Effects of intellectual capital and management control systems on organizational performance mediated by cooperation in the franchising system

Abstract

This study analyzed the effects of intellectual capital and management control systems (MCS) on performance, mediated by cooperation in a franchising system, on the assumption that those, in the condition of antecedents, can improve performance through cooperation since contracts are signed for that purpose. The results showed that intellectual capital (human, structural, and relational) promotes improved performance and cooperation in a franchising system. Similarly, MCS (performance appraisal systems and socialization) translate into performance and cooperation. However, no mediating effect of cooperation was observed in intellectual capital and MCS` relationships with performance. A survey was carried out with 112 fuel dealer managers, and structural equation modeling was applied to test the hypotheses. It was concluded that cooperation did not potentiate the effects of intellectual capital and MCS in performance on the performance of the investigated franchising system. This finding raises the need for further research as it clashes with the purpose of cooperation with has been advocated in the literature and expected in a franchise agreement.