Catherine L. Wang and Levent Altinay (2008) International franchise partner selection and chain performance through the lens of organisational learning.. The Service Industries Journal, 28 (2). pp. 225-238.. ISSN 0264-2069
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This study aims to investigate how international franchisors engage in exploratory and exploitative learning in the partner selection process and the implications for chain performance. Based on a single embedded case study of a leading international hotel organisation, the findings reveal that the franchisor attempted at a balanced learning approach in response to challenges caused by high cultural distance in international markets. However, the ‘crowd-out’ effect of exploration and exploitation created a ‘tension’: exploration emphasising adaptation to local needs dominated the partner identification stage at country markets, whilst exploitation stressing standardisation and efficiencies dominated the partner decision-making stage at the division. As a result, a consistent brand image came at the cost of very cautious international expansion.
This is a Published version This version's date is: 2008 This item is peer reviewed
https://repository.royalholloway.ac.uk/items/70c1d44d-2e60-ea69-6fcc-edb10834a8aa/1/
Deposited by Al Dean (ZSRA118) on 15-Mar-2010 in Royal Holloway Research Online.Last modified on 07-Jan-2011
(C) 2008 Taylor & Francis Ltd, whose permission to mount this version for private study and research is acknowledged. The repository version is the author's final draft.
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