• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.69-75
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• 2021

In a contact-free society, online services are becoming more important than classic offline services. At the same time, the role of a contact center, which executes customer relation management (CRM), is increasingly essential. For supporting the CRM tasks and their effectiveness, techniques of process automation need to be applied. Quality assurance (QA) is one of the time and resource consuming, and typical processes that are suitable for automation. In this paper, a method of automatic quality evaluation for voice based consultations is proposed. Firstly, the speech in consultations is transformed into a text by speech recognition. Then quantitative evaluation based on the QA metrics, including checking the elements in opening and closing mention, the existence of asking the mandatory information, the attitude of listening and speaking, is executed. 92.7% of the automated evaluations are the same to the result done by human experts. It was found that the non matching cases of the automated evaluations were mainly caused from the mistranslated Speech-to-Text (STT) result. With the confidence of STT result, this proposed method can be employed for enhancing the efficiency of QA process in contact centers.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.65-80
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• 2018

Purposes: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between empowerment, job satisfaction and organizational commitment of the general hospital administrative staff working for customer interaction department. Methodology: For this purpose, this study sampled 260 administrative staff working for the general hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. A total of 260 questionnaires were distributed to them, and 229 ones responded to the survey, which had been conducted from Mar. 9, through Mar. 30, 2018. 211 responses were used for the final analysis. The data collected were processed using the SPSS 18.0K for descriptive statistics, T-test, ANOVA and regression analysis. Findings: The results of this study can be summed up as follows. The empowerment of the subjects scored 3.73 on average on the 5-point scale. To be specific, the sub-factor 'meaning' scored the highest or 4.01, while the sub-factor 'impact' was lowest. Subjects' job satisfaction scored 3.37 and their organizational commitment scored 3.54 both on the 5-point scales. Practical Implications: Meaning and self determination of empowerment positively related to subjects' job satisfaction and organizational commitment, and particularly, meaning of empowerment was more strongly related. Hence, it is required of the general hospitals to operate a customized competence build-up program and educational courses on a continual basis. Besides, it would also be important to create a working environment wherein the administrative staff can demonstrate their deliberation, autonomy and independent services.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.67-78
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• 2021

The number of domestic e-commerce transactions has been breaking its own record by an annual average growth rate of over 20% based on volume for the past 5 years. Due to the rapid increase in e-commerce market, retail companies that have difficulty meeting consumers in person are in fierce competition to take the lead in the last mile service, which is the only point of contact with customers. Especially in the delivery area, where competition is most intense, the role of the fulfillment center is very important for service differentiation. It must be capable of fast product preparation ordered by consumers in accordance with the delivery service level. This study focuses on the order picking system for rapid order processing in the fulfillment center as an alternative for companies to gain competitive advantage in the e-commerce market. A mixed integer programming model was developed and implemented to optimize the stock replenishment in order picking facilities. The effectiveness was scientifically and objectively verified by simulation using the actual operation process and data.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.42-50
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• 2021

Along with the rapid growth of the food service industry, food safety requirements and hygiene are increasing in importance in restaurants and hotels. Accordingly, there is a need for quick and practical monitoring techniques to determine hygiene status in the field. In this study, we investigated 5 domestic 5-star hotels specifically, personal hygiene (hands of workers), cooking utensils (knife, cutting board, food storage container, slicing machine blade, ice-maker scoop) and other facilities (refrigerator handle, sink). In addition, we examined the hygiene management status of customer contact points (tongs for buffet, etc.) to derive the correlation between the ATP values as a, a verification method. As a result of our five-hotel survey, we found that cooking utensils and personal hygiene were relatively sanitary compared to other inspection items (cookware 92.2%, personal hygiene 91.4%, facilities and equipment 76.19%, customer contact items 88.6%). According to our ATP-based mothod, kitchen utensils (51 ± 45 RLU/25㎠) were relatively clean compared to other with facilities and equipment (167 ± 123 RLU/25㎠). In the present study, we also evaluated the usefulness of the ATP bioluminescence method for monitoring surface hygiene at hotel restaurants. After correlation analysis of surveillance of hygienic status points and ATP assay, most results showed negative and high correlation (-0.64--0.89). Our ATP assay (92 ± 67 RLU/25㎠) of each item after cleaning showed signigicantly reduced results compared to the ATP assay (1020 ± 1254 RLU/25㎠) for normal status, thereby indicating its suitability as a tool to verify the validity of cleaning. By our results, ATP bioluminescence could be used as an effective tool for visual numerical evaluation of invisible contaminants.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-24
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• 2009

Electronic commerce markets have been increasing rapidly, which has resulted in parallel growth in the door-to-door delivery service industry. The door-to-door delivery service industry is projected to be more competitive, due to the large amount of companies that are already established and the fact that several leading multinational logistics companies are rushing into the domestic market. This is a critical period for the companies which are attempting to obtain a competitive advantage. Previous research on door-to-door delivery services has been undertaken, in relation to strategic exploration, political proposals, and user satisfaction. However, there is a lack of practical studies focused on the information systems of door-to-door service companies and its decisive roles have been undertaken. This study aims to investigate, compare, and analyze the information systems of door-to-door delivery service companies. Also, the study proposes developmental direction of how the information systems should be improved. In order to accomplish the purpose of this study, first, we examined previous research on door-to-door delivery services and their information systems. Second, we investigated and analyzed the information systems of four leading domestic companies by conducting interviews. Third, we compared and identified factors of the information systems that could be improved. Finally, we proposed its developmental direction. As a result of the study, the information systems of door-to-door delivery service companies required to provide classified services using diverse tools and develop the optimized routing model to reduce logistics costs.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.107-118
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• 2019

Purpose - The present study examines the effect of service employees' experienced customer incivility through their emotional exhaustion. We identified service employees' emotion regulation ability as a boundary condition (i.e., moderating variable) that decreased the positive relationship between service employees' experienced customer incivility and their emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, we also investigated the negative relationship between service employees' experienced customer incivility and their service performance via emotional exhaustion. Research design, data, and methodology - Drawing on AET (affective event theory) and COR (conservation of resources) theory, we developed three research hypotheses (i.e., mediation, moderation, and moderated mediation). Online panel survey data from 552 frontline employees at several service organizations (e.g., department stores, retail stores, hotels, restaurants, airlines, banking, insurance company, and etc) in South Korea were examined. To assess two types of validity (i.e., convergent and discriminant validity) and reliability of measurement model, we employed the CFA (confirmatory factor analysis) using M-plus 8.2 software. Internal consistency also was tested by Cronbach' α. In addition, we employed the SPSS PROCESS MACRO 2.16, which was recommended by Hayes (2013, 2015), to estimate mediation, moderation, and moderated mediation effects. Results - As predicted, the negative relationship between service employees' experienced customer incivility and their service performance was mediated by emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, service employees' emotion regulation ability also played a significant moderating role of the relationship between service employees' experienced customer incivility and emotional exhaustion, such that this relationship was less pronounced when service employees had a high level of their emotion regulation ability than when thir emotion regulation ability was low. Service employees' emotion regulation ability further moderated this mediation effect of service employees' experienced customer incivility on service performance through emotional exhaustion. These findings have theoretical implications for employees' experienced customer incivility and emotion regulation ability research and provide managerial implications for practitioners. Conclusions - This study empirically elaborated the previous model of service employees' experienced customer incivility and personal resource (e.g., emotion regulation ability) literature by presenting the findings that service employees' experienced customer incivility influences their service performance via emotional exhaustion and that emotion regulation ability effectively reduces this negative effect.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.37-49
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• 2013

Purpose - This research identifies the meaning of the core capability level of Car Master and the reason why its service at the Moment of Truth should be demonstrated through empirical cases. It can be seen that this study differs from existing research because it proposes that the recognized core capability level to achieve customer satisfaction should focus on the mediating effect of Moment of Truth quality. This paper examines the effect of Car Master's recognized core capability level on customer satisfaction by using the variables mentioned above. Moreover, this study uses regression analysis to verify that the mediating effect of Moment of Truth quality on Car Master's capability level achieves customer satisfaction. Research design, data, and methodology - First, we present evidence that could apply to Car Master's recognized core capability level by detailing the relationship between customer satisfaction and a structuring factor for Car Master's core capability level. Our proposed research model observes the relationship between the structuring factor of core capability and customer satisfaction. Second, we had an opportunity to define how the core capability and Moment of Truth quality affect customer satisfaction by performing empirical analysis on the partial mediating effect of Moment of Truth quality at a recognized core capability level and Moment of Truth quality affecting customer satisfaction. Results - First, the results indicate that Car Master's recognized core capability level (product professionalism, marketing skill, and reliability) positively affects customer satisfaction. Second, the results show that an ability to listen and a sense of dedication positively affect customer satisfaction, and are among the Moment of Truth quality factors; but performance capability, which is one of the Moment of Truth quality factors, does not positively affect customer satisfaction. These results clearly differ from prior studies focused on Moment of Truth quality and consumer satisfaction. Third, the results show that Moment of Truth quality has a partial mediating effect in terms of the impact of Car Master's recognized core capability level in achieving consumer satisfaction. Conclusions - This research indicates that the company will be able to expand if they investigate and show an interest in more training and education for Car Master. The study verified that outstanding Car Masters show differentiated performance on customer satisfaction at the Moment of Truth in various instances. Thus, we believe that this is the time for a discussion on systematic and empirically recognized core capability levels and the Moment of Truth quality. The study on Car Master's recognized core capability level offers suitable solutions for Car Masters to respond to customers at the Moment of Truth. Further, this study emphasizes the importance of service as a critical factor having a direct relationship with the company's success and failure and contributing to building trust with the customer. Thus, an investment in continuous education and training for Car Master will help the growth of the business.

• CRM연구
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.21-40
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• 2009

This study conducted to examine how consumer's perception of COO(Country of (Brand) Origin) image affects brand association knowledge, how coo image and brand association knowledge affect buying intention, how these relationship differs in hedonic and utilitarian products and the moderating effect of consumer's ethnocentrism in the influence of brand association to buying intension. The results indicated the followings: First, it was significant COO Image affect brand association knowledge, more strong significant in Hedonic products than in utilitarian products. But it was not supported COO Image affect buying intension significantly. Second, Brand association knowledge affected buying intention significantly. And the last, consumer's ethnocentrism mediated between brand association knowledge and buying intention strong significantly.

• Archives of design research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.81-90
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• 2004

The reason of the appearance of Internet is regarded as a milestone since we have shared information globally in a mutual way. The important thing on this point is what contents we choose for ourselves. The Internet could be meaningless unless we use it in a certain way, which ultimately means that the Internet has to deliver something valuable to us humans. Therefore, we have looked at how we can deliver and share humanity and emotion through the Internet, also how we can instill vital power into our real life, through the Internet. Fortunately, the current study must essentially be ongoing due to its nature with perhaps a multidisciplinary team brainstorming ideas. The reason for that is that not only could we find new business models for companies, but also find out new ways to appease the human mind in the modern age. In addition, as consumers needs become more specialized and diversified, companies are expected to face up to fierce competition with the help of innovative ideas. The ever-intensifying competition requires companies to cultivate new strategic tools in order to have new, powerful and sustainable comparative advantages. The goal of this research will be to explore ways of finding a new approach. Specifically, this research is about how to use the EVC(empathetic virtual character), which, this researcher believes, can deliver emotional benefits so as to make e-branding successful. According to reports, it has been proven that this new concept including the EVC can result in tremendous success. So the goal of this research is to explore the current situation and to anticipate the future concerning virtual characters.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.99-120
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• 2010

Due to the wide spread of customers' frequent access of non face-to-face services, there have been many attempts to improve customer satisfaction using huge amounts of data accumulated throughnon face-to-face channels. Usually, a call center is regarded to be one of the most representative non-faced channels. Therefore, it is important that a call center has enough agents to offer high level customer satisfaction. However, managing too many agents would increase the operational costs of a call center by increasing labor costs. Therefore, predicting and calculating the appropriate size of human resources of a call center is one of the most critical success factors of call center management. For this reason, most call centers are currently establishing a department of WFM(Work Force Management) to estimate the appropriate number of agents and to direct much effort to predict the volume of inbound calls. In real world applications, inbound call prediction is usually performed based on the intuition and experience of a domain expert. In other words, a domain expert usually predicts the volume of calls by calculating the average call of some periods and adjusting the average according tohis/her subjective estimation. However, this kind of approach has radical limitations in that the result of prediction might be strongly affected by the expert's personal experience and competence. It is often the case that a domain expert may predict inbound calls quite differently from anotherif the two experts have mutually different opinions on selecting influential variables and priorities among the variables. Moreover, it is almost impossible to logically clarify the process of expert's subjective prediction. Currently, to overcome the limitations of subjective call prediction, most call centers are adopting a WFMS(Workforce Management System) package in which expert's best practices are systemized. With WFMS, a user can predict the volume of calls by calculating the average call of each day of the week, excluding some eventful days. However, WFMS costs too much capital during the early stage of system establishment. Moreover, it is hard to reflect new information ontothe system when some factors affecting the amount of calls have been changed. In this paper, we attempt to devise a new model for predicting inbound calls that is not only based on theoretical background but also easily applicable to real world applications. Our model was mainly developed by the interactive decision tree technique, one of the most popular techniques in data mining. Therefore, we expect that our model can predict inbound calls automatically based on historical data, and it can utilize expert's domain knowledge during the process of tree construction. To analyze the accuracy of our model, we performed intensive experiments on a real case of one of the largest car insurance companies in Korea. In the case study, the prediction accuracy of the devised two models and traditional WFMS are analyzed with respect to the various error rates allowable. The experiments reveal that our data mining-based two models outperform WFMS in terms of predicting the amount of accident calls and fault calls in most experimental situations examined.