Knowledge creation and business format franchising

摘要

Purpose - This article aims to contribute to the study of knowledge creation and management inrnbusiness format franchising by focusing on the question of how franchisors can convert the tacitrnknowledge held by franchisees (such as insights, ideas, and hunches) to explicit knowledge.rnDesign/methodology/approach - The article is conceptual and is largely anchored on thernassumptions of the knowledge management, theories of organisational learning and organisationalrnknowledge creation theory.rnFindings - The findings emphasise that the conversion of franchisees' tacit knowledge to newrnexplicit knowledge is one of the key knowledge management practices required for successful businessrnformat franchising. Proposes that the concept of ba has much to offer in considering knowledgernmanagement in a business format franchise system.rnResearch limitations/implications - With regard to future research avenues, conceptual andrnempirical studies are both needed to obtain a clearer understanding of the dynamic process ofrnknowledge creation under business format franchising.rnPractical implications - The article sensitises franchisors to think how knowledge is created underrnbusiness format franchising, and in particular how the tacit knowledge that franchisees provide can bernconverted into the form of explicit knowledge. Underlines that franchisors can never control and directrndynamic process of knowledge creation among franchisees, but a franchisor can provide certainrnconditions that lead franchisees and other members of franchise system to create and disseminaternknowledge.rnOriginality/value - The article proposes that both tacit and explicit knowledge under businessrnformat franchising are created in formal or informal groups encompassing bas that may span bothrnhorizontally and vertically throughout the business format franchise system.