The Effects of Supervisor’s Relationship Bonding Efforts on Long-Term Orientation in Franchise Industry Context

This study examines the structural relationship that supervisor's relationship bonding efforts impact on the long-term franchisee and mediating roles of closeness and relationship with supervisor and franchisor. The data was collected from 496 foodservice franchisees, and was analyzed with SPSS/PC 18.0 and AMOS 18.0. The findings are summarized as follows: first, all supervisor relationship bonding efforts (including social, functional, and structural) have a positive effect on supervisor closeness. Second, supervisor closeness has a positive effect on franchisor closeness, and supervisor closeness has a positive effect on supervisor relationship strength, at the same time, it has a positive effect on franchisor relationship strength. Third, supervisor relationship strength has a positive effect both on franchisor closeness and franchisor relationship strength. Only the effect of franchisor closeness on franchisor relationship strength was not identified. Finally, franchisor closeness has a positive effect on long-term franchisee, and additionally franchisor relationship strength has a positive effect on long-term franchisee. In this study's conclusion, some findings driven from the empirical analysis are discussed and some implications are presented regarding the supervisor rolein franchising, and the overall effective management of franchisor-franchisee relationships via supervisors.