Skip to main content

Can Service Quality Be Standardized in a Franchise Network? The Case of McDonald’s in Egypt

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Network Governance

Part of the book series: Contributions to Management Science ((MANAGEMENT SC.))

  • 2416 Accesses

Abstract

This study investigates service quality variation among McDonald’s fast food franchise chain outlets. Findings from the data collected from 162 customers indicate that McDonald’s fast food chain restaurant is able to ensure service quality standardization across its franchised outlets located in Egypt, while it fails to ensure this standardization across franchised units in Egypt on the one hand and franchised units abroad on the other hand. The study concludes that, although standardization is expected from the franchised outlets, some outlets are not able to follow the same standards, especially, when they are functioning in different conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abd Rahman A, Si P (2011) Measuring food and service quality variation among food franchise chain outlet in Malaysia. In: 2nd international research symposium in service management, Yogyakarta

    Google Scholar 

  • Aboul Fath H (2008) Franchising in Egypt in 2008: country report for the World Franchise Council. Egyptian Franchise Development Association (EFDA). http://www.docstoc.com/docs/23831028/Egyptian-Franchise-Development-Association-FRANCHISING-IN-EGYPT-IN

  • Anderson E, Fornell C, Lehmann D (1994) Customer satisfaction, market share and profitability: findings from Sweden. J Mark 58:53–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Babakus E, Boller G (1992) An empirical assessment of the Servqual scale. J Bus Res 24:253–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Baucus DA, Baucus MS, Human SE (1996) Consensus in franchise organizations: a cooperative arrangement among entrepreneurs. J Bus Venturing 11:359–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behara RS, Gundersen DE (2001) Analysis of quality management practices in services. Int J Qual Reliability Manage 18:584–604

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolton R, Drew J (1991) A multistage model of customer’s assessment of service quality and value. J Consum Res 17:375–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Botti L, Briec W, Cliquet G (2009) Plural forms versus franchise and company-owned systems: a DEA approach of hotel chain performance. Omega 37:566–578

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boulding W, Karla A, Staelin R, Zeithaml V (1993) A dynamic process model of service quality: from expectations to behavioral intentions. J Mark Res 30:7–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradach JL (1997) Using plural form in the management of restaurant chains. Administrative Sci Q 42:276–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradach JL (1998) Franchise organizations. Harvard Business School Press, Boston

    Google Scholar 

  • Brislin R (1970) Back translation for cross-cultural research. J Cross Cultur Psychol 1:185–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brogowicz A, Delene L, Lyth D (1990) A synthesized service quality model with managerial implications. J Serv Manage 1:27–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown T, Churchill G, Peter J (1993) Improving the measurement of service quality. J Retailing 69:127–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buzzel R (1968) Can you standardize multinational marketing? Harv Bus Rev 46:102–113

    Google Scholar 

  • CAPMAS (Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics) (2009) Annual report, The Egyptian ministry council

    Google Scholar 

  • Cardozo RN (1965) An experimental study of customer effort, expectation, and satisfaction. J Mark Res 24:244–249

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carman JM (1990) Consumer perceptions of service quality: an assessment of the ServQual dimensions? J Retailing 66:33–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Caves R, Murphy W (1976) Franchising: firms, markets, and intangible assets. South Econ J 42(4):572–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Churchill GA Jr, Surprenant C (1982) An investigation into the determinants of customer satisfaction. J Mark Res 19:491–504

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cliquet G (2000) Plural forms in store networks: a proposition of a model for store network evolution. Int Rev Retail Distribution Consum Res 10:369–387

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cliquet G, Pénard T (2012) Plural form franchise networks: a test of Bradach’s model. J Retailing Consumer Services 19(1):159–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox J, Mason C (2007) Standardization versus adaptation: geographical pressures to deviate from franchise format. Serv Ind J 27:1053–1072

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cronin JJ, Taylor SA (1992) Measuring service quality: a reexamination and extension. J Mark 56(3):55–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cronin JJ Jr, Taylor SA (1994) ServPerf versus ServQual: reconciling performance-based and perceptions-minus-expectations measurement of service quality. J Mark 58:125–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dabholkar PA, Shephered DC, Thorpe DI (2000) A comprehensive framework for service quality: an investigation of critical conceptual and measurement issues through a longitudinal study. J Retailing 76:139–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Douglas S, Wind Y (1987) The myth of globalization. Columbia J World Bus 22:19–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckhardt G, Mahi H (2004) The role of consumer agency in the globalization process in emerging markets. J Macromarketing 24:136–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egyptian Franchise Development Association (EFDA) (2009) Franchising in Egypt in 2008: Country Report for the World Franchise Council, http://www.docstoc.com/docs/23831028/Egyptian-Franchise-Development-Association-FRANCHISING-IN-EGYPT-IN

  • Falbe CM, Dandridge TC (1992) Franchising as a strategic partnership: issues of cooperation and conflict in a global market. Int Small Bus J 10:40–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grace D, Weaven S, Zhai S (2009) An exploration of service quality in franchising relationship. In: ANZMAC conference proceedings, Melbourne, Australia http://www.duplication.net.au/ANZMAC09/papers/ANZMAC2009-065.pdf

  • Gronroos C (1990) Service management and marketing. Lexington Book, Lexington

    Google Scholar 

  • Grünhagen M, Witte C, Pryor S (2010) Effect of US-based franchising in the developing world: a middle-eastern consumer perspective. J Consum Behav 9:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Hempel DJ (1977) Consumer satisfaction with the home buying process: conceptualization and measurement. In: Hunt HK (ed) The conceptualization of consumer satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Marketing Science Institute, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman RC, Preble JF (1993) Franchising into the twenty-first century. Bus Horiz 36:35–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jain S (1989) Standardization of international marketing strategy: some research hypotheses. J Mark 53:70–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jain SK, Gupta G (2004) Measuring service quality: SERVQUAL vs. SERVPERF scales. Vikalpa 29:24–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen R (2007) Replication and adaptation: the effect of adaptation degree and timing on the performance of replicated routines. In: Academy of management annual meeting proceedings, Philadelphia, PA, pp 1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Johns N, Howard A (1998) Customer expectations versus perceptions of service performance in the foodservice industry. Int J Contemp Hosp Manag 9(3):248–265

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufmann PJ, Eroglu S (1998) Standardization and adaptation in business format franchising. J Bus Venturing 14:69–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kistruck GM, Webb JW, Sutter CJ, Ireland RD (2011) Microfranchising in base-of-the-pyramid markets: institutional challenges and adaptations to the franchise model. Entrepren Theory Prac 35:503–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kunkel JH, Berry LL (1968) A behavioral conception of retail image. J Acad Mark Sci 20:165–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Lafontaine F (1999) Franchising versus corporate ownership: the effect on price dispersion. J Bus Venturing 14:17–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levitt T (1983) The globalization of markets. Harv Bus Rev 61:92–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis RC, Booms BH (1983) The marketing aspects of service quality. In: Berry L, Shostack G, Upah G (eds) Emerging perspectives on services marketing. American Marketing, Chicago, pp 99–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Malhotra N (2010) Marketing research: an applied orientation, 6th edn. Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River

    Google Scholar 

  • Manrodt K, Vitasek K (2004) Global process standardization: a case study. J Bus Logistics 25:1–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matusitz J (2010) Disneyland Paris: a case analysis demonstrating how glocalization works. J Strateg Mark 18:223–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Michael SC (2000) The effect of organizational form on quality: the case of franchising. J Econ Behav Organ 43:295–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norman R (1984) Service management. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver RL (1980) A cognitive model of the antecedents and consequences of satisfaction decisions. J Mark Res 17:460–469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver RL (1993) Cognitive, affective, and attribute bases of the satisfaction response. J Consumer Res 20(3):418–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parasuraman A (1998) Customer service in business-to-business markets: an agenda for research. J Bus Ind Mark 13:309–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parasuraman A, Zeithaml VA, Berry LL (1985) A conceptual model of service quality and its implications for future research. J Mark 49:41–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parasuraman A, Zeithaml VA, Berry LL (1988) SERVQUAL: a multiple-item scale for measuring customer perceptions of service quality. J Retailing 64:12–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Perrigot R (2008) Franchising networks survival: an approach through population ecology and survival analysis. Res Appl Mark 23:21–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perrigot R, Cliquet G, Piot-Lepetit I (2009) Plural form chain and efficiency: insights from the French hotel chains and the DEA methodology. Eur Manage J 27:268–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rigby DK, Vishwanath V (2006) Localization: the revolution in consumer markets. Harv Bus Rev 84:82–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Rust R, Oliver R (1994) Service quality – new directions in theory and practice. Sage, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Samiee S, Roth K (1992) The influence of global marketing standardization on performance. J Mark 56:1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaw J (1978) The quality-productivity connection. Van Nostrand, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorensen O, Sorensen JB (2001) Finding the right mix: franchising, organizational learning and chain performance. Strateg Manage J 22:713–724

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Streed O, Cliquet G (2008) Concept uniformity: control versus freedom in business format franchising. In: Hendrikse G, Tuunanen M, Windsperger J, Cliquet G (eds) Strategy and governance of networks. Physica, Heidelberg

    Google Scholar 

  • Teas K (1993) Expectations, performance evaluation, and customers’ perceptions of quality. J Mark 57:18–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang CL, Altinay L (2008) International franchise partner selection and chain performance through the lens of organisational learning. Serv Ind J 28:225–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank statistics (2010) http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ADT.LITR.ZS

  • Zeithaml VA, Berry LL, Parasuraman A (1996) The behavioral consequences of service quality. J Mark 60:31–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hanane Elzeiny .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Elzeiny, H., Cliquet, G. (2013). Can Service Quality Be Standardized in a Franchise Network? The Case of McDonald’s in Egypt. In: Ehrmann, T., Windsperger, J., Cliquet, G., Hendrikse, G. (eds) Network Governance. Contributions to Management Science. Physica, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7908-2867-2_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics