Tales of Garcón: The Franchise Players

PRESENTING: Tales of Garcón: The Franchise Players
ISBN 13: 978-1-936126-03-3

From this page you can:

  • Watch the Atlas Black Movie Trailer to get excited about using a Graphic Novel for your business course
  • Listen to a podcast of Jeremy Short discussing his Graphic Novel for use in Management courses
  • Watch Jeremy's TED Talk Video for insight into this new text option
  • Request a desk copy of Tales of Garcón: The Franchise Players

    • If you would like to adopt Tales of Garcón: The Franchise Players you should copy and paste this URL (http://www.flatworldknowledge.com/node/414020) into your syllabus. Your students can read the first chapter FREE online by clicking the link below, and purchase the remainder of the graphic novel from the "Add to Cart" button at the bottom of this page.

    ABOUT THIS BOOK:

    Tales of Garcón: The Franchise Players is the first ever graphic novel that encompasses key concepts and theories from family business and franchising. For perhaps the first time, you will not struggle to get your students to read their assigned text.

    Graphic novels are book length works that are targeted toward adult audiences. They are widely read by college students, and in recent years educators have incorporated graphic novels into many university courses like Chemistry, Psychology, History, Physics, Statistics, and ethics — to name a few. Today’s students encounter and thrive on a vast array of stimulation and media input. The Graphic Novel is one way to captivate their attention, and increase understanding of the material covered in the course.

    The graphic novel format provides great versatility. Tales of Garcón: The Franchise Players can add value as:

    • A supplement or complementary text for a course in family business and/or franchising
    • A replacement for a traditional text in an experiential or short course.
    • A primer on small business, management, and entrepreneurship for incoming freshmen within the ‘overview of business’ classes that are offered at many colleges and universities.

    Overview

    “Should our family firm expand, or should we be content with the success we enjoy now?”
    “Which of my children should succeed me at the helm?”
    “Is franchising a viable source or growth, and is it really a form of entrepreneurship?”
    “How can I ensure that my family firm thrives in the future?”

    The founders of family firms wrestle with complex questions like these every day, and the answers are elusive. In Tales of Garcón: The Franchise Players, a charismatic entrepreneur named Garcón tries to direct the destiny of the family-owned hotel that he created. The family’s plans take an unexpected turn when a mysterious investor offers to become the hotel’s first franchisee. Garcón’s carefree son Ramón readily embraces the opportunity, while his cynical daughter Isabel questions the investor’s motives.

    Written in an engaging style, Tales of Garcón: The Franchise Players covers key concepts from family business management, small business management, and franchising. This graphic novel can serve as the main text for a college course, as a supplement to a traditional textbook, as a reading within an executive program, and as a primer for entrepreneurs who simply want to learn more about how to be successful. As Garcón would say, “Disfruta de la aventura, amigos.” Enjoy the adventure, my friends.

    In contrast to the often 'dry' descriptive approach of traditional texts, and the superficial cheerleading of the latest "pop management" books, Tales of Garcón: The Franchise Players brings concepts to life using a graphic novel format that undergraduates, MBA's, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in more deeply grasping business is certain to find both educational and entertaining.

    Tales of Garcón: The Franchise Players includes:

    Chapter 1: The Game’s Afoot (Advertising fees, Business format franchising, Franchise fee, Franchisee, Franchising, Franchisor, Free riding, Heir apparent, Product franchising, Residual claimant, Royalties, The Franchise Rule) View now for free

    Chapter 2: Small Business, Big Dreams (Agent, Antitrust law, Exclusive dealing, Franchise Disclosure Document, Monitoring, Principal, Registration state, Territory, Tying)

    Chapter 3: Celebrating The Family Business (Business model, Family business culture and history, Goal conflict, Industry norms, Operational complexity, Operations manual, Support services, Succession, Survival)

    Chapter 4: Entering Scary Territory (Advisory council, Area development agreement, Capital scarcity, Conversion franchising, Family council, Franchisee association, Franchisee support services, Organic growth)

    Chapter 5: Small Business Strategies For Rising Above (Management fads, Matrix organization, Nepotism, Quality circles, Strategy as plan, Strategy as pattern, Strategy as perspective, Strategy as ploy, Strategy as position, Symbiosis)

    Chapter 6: Fighting The Family Battles (Bricolage, Contract length, Contract renewal clause, Contract termination clause, Limited liability company, Proven business concept, Selection criteria, Sole proprietorship)

    Chapter 7: Extending The Family Business (Estate planning, Hold up, International expansion, Master franchising, Obsolescing bargain, Passive ownership, Underinvestment)

    Request a desk copy of Tales of Garcón: The Franchise Players now.

    [For Registered Instructors only] Please click on the following links to download Instructor's Manuals and Powerpoint Lecture Notes for each chapter:

    Instructor's Manuals

    Powerpoint Lecture Notes