‘Staff smarts’ can give a franchise ‘star’ status Getting to grips with the pro and cons of managing staff effectively is vital to the success of a franchise   The most valuable asset in any franchise is its people. It is people that drive admin, control systems and provide the service, build efficient teams and help to keep customers coming back for more. Ignoring staff needs and failing to acknowledge and reward them can potentially harm a franchise.  “If you are buying a new franchise and selecting your own staff, or acquiring an existing outlet with staff, getting to grips with employee issues is vital. It is critical that the right people are in the right positions and that the staffing process is accomplished as quickly and effectively as possible,” says Simone Cooper, Head of Franchising and Enterprise Development at Standard Bank. “Sorting out employee issues is time-consuming and can even be intimidating, but you can usually get advice, tips and possible sta...