Affiliations: [a] Department of Information Systems and Decision Sciences, E.J. Ourso College of Business Administration, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. E-mail: qmchen@lsu.edu | [b] School of Business Administration, Gonzaga University, 502 E. Boone, AD9 Spokane, WA 99258, USA. Tel.: +1509 323 3426; Fax: +1323 5811; E-mail: chong@gonzaga.edu | [c] Department of Management, E.J. Ourso College of Business Administration, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. E-mail: rjustis@lsu.edu
Abstract: Most franchisors do not have necessary knowledge to run their businesses in this information age. This article describes our experience in designing and implementing a Franchising Knowledge Repository (FKR) prototype. This knowledge repository, available on the Intranet, will be an electronic distribution center of franchising-related materials. Based on a framework of knowledge management, this repository is a series of modules organized into two important dimensions: (1) levels of knowledge and (2) levels of user skills. This new form of knowledge dissemination increases the integration of theory and practice. The repository's knowledge modules adhere to a consistent format so users can locate the information easier. As an example, we describe in this paper a knowledge module for Location and Site Selection, a pictorial methodology for evaluating alternatives for site selection.
