2025 Award REcipiEnts

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Best Paper Selection Process and History

Award winners have been selected each year by independent representatives from the Journal of Marketing Channels, the Journal of Small Business Management, the Coleman Foundation, Franchise Update Publications, International Franchise Association Educational Foundation, or the International Society of Franchising membership.

From 2009-2012, the Journal of Marketing Channels, the first and only professional marketing journal to focus exclusively on distribution systems, strategy and management, sponsored the ISoF Best Paper Award. In 2013, the Journal of Marketing Channels sponsored the ISoF Best Student Paper Award.

In 2005, the oldest, premier journal in small business and entrepreneurship, the Journal of Small Business Management, began sponsoring the ISoF Best Paper Award and sponsored it through 2008. They began sponsoring the award again in 2013.

The ISoF Best Paper Award was sponsored by the ISoF membership from 2001 to 2004. An ISoF selection committee recognized their peers with this honor and presented them with a commemorative plaque.

The Arthur Karp Research Award (previously named the IFA Educational Foundation “Best Applied Paper”) was named after a pioneer in franchising who strongly believed in franchise education, Arthur Karp. This award was open to ISoF members as well as other academics conducting applied research in franchising.

The IFA Educational Foundation “Best Applied Paper” Award was the predecessor of the Arthur Karp Research Award. An independent selection committee from the IFA Educational Foundation selected the best-applied paper.

The Franchise Update Publications “Best International Paper” Award was presented in 1996 and 1997.

The Coleman Foundation Award was presented in 1995.

The Journal of Marketing Channels Special Issue on Franchising Award was presented in 1993.

Following is a listing of the Best Paper Award categories, and the years in which the awards were received, the name of the paper, and the author(s) of the paper.

2018-2013

Journal of Small Business Management ISoF Best Paper Award

2018

 The Influence of an Entrepreneurial Personality on Franchisee Performance: A Cross-Cultural Analysis
Anna Watson, University of Hertfordshire (UK)
Lola Dada, Lancaster University (UK)
Begoña Lopez-Fernandez, University of Oviedo (Spain)
Rozenn Perrigot, University of Rennes 1 (France)

2017

Thanks for the Memories: Compensating Franchisee Goodwill after Franchise Termination
Robert Emerson, University of Florida (USA)

2016

The Impact of Marketing Expenditures on Outlet Performance in Franchised Channels
Benjamin Lawrence, Cornell University (USA)
Liwu Hsu, University of Alabama in Huntsville (USA)
Jie J. Zhang, University of Vermont (USA)

2015

 A cross-cultural exploration of franchise entrepreneurial orientation
Anna Watson, University of Hertfordshire (UK)
Lola Dada, Lancaster University (UK)
Owen Wright, Griffith University (Australia)
Rozenn Perrigot, University of Rennes (France)

2014
Critiquing the Traditional Economic Analysis of Good Cause Statutes: An
Empirical Perspective
Adi Ayal, Bar Ilan University (Israel)
Uri Benoliel, College of Law and Business (Israel)

2013
Franchisees’ Financial Constraints and Franchisors’ Franchising Decisions
Ying Fan, University of Michigan (USA)
Kai-Uwe Kühn, University of Michigan (USA)
Francine Lafontaine, University of Michigan (USA)

2012-2009

Journal of Marketing Channels ISoF Best Paper Award

2012
The Moderating Role of HR Operational Autonomy on the Entrepreneurial Orientation–Performance Link in Franchise Systems
Marko Grünhagen, Eastern Illinois University (USA)
Olufunmilola (Lola) Dada, Lancaster University (UK)
Melody L. Wollan, Eastern Illinois University (USA)
Anna Watson, University of the Arts London (UK)

2011
Lost in Translation? The Prevalence and Performance Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility in Franchising
Thomas Ehrmann, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Germany)
Brinja Meiseberg, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster (Germany)

2010
Entrepreneurial Orientation and The Franchise System: Organisational Antecedents and Performance Outcomes
Lola Dada, Lancaster University (UK)
Anna Watson, University of the Arts London (UK)

2009
An Introspective Examination of Single-Unit versus Multi-Unit Franchisees
Rajiv P. Dant, University of Oklahoma (USA)
Scott K. Weaven, Griffith University (Australia)
Ivan I. Lapuka, University of Oklahoma (USA)
Brent L. Baker, University of South Florida (USA)
Hyo Jin (Jean) Jeon, University of Oklahoma (USA)

2008-2001

Journal of Small Business Management ISoF Best Paper Award

2008
The Influence of Formal Coordination Mechanisms on the Relationship Quality of Interorganizational Networks
Lambert Scheer, Institute for Commerce & International Marketing (H.I.MA.),
Saarland University, Germany
Joachim Zentes, Institute for Commerce & International Marketing (H.I.MA.),
Saarland University

2007
A Typology of Franchisee Responses During Strategic Change Processes
Evelien Croonen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
Maryse Brand, University of Groningen, The Netherlands

2006
Incidence of Plural Forms in Franchise Networks: Exploratory Comparative Empirical Insights from USA, France, and Brazil
Rajiv P. Dant, University of South Florida
Rozenn Perrigot, International School of Business (ESC Rennes), France
Gérard Cliquet, University of Rennes 1, France

2005
Explaining Franchisor’s Choices of Organizational Forms within Franchise Systems
Vinay Garg, Southwest Missouri State University
Abdul Rasheed, University of Texas at Arlington
Richard Priem, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
ISoF Best Paper Award (presented by ISoF Membership)

2004
Empirical Analysis of Territorial Encroachment within Franchised and Company-Owned Branded Chains
Arturs Kalnins, University of Southern California

2003
Contract Duration: Evidence from Franchise Contracts
James A. Brickley, University of Rochester
Sanjog Misra, University of Rochester
R. Lawrence Van Horn, University of Rochester

2002
Royalty Rates and Upfront Fees in Share Contracts: Evidence from Franchising
James A. Brickley, University of Rochester

2001
The e-Business Challenge to Franchising
Andrew Terry, University of New South Wales, Australia

2018-2002

Arthur Karp Research Award

2018
Multi-Brand, Multi-System and Multi-Role Franchising: A Diversification Framework
Marko Grünhagen, Eastern Illinois University
Manuel Gonzalez-Diaz, University of Oviedo

2017
Franchising in the Healthcare Sector: The Case of CFW in Kenya
Rozenn Perrigot, University of Rennes 1

2009
The Effective Delivery of Franchisor Services: A Comparison of U.S. and German Support Practices for Franchisees
Marko Grünhagen, Eastern Illinois University
Robin DiPietro, University of Nebraska
Robert E. Stassen, University of Arkansas
Lorelle Frazer, Griffith University

2005
Does Franchising Create Value? An Analysis of the Financial Performance of U.S. Public Restaurant Firms
Hachemi Aliouche, University of New Hampshire
Udo Schlentrich, University of New Hampshire

2004 

Entry Mode Choice: The Case of Franchising
Krista Duniach-Smith, Université Montpellier I, France

2003
Franchise Systems and Knowledge Management
Audhesh Paswan, University of North Texas
C. Michael Wittmann, University of North Texas

2002
Predicting the Winners of the Franchise 500
John E. Clarkin, University of South Carolina/University of Stirling, Scotland
Robert Hasbrouck, Ph.D., College of Charleston
Peter Rosa, Ph.D., University of Stirling, Scotland

2001-1996

IFA Educational Foundation “Best Applied Paper” Award

2001
The e-Business Challenge to Franchising
Andrew Terry, University of New South Wales, Australia

2000
Year 10 of the El Paso Restaurant Attrition Study, “News Flash: Tenure Does Correlate with Investment!”
Wilke English, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Jo Willems, University of Texas at El Paso
John Stanworth, University of Westminster, London, U.K.
David Purdy, University of  Westminster, London, U.K.

1999
Signs of Maturity in Australian Franchising
Colin McCosker, University of Southern Queensland, Australia
Lorelle Frazer, University of Southern Queensland, Australia

1998
Direct and Indirect Effects of Training and Organizational Commitment among Hospitality Employees: Implications for Lodging Franchisors
Skip Swerdlow, University of Nevada Las Vegas
Wesley Roehl, University of Nevada Las Vegas

1997
Influence of Franchisee Selection Criteria on Franchisee Performance
Thani Jambulingham, University of Wisconsin
John Nevin, University of Wisconsin

1996
The Franchise as a Network Organization
Ravi S. Achrol, George Washington University

1997-1996

Franchise Update Publications—“Best International Paper”

1997
1st Place
Franchise Growth and Failure in the U.S. and the U.K., A Troubled Dreamworld Revisited
John Stanworth, University of Westminster, London, England
David Purdy, University of Westminster, London, England
Stuart Price, KPMG, London, England
2nd Place
Franchisees Roaming Across the Field of Paradoxes
Matti Koiranen, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Kimmo Hyrsky, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Mika Tuunanen, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

1996
1st Place
Business Format Franchising: Innovation and Creativity or Replication and Conformity?
John Stanworth, University of Westminster, London, England
Stuart Price, University of Westminster, London, England
David Purdy, University of Westminster, London, England
Nicos Zafiris, University of Westminster, London, England
Alessandro Gandolfo, University of Westminster, London, England

2nd Place
The Regulation of Franchising on Australia: Reviews, Roundabouts and Realpolitik,
Andrew Terry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

1995

Coleman Foundation Award

1st Place
Ownership Structure in Franchising: The Effects of Transaction Costs, Production Costs, and Strategic Considerations
Shirish P. Dant, St. Louis University International Society of Franchising (ISoF) Best Paper Awards 1993-2014

2nd Place
Within Market Price Dispersion in Franchised Chains
Francine Lafontaine, University of Michigan

Honorable Mention
Policies and Predispositions of Franchise Food Service Operators Toward the Use of Genetically Altered Foods
Ali A. Poorani, University of Delaware
Robert R. Nelson, University of Delaware

Honorable Mention
Women in Franchising: Some Preliminary Estimates
Rajiv P. Dant, Boston University
Francisco P. Iniesta, Boston University

1993

Journal of Marketing Channels—Special Issue on Franchising

Best Paper
The Influence of Psychological Climate on Conflict Resolution in Franchising Channels
David Strutton, University of Southwestern Louisiana
Lou E. Pelton, Augusta College

Honorable Mention
The Effect of Product Liability Law on Optimal Service and Advertising Levels for Franchised Channels
David E. Griffith, University of Oklahoma
Fred W. Morgan, University of Oklahoma

Honorable Mention
An Application of Population Ecology to Franchised and Non-Franchised Establishments
Bruce K. Pilling, Georgia State University
Steve E. Henson, Georgia State University
Boonghee Yoo, Georgia State University

Honorable Mention
The Development and Assignment of Territories: Dual Distribution and Conflict within Maturing Franchise Systems
Robert E. Stassen, University of Arkansas
Robert A. Mittelstaedt, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Honorable Mention
The Franchise Relationship – Entrepreneurship or Dependence?
John Stanworth, University of Westminster, London, U.K.