• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.493-513
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• 2014

With the development of related technologies, Location-Based Services (LBS) are growing fast and being used in many ways. Past LBS studies have focused on adoption of LBS because of the fact that LBS users have privacy concerns regarding revealing their location information. Meanwhile, the number of LBS users and revenues from LBS are growing rapidly because users can get some benefits by revealing their location information. Little research has been done on how LBS affects consumers' information search behavior in product purchase. The purpose of this paper is examining the effect of LBS information filtering on buyers' uncertainty and their information search behavior. When consumers purchase a product, they try to reduce uncertainty by searching information. Generally, there are two types of uncertainties - knowledge uncertainty and choice uncertainty. Knowledge uncertainty refers to the lack of information on what kinds of alternatives are available in the market and/or their important attributes. Therefore, consumers having knowledge uncertainty will have difficulties in identifying what alternatives exist in the market to fulfil their needs. Choice uncertainty refers to the lack of information about consumers' own preferences and which alternative will fit in their needs. Therefore, consumers with choice uncertainty have difficulties selecting best product among available alternatives.. According to economics of information theory, consumers narrow the scope of information search when knowledge uncertainty is high. It is because consumers' information search cost is high when their knowledge uncertainty is high. If people do not know available alternatives and their attributes, it takes time and cognitive efforts for them to acquire information about available alternatives. Therefore, they will reduce search breadth. For people with high knowledge uncertainty, the information about products and their attributes is new and of high value for them. Therefore, they will conduct searches more in-depth because they have incentive to acquire more information. When people have high choice uncertainty, people tend to search information about more alternatives. It is because increased search breadth will improve their chances to find better alternative for them. On the other hand, since human's cognitive capacity is limited, the increased search breadth (more alternatives) will reduce the depth of information search for each alternative. Consumers with high choice uncertainty will spend less time and effort for each alternative because considering more alternatives will increase their utility. LBS provides users with the capability to screen alternatives based on the distance from them, which reduces information search costs. Therefore, it is expected that LBS will help users consider more alternatives even when they have high knowledge uncertainty. LBS provides distance information, which helps users choose alternatives appropriate for them. Therefore, users will perceive lower choice uncertainty when they use LBS. In order to test the hypotheses, we selected 80 students and assigned them to one of the two experiment groups. One group was asked to use LBS to search surrounding restaurants and the other group was asked to not use LBS to search nearby restaurants. The experimental tasks and measures items were validated in a pilot experiment. The final measurement items are shown in Appendix A. Each subject was asked to read one of the two scenarios - with or without LBS - and use a smartphone application to pick a restaurant. All behaviors on smartphone were recorded using a recording application. Search breadth was measured by the number of restaurants clicked by each subject. Search depths was measured by two metrics - the average number of sub-level pages each subject visited and the average time spent on each restaurant. The hypotheses were tested using SPSS and PLS. The results show that knowledge uncertainty reduces search breadth (H1a). However, there was no significant correlation between knowledge uncertainty and search depth (H1b). Choice uncertainty significantly reduces search depth (H2b), but no significant relationship was found between choice uncertainty and search breadth (H2a). LBS information filtering significantly reduces the buyers' choice uncertainty (H4) and reduces the negative relationship between knowledge uncertainty and search breadth (H3). This research provides some important implications for service providers. Service providers should use different strategies based on their service properties. For those service providers who are not well-known to consumers (high knowledge uncertainty) should encourage their customers to use LBS. This is because LBS would increase buyers' consideration sets when the knowledge uncertainty is high. Therefore, less known services have chances to be included in consumers' consideration sets with LBS. On the other hand, LBS information filtering decrease choice uncertainty and the near service providers are more likely to be selected than without LBS. Hence, service providers should analyze geographically approximate competitors' strength and try to reduce the gap so that they can have chances to be included in the consideration set.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.247-284
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• 2017

Purpose The first purpose of this study is to investigate factors that are likely to influence user's intention to adopt third-party mobile payment platform. A comprehensive study about mobile payment services have used various variables to explain user's use intention based on the theory of reasoned action (TRA) or the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Variables such as simplicity, security, costs, relative advantage, individual mobility, subjective norm, trust, satisfaction, attitude towards use, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and so on. Among these factors, we expect to find out the most influential factors effecting user's use intention of the third-party mobile payment services. Second, we also examine whether the most influential factors have the same influence to different third-party mobile payment services by conducting comparative study of Alipay and WeChat Pay. Design/methodology/approach Empirical data for this study were collected from Chinese who has the experience using or have used Alipay or WeChat Pay. Participants needed to be familiar with Alipay or WeChat Pay because such users may be more aware of both the advantages and disadvantages of Alipay and WeChat Pay. We conduct a pilot test using Smart PLS 2.0, which includes 50 Alipay users and 82 WeChat Pay users. The result indicates that all the measurement fit for the context. And then 980 questionnaires were mainly sent out to the college students and the e-mails users randomly. To encourage participation, we give the participants a small gift as a present. Finally, we received a total of 683 replied. Data from respondents who gave incomplete or invalid answers were excluded to assure the validity of the constructs. 79 questionnaires were rejected, finally the valid data are 604 (with 372 Alipay users and 232 WeChat Pay users). Findings The results suggest that users' intention is determined by their trust on third-party mobile payment service and perceived usefulness of use. Comparative study results also indicated that the factors have different influence on Alipay group and WeChat Pay group, which offers a new aspect for academic field, and provides useful information to mobile payment service providers in China.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.151-171
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• 2016

With the widespread adoption of mobile devices, such as smart phones and smart pads, as well as the rapid growth of mobile technologies, consumer shopping patterns are changing. This study investigates key factors of consumer purchasing intention in a mobile shopping mall context by incorporating trust belief into the theory of planned behavior. We posit perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, perceived ease of use, and trust belief as antecedents of behavioral attitude toward mobile shopping malls. Moreover, social influence and security are identified as key enablers of trust belief on mobile shopping malls. Data collected from 154 consumers with purchasing experience in mobile shopping malls are empirically tested against a research model using partial least squares. Analysis results show that behavioral attitude and perceived behavioral control significantly influence purchasing intention. Moreover, this study reveals the significant effects of perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment on behavioral attitude. Trust belief indirectly influences purchasing intention through behavioral attitude and is significantly affected by social influence. Understanding consumer purchasing decision-making processes in mobile shopping malls can help service providers to develop effective marketing and operation strategies and campaigns.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.611-635
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• 2014

Information systems (IS) have become ubiquitous and changed every aspect of how people live their lives. While some IS have been successfully adopted and widely used, others have failed to be adopted and crowded out in spite of remarkable progress in technologies. Both the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the IS Success Model (ISSM), among many others, have contributed to explain the reasons of success as well as failure in IS adoption and usage. While the TAM suggests that intention to use and perceived usefulness lead to actual IS usage, the ISSM indicates that information quality, system quality, and service quality affect IS usage and user satisfaction. Upon literature review, however, we found a significant void in theoretical development and its applications that employ either of the two models, and we raise research questions. First of all, in spite of the causal relationship between intention to use and actual usage, in most previous studies, only intention to use was employed as a dependent variable without overt explaining its relationship with actual usage. Moreover, even in a few studies that employed actual IS usage as a dependent variable, the degree of actual usage was measured based on users' perceptual responses to survey questionnaires. However, the measurement of actual usage based on survey responses might not be 'actual' usage in a strict sense that responders' perception may be distorted due to their selective perceptions or stereotypes. By the same token, the degree of system quality that IS users perceive might not be 'real' quality as well. This study seeks to fill this void by measuring the variables of actual usage and system quality using 'fact' data such as system logs and specifications of users' information and communications technology (ICT) devices. More specifically, we propose an integrated research model that bring together the TAM and the ISSM. The integrated model is composed of both the variables that are to be measured using fact as well as survey data. By employing the integrated model, we expect to reveal the difference between real and perceived degree of system quality, and to investigate the relationship between the perception-based measure of intention to use and the fact-based measure of actual usage. Furthermore, we also aim to add empirical findings on the general research question: what factors influence actual IS usage and how? In order to address the research question and to examine the research model, we selected a mobile campus application (MCA). We collected both fact data and survey data. For fact data, we retrieved them from the system logs such information as menu usage counts, user's device performance, display size, and operating system revision version number. At the same time, we conducted a survey among university students who use an MCA, and collected 180 valid responses. A partial least square (PLS) method was employed to validate our research model. Among nine hypotheses developed, we found five were supported while four were not. In detail, the relationships between (1) perceived system quality and perceived usefulness, (2) perceived system quality and perceived intention to use, (3) perceived usefulness and perceived intention to use, (4) quality of device platform and actual IS usage, and (5) perceived intention to use and actual IS usage were found to be significant. In comparison, the relationships between (1) quality of device platform and perceived system quality, (2) quality of device platform and perceived usefulness, (3) quality of device platform and perceived intention to use, and (4) perceived system quality and actual IS usage were not significant. The results of the study reveal notable differences from those of previous studies. First, although perceived intention to use shows a positive effect on actual IS usage, its explanatory power is very weak ($R^2$=0.064). Second, fact-based system quality (quality of user's device platform) shows a direct impact on actual IS usage without the mediating role of intention to use. Lastly, the relationships between perceived system quality (perception-based system quality) and other constructs show completely different results from those between quality of device platform (fact-based system quality) and other constructs. In the post-hoc analysis, IS users' past behavior was additionally included in the research model to further investigate the cause of such a low explanatory power of actual IS usage. The results show that past IS usage has a strong positive effect on current IS usage while intention to use does not have, implying that IS usage has already become a habitual behavior. This study provides the following several implications. First, we verify that fact-based data (i.e., system logs of real usage records) are more likely to reflect IS users' actual usage than perception-based data. In addition, by identifying the direct impact of quality of device platform on actual IS usage (without any mediating roles of attitude or intention), this study triggers further research on other potential factors that may directly influence actual IS usage. Furthermore, the results of the study provide practical strategic implications that organizations equipped with high-quality systems may directly expect high level of system usage.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.353-359
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• 2021

Information technology and the need for timely and effective communication during the Covid-19 have made most governments adopt technological approaches to provide their services. E-government services have been adopted by most governments especially in developed countries to quickly and effectively share information. This study discusses the reasons why governments in the Gulf region should develop a new model for information technology knowledge management practices. To achieve this, the author identified possible benefits of adopting information technology knowledge management practices and why most governments in the Gulf find it hard to adopt them. Knowledge management allows for learning, transfer as well as sharing of information between government organizations and citizens and with the development of technology, the effectiveness of electronic services can easily be achieved. Also, effective adoption of information technology can improve knowledge management with the help of techniques that enhance capture, storage, retrieval as well as sharing of information. The author used systematic literature review to select 28 journals and articles published post 2019. IEEE, Google Scholar and Science Direct were used to select potential studies from which 722 journals and articles were selected. Through screening and eligibility assessment, 21 articles were retained while the back and forward search had 7 more articles which were also included in the study. Using information gathered from these articles and journals a new conceptual model was developed to help improve information technology knowledge management for governments in the Gulf region to effectively deliver e-services during Covid-19. This model was developed based on the process of KM, Theory of Planned Behavior and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. Based on the developed model. From UTAUT model, performance expectancy, effort expectancy as well as social influence had a great impact.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.220-234
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the adherence to dietary guidelines among college students in the post-COVID-19 era and examine the changes in their dietary habits as the learning environment transitioned from remote to in-person classes. Methods: We conducted a survey involving 327 college students in Daejeon from March to April 2023. The survey questionnaires included various factors, including age, gender, type of residence, frequency of use of delivery food, convenience food, and eating out. In addition, we investigated the extent of adherence to the dietary guidelines for Koreans and the degree of dietary changes following the post-COVID-19 shift in class format were investigated. For comparative analysis of the level of adherence to dietary guidelines in relation to dietary habit changes, an ANOVA and a post hoc Scheffe test were employed. We also performed a multiple linear regression analysis to identify dietary factors influencing the level of adherence to dietary guidelines. Results: The study revealed a high rate of convenience food consumption and a low rate of homemade food intake among students. There was a marked increase in the consumption of processed foods, convenience foods, dining out, sweet foods, high-fat fried foods, beverages, and alcohol following the transition from online to in-person classes. When examining adherence to Korean dietary guidelines, the highest scored practice was 'Hydration', and the lowest was 'Breakfast habit'. Increased consumption of convenience foods, late-night snacks, and dining out were negatively correlated with adherence levels to dietary guidelines, specifically correlating with 'Healthy weight', 'Hydration', 'Breakfast habit', and the total score of adherence. The adoption of 'regular meals' was positively associated with increased adherence levels to dietary guidelines. Conclusions: The transition from remote to in-person classes post-COVID-19 led to increased intake of convenience foods, dining out, sweet foods, high-fat fried foods, and alcohol. The rise in convenience food and late-night snack consumption negatively influenced several aspects of the dietary guidelines adherence, thereby suggesting the need for strategies to encourage healthy dietary habits among college students.

• Informatization Policy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.22-45
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• 2023

In research on the use of AI-based voice assistant services, problems related to the user's trust and privacy protection arising from the experience of service use are constantly being raised. The purpose of this study was to investigate empirically the effects of individual trust in AI and online privacy concerns on the continued use of AI-based voice assistants, specifically the impact of their interaction. In this study, question items were constructed based on previous studies, with an online survey conducted among 405 respondents. The effect of the user's trust in AI and privacy concerns on the adoption and continuous use intention of AI-based voice assistant services was analyzed using the Heckman selection model. As the main findings of the study, first, AI-based voice assistant service usage behavior was positively influenced by factors that promote technology acceptance, such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and social influence. Second, trust in AI had no statistically significant effect on AI-based voice assistant service usage behavior but had a positive effect on continuous use intention. Third, the privacy concern level was confirmed to have the effect of suppressing continuous use intention through interaction with trust in AI. These research results suggest the need to strengthen user experience through user opinion collection and action to improve trust in technology and alleviate users' concerns about privacy as governance for realizing digital government. When introducing artificial intelligence-based policy services, it is necessary to disclose transparently the scope of application of artificial intelligence technology through a public deliberation process, and the development of a system that can track and evaluate privacy issues ex-post and an algorithm that considers privacy protection is required.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 2008.04a
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• pp.157-160
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• 2008

The confined concrete subjected multi-axil stresses have been known as the strength of concrete increases significantly. Many researchers have studied in confining effect of concrete, and now are studying in many fields. Lap splices were located in the plastic hinge region of most bridge piers that were constructed before the adoption of the seismic design provision of Korea Highway Design Specification on 1992. But sudden brittle failure of lap splices may occur under loading. This study introduces a new method to retrofit RC bridge columns with lap splice which do not have enough ductility during an earthquake. The new method use mechanical external pressure and steel plates around RC columns. The jacketing built following the new method shows good results of increasing the compressive strength and ductility of concrete cylinders. The thicker steel jacket shows larger compressive strength, however, the ductility at failure depends on the welding quality of steel jackets. In this study, The effect of the new method is verified through comparing the results of the compressive tests and analysis results.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.73-80
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• 2012

The adoption of a composite beam system is regarded as a simple but effective solution because it improves the overall stiffness, strength and stability of the structure by welding shear studs. However, welding shear studs poses problems including electric shock and weld defects. Mechanical methods have emerged as an alternative to metallurgical methods for connecting the H-beam and shear connector. Four specimens were tested in order to compare the structural behavior of the proposed composite beams with that of the classical composite beam given the condition of horizontal loading. With the original composite beam (FCB-SB specimen) using stud bolts, hysteresis loops are stable, but its strength decreased with the crashing of the concrete slab around the column. The suggested composite beams using shear connectors also yielded stable hysteresis loops. Consequently, use of the suggested composite beams instead of the original composite beam are recommended.

• Korean small business review
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.251-283
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to provide assistance to the establishment of related policies to improve the level of acceptance and use of smart factories for SMEs in Korea. To this end, the Unified Technology Acceptance Model (UTAUT) was extended to select additional factors that could affect the intention to accept technology, and to demonstrate this. To achieve the research objective, a questionnaire composed of 7-point Likert scales was prepared, and a survey was conducted for manufacturing-related companies. A total of 136 questionnaires were used for statistical processing. As a result of the hypothesis test, performance expectation and social influence had a positive (+) positive effect on voluntary use, but effort expectation and promotion conditions did not have a significant effect. As an extension factor, the network effect and organizational characteristics had a positive (+) effect, and the innovation resistance had a negative effect (-), but the perceived risk had no significant effect. When the size of the company is large, the perceived risk and innovation resistance are low, and the level of influencing factors for veterinary intentions, veterinary intentions, and veterinary behaviors are excluded. Through this study, factors that could have a positive and negative effect on the adoption (reduction) of smart factory-related technologies were identified and factors to be improved and factors to be reduced were suggested. As a result, this study suggests that smart factory-related technologies should be accepted.