Purpose – This study provides a robust test of a central question in franchising: which factors influence the timing of adopting the first franchised outlet? Using a novel methodology, the purpose of this study is to examine the factors that accelerated or delayed the opening of the first...

China’s economy is transforming at a brisk pace. A partially dismantled command economy and introduction of competition have fueled consumer demand for a greater selection of innovative new products in the retail market. The challenge for retail buyers is to adjust their procurement processes...

Data equivalence refers to the extent to which the elements of a research design have the same meaning, and can be applied in the same way, in different cultural contexts. Failure to establish data equivalence in cross-cultural studies may bias empirical results and theoretical inferences....