Abstract (eng)
This dissertation analyzes the allocation of decision rights in franchising by utilizing two theoretical perspectives: property rights theory and transaction cost theory. Property rights theory explains the allocation of decision rights based on the importance of the intangible assets relevant for the generation of residual income. In accordance with this view, franchisors’ intangible knowledge assets (system-specific business practices and intellectual assets) and franchisees’ intangible assets (local market knowledge, and managerial skills and experience) are expected to have a significant influence on the allocation of decision rights to franchisees. The model based on the transaction cost view analyzes the effects of behavioral uncertainty, environmental uncertainty and transaction-specific investments. It is argued that these variables can have an influence on the governance of franchise relationships, i.e. how franchisors allocate decision rights to franchisees. Finally, in the extended transaction cost model, trust is included as a variable that moderates the relation between the transaction cost variables and the dependent variable.
Empirical results from the German franchise sector provide partial support for both theoretical perspectives, as well as for the extended transaction costs model. As predicted by the property rights theory, the franchisee’s fraction of decision rights is negatively related with the franchisor’s intangible system-specific assets. Furthermore, franchisees’ less contractible innovation assets impact decision rights allocations more than contractible operation assets do. According to the prediction of transaction cost theory, environmental uncertainty relates negatively to the decision rights allocated to franchisees, confirming that franchisors delegate less decision rights to franchisees when they are exposed to an uncertain market environment. However, contrary to the transaction cost expectations and in line with the incentive view of delegation, behavioral uncertainty is positively related to the allocation of decision rights to franchisees. This could imply that franchisors use decision rights delegation as an incentive. Finally, the extended transaction cost model provides strong support for the influence of trust both as moderator and as a direct effect. Trust functions as moderator in all tested relations. In addition, the significant direct effect of trust corroborates the relational governance view, which argues that trust as a social dimension has a direct effect on the governance of business relationships. It is also notable that the inclusion of trust in the transaction cost model substantially increased the explanatory power of the model.
The presented empirical results provide a valuable contribution to the following literature: (1) allocation of decision rights in franchising; (2) effect of trust in franchising; and (3) studies on governance of inter-firm alliances.