An Investigation of International Franchisors’ Co-Creation Practices
(A2020-63233)

AUTHORS

Nabil Ghantous, Qatar University; Ibrahim Alnawas, Qatar University

KEYWORDS

co-creation; franchising; international

ABSTRACT

This article investigates co-creation practices in international franchising by focusing on how franchisors participate in foreign franchisees’ value creation processes. 53 in-depth interviews with French franchisors and their foreign franchisees reveal a wide array of franchisor co-creation activities related to the co-set up and launch of the franchise abroad, co-training and knowledge dissemination, co-adaptation of the offering, and co-management of problems. Furthermore, they reveal seven co-creation styles along the three dimensions of activities’ initiation and control, as well as the intensity of interaction with foreign franchisees. Our findings offer service companies involved in international franchising a mapping of the domains and styles in which they could support their foreign franchisees’ value creation processes depending on their preferences, resources, and capabilities.