John F. Preble

A comparison of five business philosophies

While the media and public opinion polls suggest that the state of business ethics is declining, surveys of corporate managers on the subject are less than conclusive. This study presents results of a survey of 487 adult, MBA, and undergraduate business students on the business philosophies of Machiavellianism, Darwinism, Objectivism, Relativism, and Universalism. The findings were consistent with earlier research which showed prospective managers to be less ethical than practicing ones and that women and those reporting a strong religious conviction tend to be more ethical. Explanations and several recommendations for improving the situation are offered.‘If you saw Atlas... trying to hold the world aloft with the last of his strength, and the greater his effort the heavier the world bore down upon his shoulders — what would you tell him to do?’‘To shrug.’—Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged

Integrating the Crisis Management Perspective into the Strategic Management Process

The fields of strategic management and crisis management have been evolving separately despite their potential for synergistic integration. This paper explicates how adding crisis managements defensive/preventative capability to strategic managements offensive market positioning orientation can yield a more comprehensive approach to the strategic management of organizations. The traditional strategic management process is reviewed first and then analysed with respect to the gap that exists in this orientation. Examining the differences and similarities in perspectives between strategic management and crisis management and then reviewing the crisis management process provides a basis to proceed with a synthesis of the two fields. The paper concludes with the presentation of a new integrated strategic management process model that pushes forward the boundaries of strategic management and internalizes crisis management activities into that process.

Franchising: Selecting a strategy for rapid growth

Abstract Franchising has become an important growth strategy but there are few guidelines for managing franchise systems ‘strategically”. This article develops a strategic perspective on franchising by first discussing the growth and strategic importance of franchising. The authors then show how the strategic concepts of portfolio management, global strategy and network analysis can be used in formulating and implementing franchise strategies. These perspectives are combined into a framework for the use of practising managers.

Global franchising: current status and future challenges

About a decade ago positive predictions were made regarding the international growth of franchising. This study was undertaken to examine the actual growth and development of franchising globally during the 1990s. Using survey and archival data findings regarding the state of franchising in 40 countries are presented. Franchising has met or exceeded the growth expectations, generating an average of

Strategic alliances for competitive advantage: evidence from Israel's hospitality and tourism industry

3.7 billion in annual sales in the nations investigated. However, considerable regional differences in franchising activities do exist. The business sectors experiencing the most franchising growth are retail and restaurants. Franchising firms tend to export their business formats to neighboring countries or to countries with similar cultural characteristics. Operational concerns regarding legal and social issues across borders are also examined. Implications for practice and research are discussed.

Public sector use of the Delphi technique

Abstract The paper portrays the role of franchising in the hospitality and restaurant industries in Israel. Franchising constitutes an alliance between atleast two organizations, where each side benefits from the skill and resources held by other. Independent hotels benefit from the global brand name of the international hotel chain and its reservations system. The franchising firm (foreign) gains a quick, often smooth, access to a new market without the risk involved in ownership. Moreover, this strategies enables a quick entry to other Middle East or Mediterranean countries, with Israel serving as a platform for entry. The article focuses on several cases to illustrate the diffusion of franchising in the hospitality and fast-food segments of the Israeli economy.

Group processes and performance in a complex business simulation.

Abstract The Delphi Technique is gaining extensive use as a multipurpose tool by government planners and policy makers. This paper begins by briefly discussing the historical development of Delphi and some of its advantages and disadvantages. A considerable number of Delphis conducted in the public sector for the purposes of forecasting, communication, budgeting, and goal setting are then reviewed. Additionally, three prior reviews of Delphi use in the field of education are discussed. In reviewing these studies every attempt was made to detail the research intentions, special features and modifications, cautions, and benefits of each study. These characteristics are provided in tabular form in the summary section as a ready reference for the potential Delphi user. It is recommended that one should take full advantage of what has been learned from earlier research before undertaking a new Delphi.

Convert to Compete: Competitive Advantage through Conversion Franchising *

This article reports on the effects of different groupprocesses on team performance, using a simulation as experimental laboratory. In contrast to prior research that attempted to validate terminal results of gaming experiences, this study is concerned with appraising what transpires throughout the course ofplay. Only such aformative evaluation can test whether or not appropriate behaviors are rewarded and reinforced and lead to successful group performance. A taxonomy of six different decision-making and leadership styles is developed through the use of multiple research methods. Cohesion was found to be a significant factor in explaining high performance. It is proposed that high-performance teams develop as a highly cohesive group with high-performance norms.

The Nature of Ethics Codes in Franchise Associations Around the Globe

This paper offers an in–depth treatment of conversion franchising, where new franchisees are added to a franchised system by recruiting existing independent entrepreneurs or competitors’ franchisees. The first part of the paper examines conversion franchising as a source of competitive advantage. This discussion leads to the articulation of four propositions. The second part of the paper looks at the empirical results of our study of 72 North American franchisors. Seventy–two percent of these firms use conversion franchising in their domestic markets, and 26 percent use conversions in international locales. The propositions relating to a franchisors decision to use conversions based on increased levels of experience, economic resources, and to a lesser extent skills/knowledge, all were supported. These results lend support to the literature indicating that resources and skills serve as sources of competitive advantage. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Competitive advantage through specialty franchising

The worldwide growth of franchising has been phenomenal during the past decade. At the same time there has been increased media attention to questionable business practices in franchising. Similar to some trade associations and professions, franchising has sought self-regulation by developing codes of conduct or ethics. This study examines the codes of ethics covering franchising activities in 21 countries. The results reveal that there is considerable variation in the activities/issues covered by the codes. Specifically, the codes cover most stages of the franchising relationship, focus on a narrow set of stakeholders, are short on ethical guidance, and offer few enforcement provisions. The implications of these findings for international franchising and research are discussed.