Jeff Johnson, CEO, Franchise Research Institute
Jeff Johnson
Founder and CEO,
Franchise Research Institute
Jeff Johnson has been immersed in franchising for over 30 years; first as a franchisee, then a multi-unit franchisee, and then an area developer for a national QSR franchise. From this experience he learned that franchisees often do not share important insights with executives, out of fear of retribution. This lack of open, honest communication can prevent a franchise from attaining its true potential. He also learned that if a franchise allowed him to go “behind the curtain” and ask crucial questions of franchisees (while guaranteeing confidentiality) he could obtain critical information, valuable to the company and to franchisee candidates.
The fundamental questions he sought to answer were: 1.) What separates the best from the rest? and 2.) How can you quantify the difference? In 2002 Johnson founded the Franchise Research Institute® to study these questions, and to promote excellence in business opportunities for future franchise owners.
Dr. Dwayne Ball, Methodology Consultant
Methodology Consultant for the Franchise Research Institute®
Methodology Consultant
Franchise Research InstituteDr. Ball earned a PhD in Mathematical Psychology from Ohio State University. After serving 30-years as Department Chair and Associate Professor of Marketing at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he now serves as Emeritus Professor. He spent four years as consumer research manager for Proctor & Gamble as well as ongoing consulting with numerous companies throughout the U.S. and abroad. He has been awarded the Fulbright Award from the U.S. government to teach and study at the Institute for Statistics and Information Management in Lisbon, Portugal, as well as being designated a Fulbright Senior Scholar on the International Exchange of Scholars. Dr. Ball has published numerous articles in Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Consumer Psychology, the Journal of Business Research, and many more.