Entrepreneurial configurations of franchise systems
Résumé
This article aims to identify configurations of franchise systems according to their strategic posture towards entrepreneurial or more conservative orientation and relate them to performance. Using taxonomical analysis, ANOVA, and contingent analysis on a sample of 99 French franchisors, the findings from this study outline the coexistence of four configurational patterns of franchise systems, i.e., the “Pioneers”, the “Inventors”, the “Developers”, and the “Protectors”. The knowledge of the uniqueness of each configuration provides both theoretical and managerial insights into the following question: how should franchise systems “fit” their strategic posture with internal (organizational conditions) and external (environmental characteristics) elements to achieve a high level of performance?