trust, trust and relationship satisfaction, justice and relationship satisfaction, trust and long-term commitment, and relationship satisfaction and long-term commitment. Structural Equation Modeling and a Sobel test were used to investigate the mediating effects of trust and relationship satisfaction. Data were collected from 237 Food Franchisees in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province in order to test the theoretical model and its hypotheses. Two research methodologies are generally used in the distribution management field. For this study, an empirical method was used. Results - A causal analysis was carried out to test if the research model has a sufficient fit index (for instance, χ² = 46.694, df = 10, p = .000, GFI = 0.946, AGFI = 0.850, RMR = 0.034, NFI = 0.966, CFI = 0.973), and the results showed that the model was sufficient, thus demonstrating the suitability of the research model. Each hypothesis had a positive influence, both on long-term commitment and relationship satisfaction. Justice with the franchisor had a positive influence on trust. Relation satisfaction cognized by franchisees was found to positively influence long-term commitment. The franchisee perception of justice in relation to the franchisor had no significant influence on long-term commitment. The study investigated the hypothesis that trust could mediate justice and long-term commitment, and that relationship satisfaction could also mediate long-term commitment Both trust and relationship satisfaction were found to be important for long-term commitment. Specifically, trust sub-factors and justice sub-factors influenced long-term commitment. Identification-based and knowledge-based trust were more important than calculus-based trust. Distributive justice was deemed more important than procedural justice; distributive justice should thus be strengthened. Conclusions - Both franchisor and franchisee were independent businesses. Evidently however, the franchisor could not ensure profit without long-term commitment from the franchisee. As for the success of the franchise business, the franchisor should carry out appropriate strategies leading to a satisfactory relationship. For example, transparency makes it possible to maintain and enhance trust and to improve relationship satisfaction. Just relations between franchisor and franchisee should make it possible to maintain and enhance the franchisee's trust. The franchisor should provide a variety of information with respect to the franchisee's business success. Finally, in order to improve the franchisee's long-term commitment, the franchisor should ensure a just approach with trust and relationship satisfaction among their strategies.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.31-43
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• 2018

Purpose - This study examines the role of foodservice franchisee's perceived justice(distributive, procedural, and interactional) in developing long-term orientation to franchisor and investigate the mediating role of cohesiveness and relationship satisfaction in the relationship between franchisee's perceived justice and long-term orientation to franchisor. Research design, data, and methodology - We collected data from managers and owners in foodservice franchisees located in Seoul, Korea. Among a total of 500 questionnaires, 500 questionnaires were returned. After excluding 36 invalid respondent questionnaires, 496 valid questionnaires(response rate of 99.2%) were analyzed using frequency, confirmatory factor analysis, correlations analysis, and structural equation modeling with SPSS 21 and SmartPLS 3.0. Result - The findings of this study are as follows: First, distributive justice and interactional justice had positive effects on cohesiveness, but procedural justice did not. Second, distributive justice and interactional justice had positive effects on relationship satisfaction, but procedural justice did not. Third, cohesiveness and relationship satisfaction had positive effects on franchisee's long-term orientation to franchisor. Conclusions - The implications of this study are as follows. First, this study found that procedural justice can create a high cohesiveness and identification of franchisee and also maintain a cooperative relationship with the franchisor. Second, this findings suggest that the perceived distributional and interactional justice can improve the satisfaction with the franchisor and thus positively influence the intention to maintain the relationship and the intention to recontract. Third, the results of this study indicate that the cohesiveness of franchisees can play a pivotal role to improve their satisfaction with the franchisor and pursue mutual development by continuously maintaining stable business relationship with franchisor. The findings of this study are subject to at least three limitations. First, the research subject is limited to the food service franchise shops in Seoul area, so the sample was not nationally representative of the franchise stores. Second, the perceived fairness is measured only from the point of view of the franchisee, and this study has a limitation to examine the difference between the perceived franchisee's and franchisor's justice. Third, Future research needs to identify more closely the relationships between perceived fairness and long-term orientation by gathering specific quantitative data such as the renewal rate and the business performance.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.87-102
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of food service franchise's support system on franchisee's trust, financial performance and intention of multi-store operation. For this purpose, the results of the survey were collected for 111 small and mid-sized food service franchisees in Korea with less than 100 brand franchises, referring to article 9 of the act on Fair Trade. Structural equation model analysis was used for hypothesis testing. The results of the study are as follows; First, a support for store development, education, logistics, and supervisors among franchise's support system were found to have a significant impact on the franchisee's trust, but public relations support was not significantly affected. Second, a support for store development had significant influence on the financial performance, but the support for education, logistics, supervisors and public relations did not significantly affect the financial performance. Third, franchisee's trust has been shown to have a significant impact on financial performance and intention of multi-store operation. Fourth, financial performance was shown to have a significant impact on the intention of multi-store operation. Finally, confirming the mediated effects of financial performance on the effect of franchisee's trust and intention of multi-store operations also proved to have indirect effects. This study identified the impact relationship between the small and medium-sized food service franchise support system, franchisee's trust, financial performance and intention of multi-store operation. In particular, it is deemed meaningful that the performance of Korea's small and medium-sized food service franchises and the relationship of influence that can grow together through the qualitative growth of the franchise's system.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.119-130
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• 2014

Purpose - Franchise industries are significant both socially and economically. However, with increasing interest, there are manifold problems. It is necessary to seek measures for mature operation constantly despite unprepared franchisors, negative perceptions of the media and society toward franchise, and rapid changes in business start-up trends and propensity to consume that make business start-ups difficult. The paper aims to explain the effects of relational commitment and performance on the franchisor's management characteristics and justice in the food service franchise system. Research design, data, and methodology - This is an exploratory survey examining franchising in Korea. Based on a literature synthesis, we extract five constructs: managerial characteristics, support, fairness, trust, and satisfaction. We hypothesize that these factors influence the trust, satisfaction, and performance of franchisees. To examine these hypotheses empirically, we conducted a survey on the database of the Franchising Council of Korea. The study employs data from May to September 2014. In total, 135 completed questionnaires were received, of which 128 were usable. The data was analyzed with SPSS/PC 22.0. First, to test unidimensionality and nomological validity of the measures of each construct, we employed a scale refinement procedure. The result of a reliability test with Cronbach's α and factor analysis warranted unidimensionality of the measures for each construct. In addition, nomological validity of the measures was warranted from the result of the correlation and regression analysis. By analyzing the data, we can confirm most hypotheses. Results - Frist, franchisor characteristics have a positive effect on trust and satisfaction. Second, franchisor fairness has an effect on trust and satisfaction. Third, franchisor support has an effect on satisfaction. Further, the franchisee trust has an effect on satisfaction. Fourth, the satisfaction of a franchisee with a franchisor affects the performance of a franchisee. Finally, there is a possibility that not only franchisee performance but also increasing the credibility and improving the image of the franchisor through communication between franchisor and franchisee can improve franchisees' performance and satisfaction by motivating the franchisee for sustainable growth. Franchisers should endeavor for franchisees to obtain stable revenue with continuous and practical support. They should recognize that they can expand their business by supporting their franchisees. Franchisors should not only instantly respond to franchisees' troubles with interactive communications but also raise the ability of supervisors for better support. Franchisors should share their visions and goals with their franchisees and provide systematic and continuous support based on trust and clear company management. Franchisees should understand franchisors' position as well as participate in establishing the basic franchise system. Contributions - The paper contributes to understanding franchising in Korea. It offers insights and assistance to franchisors hoping to start franchises. This paper explores measurement issues related to franchisee performance by estimating its determinant factors (managerial characteristics, support, fairness, trust, and satisfaction). This study provides franchisors and practitioners planning to extend their franchising business with some practical knowledge.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.16-32
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• 2012

The purposes of this study were to understand how franchisor's influence strategies influenced franchisee's boundary spanning behaviors and how franchisor's entrepreneurship influenced franchisee's boundary spanning behaviors. This study also analyzed whether franchisor's entrepreneurship played a moderating role in the causal relationship between franchisor's influence strategies and franchisee's boundary spanning behaviors. Based on a total of 698 self-administered questionnaires obtained from franchisees(food-service unit owners or managers) in Korea, frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were conducted. The research findings showed results that firstly, promise (${\beta}$=0.292), threat (${\beta}$=-0.256), recommendation (${\beta}$=0.200), information exchange (${\beta}$=0.359), request(${\beta}$=-0.097) and legalistic plea(${\beta}$=-0.137) had a significant effect on franchisee's boundary spanning behaviors and secondly, franchisor's entrepreneurship had a significant positive effect on franchsee's boundary spanning behavior. In addition, the effects of franchisor's promise(${\beta}$=0.168) and threat(${\beta}$=-0.075) on franchisee's boundary spanning behaviors were found to be partially moderated by franchisor's entrepreneurship. Franchisees wanted franchisors to execute a high level of entrepreneurship and deliver a promise in an influence strategy. Limitations and future research directions were also discussed.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.35-47
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• 2018

Purpose - This study seeks to find out the factors affecting the performance of franchisees from the franchisor's and franchise's intangible assets. In order to explain the process, this study explores the concept of LMX, Relational Capital, and Decision Rights Delegation. Research design, data, and methodology - To verify the proposed hypotheses, a questionnaire survey was conducted for franchise store owners, and to test the hypotheses, structural equation modeling was established. Results - First, franchisor's intangible assets affect the quality of LMX, but don't affect the relational capital. And the quality of LMX affects the relational capital. In addition, "the effect of delegation of decision rights on relational capital" and "the effect of relational capital on franchisee's performance" were significant. However, the effect of delegation of decision rights on franchisee's performance wasn't significant. Second, the intangible assets of the franchise have a positive effect on the quality of the LMX and the degree of delegation of decision rights, and the quality of the LMX has a positive effect on the delegation of decision rights. Conclusions - This study would suggest operational implications for the formation of vertical and horizontal relationships and the cooperation between the main members of the franchise business.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.284-297
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a franchisor's influence strategies could affect a franchisee's relationship satisfaction, which in turn could affect their boundary spanning behaviors. The constructs of influence strategies included promise, recommendation, information exchange, request, threat, and legalistic plea. The boundary spanning behaviors were external representation, internal influence, and service delivery. The sample used for this research consisted of store owners or managers of franchisee restaurants in Korea. A total of 605 questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS/$PC^+$ and LISREL. Empirical research findings were that (1) promise, recommendation, and legalistic plea affected relationship satisfaction, and (2) relationship satisfaction influenced external representation, internal influence and service delivery. However, information exchange, request, and threat did not affect relationship satisfaction. Based on these findings, franchisors were recommended to provide motivations to franchisees if the former wants to receive help from the latter.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.178-184
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• 2012

This research is an empirical research that surveys the influence factors of franchisee's compliance and precedence, which have a direct effect on the success of franchisor, from the view of relation exchange theory. The results herein show that the trust of franchisees towards franchisor has a complete mediating effect between conflict and compliance. This means that in a franchise system, it is important to build trust in order to successfully manage franchisees. Trust built between franchisor and the franchisee has a dominating effect based on relationship even on domains not specified on the contract. Also, it is very important in that it decreases frequently occurring conflicts caused by disagreement of interests and unfair relationship of power, and effectuates compliance of franchisees. Such result is a meaningful theoretical and practical contribution in that it has for the first time domestically investigated the mechanism of relationship leading from conflict and trust to compliance of franchisees by methods of theoretical discussion and empirical analysis.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.12 no.2 s.29
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• pp.18-38
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• 2006

We studied franchisees’ answers to the questionnaires to know their selective motives and criteria, their types and the reliability of a franchisor in the food-service industry. Then we showed the basic data about the selective criteria of a sound franchisor. The result of this study was as follows. First, we need a specialist and a department to present a financially sound franchisor. Second, we must determine the criteria of franchise fee, royalty and the other items on payment for the franchisor. Third, the alternative plan to trust the franchisor was needed for a large-scale franchisee.

• Asian Journal of Business Environment
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.5-8
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• 2011

This study has been conducted by focusing franchisor's leadership style, franchisee's followership, group-efficacy and their trust in order to achieve positive integration of the franchise system. The key results of empirical examination on the moderating effect of group-efficacy and trust between leadership style proposed by Path-Goal Theory and followership has been found as follows. First, franchisors should be showed their leadership style to fit their mutual business situation. Second, Franchisors and franchisees will be found many ways to increase level of franchisee's group-efficacy. Third, Franchisors will be obtained trust from their own franchisees. These efforts will be given high level of franchisees' trust and group-efficacy. As a result, positive integration of the franchise system will both enhance their competitiveness.