• Title/Summary/Keyword: Conceptual Study

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The Determination of Trust in Franchisor-Franchisee Relationships in China (중국 프랜차이즈 시스템에서의 본부와 가맹점간 신뢰의 영향요인)

  • Shin, Geon-Cheol;Ma, Yaokun
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.65-88
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    • 2008
  • Since the implementation of economic reforms in 1978, the Chinese economy grows rapidly at an average annul growth rate of 9% over the post two decades. Franchising has been widely recognized as an important source of entrepreneurial activity. Trust is important in that it facilitates relational exchanges by permits partners to transcend short-run inequities or risks to concentrate on long-term profits or gains. In the relationship between the franchisors and franchisees, trust has been described as an important source of competitive advantage. However, little research has been done on the factors affecting trust in Chinese franchisor-franchisee relationships. The purpose of this study is to investigate what factors affect the trust in the franchise system in China, and to provide guidelines and insights to franchisors which enter Chinese market. In this study, according to Morgan and Hunt (1994), trust is defined as the extending when one party has confidence in an exchange partner's reliability and integrity. We offered a conceptual model of the empirical study. The model shows that the factors affecting the trust include franchisor's supports, communication, satisfaction with previous outcome and conflict. We also suggested the franchisor's supports and communication like to enhance the franchisee's satisfaction with previous outcome, and the franchisor's supports, communication and he franchisee's satisfaction with previous outcome tend to decrease conflict. Before the formal study, a pretest involving exploratory interviews with owners from three franchisees was conducted to make sure the questionnaire was relevant and clear to the respondents. The data were collected using trained interviewers to carry out personal interviews with the aid of an unidentified, muti-page, structured questionnaire. The respondents comprised of owners, managers, and owner managers of franchisee-owned food service franchises located in Beijing, China. Even though a total of 256 potential franchises were initially contacted, the finally usable sample consisted of 125 respondents. As expected, the sampling method was successful in soliciting respondents with waried personal and firm characteristics. Self-administrated questionnaires were used for all measures. And established scales were used to measure the latent constructs in this study. The measures tapped the franchisees' perceptions of the relationship with the referent franchisor. Five-point Likert-type scales ranging from "strongly disagree" (=1) to "strongly agree" (=7) were used throughout the constructs (trust, eight items; support, five items; communication, four items; satisfaction, six items; conflict, three items). The reliability measurements traditionally employed, such as the Cronbach's alpha, were used. All the reliabilities were greater than.80. The proposed measurement model was estimated using SPSS 12.0 and AMOS 5.0 analysis package. We conducted A series of exploratory factor analyses and confirmatory factor analyses to assess the convergent validity, discriminant validity, and reliability. The results indicate reasonable overall fits between the model and the observed data. The overall fit of measurement model were $X^2$= 159.699, p=0.004, d.f. = 116, GFI =.879, NFI =.898, CFI =.969, IFI =.970, TLI =.959, RMR =.058. The results demonstrated that the data reasonably fitted the model. We also examined construct reliability and reliability and average variance extracted (AVE). The construct reliability of each construct was greater than.80 and the AVE of each construct was greater than.50. According to the analysis of Structure Equation Modeling (SEM), the results of path model indicated an adequate fit of the model: $X^2$= 142.126, p = 0.044, d.f. = 115, GFI =.892, NFI =.909, CFI =.981, IFI =.981, TLI =.974, RMR =.057. As hypothesized, the results showed that it is strategically important to establish trust in a franchise system, and the franchisor's supports, communication and satisfaction with previous outcome tend to reinforce franchisee's trust. The results also showed trust seems to decrease as the experience of conflict episodes increases. And we also noticed that franchisor's supports and communication tend to enhance the franchisee's satisfaction with previous outcome, and communication tend to decrease conflict. If the trust between the franchisor and franchisee can be established in a franchise system, franchising offers many benefits and reduces many costs. To manage a mutual trust of relationship with their franchisees, franchisor's should provide support effectively to their franchisees. Effective assistant services have direct effect on franchisees' satisfaction with previous outcome and trust in franchisor. Especially, franchise sales process, orientation, and training in the start-up period are key elements for success of the franchise system. Franchisor's support is an accumulated separate satisfaction evaluation with different kind of service provided by the franchisor. And providing support definitely can improve the trustworthy image of the franchisor. In the franchise system, conflicts of interests and exertions of different power sources are very common. The experience of conflict episodes seems to negatively relate to trust. Therefore, it is important to reduce the negative side of the relationship conflicts. Communication actually plays a broader role in reducing conflict and establish mutual trust in franchisor-franchisee relationship. And effective communication between franchisors and franchisees can improve franchisees' satisfaction toward the franchise system. As the diversification of Chinese markets, both franchisors and franchisees must keep the relevant, timely, and reliable communication. And it is very important to improve the quality of communication. Satisfaction with precious outcomes seems to positively relate to trust. Franchisors and franchisees that are highly satisfied with the previous outcomes that flow from their relationship will perceive their partner as advancing their goal achievement. Therefore, it is necessary for both franchisor and their franchisees to make the welfare of partner with effort. Little literature has focused on what factors affect the trust between franchisors and their franchisees in China. This study developed the hypotheses regarding the factors affecting trust in the transaction relationship. The results of data analysis supported the hypotheses strongly. There are certain limitations in this study. First, we may point out that some other factors missed in this study could be significantly important. Second, the context of this study, food service industry, limits its potential generalizability for all franchise systems. More studies in different categories of franchise system are needed to broaden its generalizability. Third, the model was tested empirically in a sample in Beijing, more empirical tests of the proposed model in other Chinese areas are needed. Finally, the analysis in this study was solely based on the perception of franchisees and the opinions of franchisors were not included.

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An Empirical Study on Perceived Value and Continuous Intention to Use of Smart Phone, and the Moderating Effect of Personal Innovativeness (스마트폰의 지각된 가치와 지속적 사용의도, 그리고 개인 혁신성의 조절효과)

  • Han, Joonhyoung;Kang, Sungbae;Moon, Taesoo
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.23 no.4
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    • pp.53-84
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    • 2013
  • With rapid development of ICT (Information and Communications Technology), new services by the convergence of mobile network and application technology began to appear. Today, smart phone with new ICT convergence network capabilities is exceedingly popular and very useful as a new tool for the development of business opportunities. Previous studies based on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) suggested critical factors, which should be considered for acquiring new customers and maintaining existing users in smart phone market. However, they had a limitation to focus on technology acceptance, not value based approach. Prior studies on customer's adoption of electronic utilities like smart phone product showed that the antecedents such as the perceived benefit and the perceived sacrifice could explain the causality between what is perceived and what is acquired over diverse contexts. So, this research conceptualizes perceived value as a trade-off between perceived benefit and perceived sacrifice, and we need to research the perceived value to grasp user's continuous intention to use of smart phone. The purpose of this study is to investigate the structured relationship between benefit (quality, usefulness, playfulness) and sacrifice (technicality, cost, security risk) of smart phone users, perceived value, and continuous intention to use. In addition, this study intends to analyze the differences between two subgroups of smart phone users by the degree of personal innovativeness. Personal innovativeness could help us to understand the moderating effect between how perceptions are formed and continuous intention to use smart phone. This study conducted survey through e-mail, direct mail, and interview with smart phone users. Empirical analysis based on 330 respondents was conducted in order to test the hypotheses. First, the result of hypotheses testing showed that perceived usefulness among three factors of perceived benefit has the highest positive impact on perceived value, and then followed by perceived playfulness and perceived quality. Second, the result of hypotheses testing showed that perceived cost among three factors of perceived sacrifice has significantly negative impact on perceived value, however, technicality and security risk have no significant impact on perceived value. Also, the result of hypotheses testing showed that perceived value has significant direct impact on continuous intention to use of smart phone. In this regard, marketing managers of smart phone company should pay more attention to improve task efficiency and performance of smart phone, including rate systems of smart phone. Additionally, to test the moderating effect of personal innovativeness, this research conducted multi-group analysis by the degree of personal innovativeness of smart phone users. In a group with high level of innovativeness, perceived usefulness has the highest positive influence on perceived value than other factors. Instead, the analysis for a group with low level of innovativeness showed that perceived playfulness was the highest positive factor to influence perceived value than others. This result of the group with high level of innovativeness explains that innovators and early adopters are able to cope with higher level of cost and risk, and they expect to develop more positive intentions toward higher performance through the use of an innovation. Also, hedonic behavior in the case of the group with low level of innovativeness aims to provide self-fulfilling value to the users, in contrast to utilitarian perspective, which aims to provide instrumental value to the users. However, with regard to perceived sacrifice, both groups in general showed negative impact on perceived value. Also, the group with high level of innovativeness had less overall negative impact on perceived value compared to the group with low level of innovativeness across all factors. In both group with high level of innovativeness and with low level of innovativeness, perceived cost has the highest negative influence on perceived value than other factors. Instead, the analysis for a group with high level of innovativeness showed that perceived technicality was the positive factor to influence perceived value than others. However, the analysis for a group with low level of innovativeness showed that perceived security risk was the second high negative factor to influence perceived value than others. Unlike previous studies, this study focuses on influencing factors on continuous intention to use of smart phone, rather than considering initial purchase and adoption of smart phone. First, perceived value, which was used to identify user's adoption behavior, has a mediating effect among perceived benefit, perceived sacrifice, and continuous intention to use smart phone. Second, perceived usefulness has the highest positive influence on perceived value, while perceived cost has significant negative influence on perceived value. Third, perceived value, like prior studies, has high level of positive influence on continuous intention to use smart phone. Fourth, in multi-group analysis by the degree of personal innovativeness of smart phone users, perceived usefulness, in a group with high level of innovativeness, has the highest positive influence on perceived value than other factors. Instead, perceived playfulness, in a group with low level of innovativeness, has the highest positive factor to influence perceived value than others. This result shows that early adopters intend to adopt smart phone as a tool to make their job useful, instead market followers intend to adopt smart phone as a tool to make their time enjoyable. In terms of marketing strategy for smart phone company, marketing managers should pay more attention to identify their customers' lifetime value by the phase of smart phone adoption, as well as to understand their behavior intention to accept the risk and uncertainty positively. The academic contribution of this study primarily is to employ the VAM (Value-based Adoption Model) as a conceptual foundation, compared to TAM (Technology Acceptance Model) used widely by previous studies. VAM is useful for understanding continuous intention to use smart phone in comparison with TAM as a new IT utility by individual adoption. Perceived value dominantly influences continuous intention to use smart phone. The results of this study justify our research model adoption on each antecedent of perceived value as a benefit and a sacrifice component. While TAM could be widely used in user acceptance of new technology, it has a limitation to explain the new IT adoption like smart phone, because of customer behavior intention to choose the value of the object. In terms of theoretical approach, this study provides theoretical contribution to the development, design, and marketing of smart phone. The practical contribution of this study is to suggest useful decision alternatives concerned to marketing strategy formulation for acquiring and retaining long-term customers related to smart phone business. Since potential customers are interested in both benefit and sacrifice when evaluating the value of smart phone, marketing managers in smart phone company has to put more effort into creating customer's value of low sacrifice and high benefit so that customers will continuously have higher adoption on smart phone. Especially, this study shows that innovators and early adopters with high level of innovativeness have higher adoption than market followers with low level of innovativeness, in terms of perceived usefulness and perceived cost. To formulate marketing strategy for smart phone diffusion, marketing managers have to pay more attention to identify not only their customers' benefit and sacrifice components but also their customers' lifetime value to adopt smart phone.

Analysis of the Effects of Teaching Method Using Ball-and-Stick Models in the Middle School (중학교에서 공-막대 모형을 이용한 수업의 효과 분석)

  • Jin, Hee-Ja;Park, Kwang-Seo;Kim, Dong-Jin;Kim, Kyong-Mee;Park, Kuk-Tae
    • Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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    • v.48 no.1
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    • pp.77-84
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    • 2004
  • The purpose of this study was to analyze the controversial points in the concepts of materials in the science textbook of middle school and to provide alternatives of teaching method. For this study, units in connected textbooks were analyzed and the teaching method using ball-and-stick models was developed. The subjects were 130 second graders from a middle school in Seoul, Korea. It aimed to compare the effectiveness of using ball-and-stick models for lesson with the one of traditional lessons, in learning concepts concerning materials by cognitive levels and to investigate the difference of scientific concept formation about concepts concerning materials by their cognitive levels between experimental group and control group by using concept formation questionnaires. Before the instructions, a short-version GALT was administered. After instructions, the posttest of concepts and attitude test connected with science subject were administered, and 10 months later, the posttest of concepts was administered to analyze the long-term memory effects. According to the results, the experimental group using the ball-and-stick models had significantly higher scores at conceptual understanding and long-term memory effects than the control group and improved the attitude relevant to science subject, and also had affirmative effects in attitude for science and science work. When analyzing the results according to the cognitive level, the long-term memory effects was high in the concrete operational stage students. From the results of this study, middle school students that are more concrete operational stage and transitional stage than formal operational stage elevates interesting in studying by using ball-and-stick models and making material form concretely. It would be effective in helping the students develope the correct concepts by connecting real world as materials and the particle world as atom.

A Basic Study on the Radiological Characteristics and Disposal Methods of NORM Wastes (공정부산물의 방사선적 특성과 처분방안에 관한 기본 연구)

  • Jeong, Jongtae;Baik, Min-Hoon;Park, Chung-Kyun;Park, Tae-Jin;Ko, Nak-Youl;Yoon, Ki Hoon
    • Journal of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology(JNFCWT)
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.217-233
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    • 2014
  • Securing the radiological safety is a prerequisite for the safe management of the naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) which cannot be reused. This becomes a crucial focus of our R&D efforts upon the implementation of the Act on Protective Action Guidelines against Radiation in the Natural Environment. To secure the safety, the establishment of technical bases and procedures for securing radiological safety related to the disposal of NORM is required. Thus, it is necessary to analyze the characteristics, to collect the data, to have the radiological safety assessment methodologies and tools, to investigate disposal methods and facilities, and to study the effects of the input data on the safety for the NORM wastes. Here, we assess the environmental impact of the NORM waste disposal with respect to the major domestic and foreign NORM characteristics. The data associated with major industries are collected/analyzed and the status of disposal facilities and methodologies relevant to the NORM wastes is investigated. We also suggest the conceptual design concept of a landfill disposal facility and the management plan with respect to the major NORM wastes characteristics. The radionuclide pathways are identified for the atmospheric transport and leachate release and the environmental impact assessment methodology for the NORM waste disposal is established using a relevant code. The assessment and analysis on the exposure doses and excessive cancer risks for the NORM waste disposal are performed using the characteristics of the representative domestic NORM wastes including flying ash, phosphor gypsum, and redmud. The results show that the exposure dose and the excessive cancer risks are very low to consider any radiation effects. This study will contribute to development in the areas of the regulatory technology for securing radiological safety relevant to NORM waste disposal and to the implementation technology for the Act.

World Logistics Evolution & Marketing Strategy for Korea's Enhanced Port Competition (세계물류발전과 한국의 항만경쟁력 강화를 위한 마케팅 전략)

  • Gim, Jin-Goo
    • Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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    • v.24 no.4
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    • pp.363-384
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    • 2008
  • This study aims at improving Korea's competitiveness in port logistics through marketing strategy with integrating the conceptual approach into the empirical one and combining both the oldest military treatise and the newest evaluating model in social science that was applied by the HFP(hierarchical fuzzy process) model enhanced by the KJ method. The empirical results of this study show Busan in the middle among subject ports. At present, Korea plays a reciprocal role in the port market in East Asia, but in the medium- and long-term, Korea's ports will vie together with most major ports in the East Asian region. A descriptive investigation shows that Korea's developing tasks in port logistics must be considered in the context of the direction for developing port policies, the necessity of expanding port facilities in the capital region, securing the sufficient traffic volume through the establishment of the hinterland linking system and its positive utilization, and reforming the direction for developing the global logistics through increased port competitiveness. In the short- and medium-term, Korea must use the opportunity factor of 'Growth and open door policy of China' as a geoeconomic advantage and to utilize Korea's ports as a gate to Chinese foreign trade. With the rise of China's economy, China also plays a significant role in both port and airport markets. Hence, the linking system between the two must be established to meet the expanding traffic volume, especially in the capital area. Moreover, it is necessary for Korea to secure port logistics through the establishment of the hinterland linking system and its positive utilization. The great accomplishment of this paper is to present strategies to increase Korea's port competitiveness in the rapidly changing environments of world logistics with the focus on both the oldest military strategic treatise and the newest empirical method in social science. In order to reinforce this study, it needs further compensative research because the evaluation structure could be subdivided with more extensive and precise criteria.

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Labor market characteristics of US metropolitan areas and individual earnings attainment : Whites, Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics (미국 대도시지역 노동시장의 특성과 취업 노동자의 개인소득 : 백인, 흑인, 동양인과 남미인)

  • ;Kwon, Sangcheol
    • Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.169-187
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    • 1995
  • Contemporary US metropolitan areas have undergone divergent economic transformation, and as a result labor markets have become the focus of concern in their role as determinants of earnings attainment. Explanations of individual earnings attainmnent as a lobor market outcome have been established in two diafferent stances one who emphasizes personal or group attributes in the human capital perspective and the other who emphasizes economic structure in the labor market segmentation perspective. While remaining at the conceptual level and yet relatively unexplored, the importance of place in labormarket operation is a significant advancement as it appears in labor market areas and local labor markets considering that labor market areas represent the intersection of labor market structure and individual labor market experiences at specific geographic places. The substantive inquiry of this study was to explore labor market characteristics and their differentiation across large metropolitan areas, and assess their effects on the individual earnings attainment. Integating individual attributes and labor market characteristics as major factors of labor market operation, this study intended to contextualize individual earnings attainment with geographic labor market areas. Using 1990 US population census 5% "Public-Use Microdata Samples, " the largest 65 metropolitan areas were first selected and employed male workers who are aged between 25 and 50 for whites, blacks, asians, and hispanics. As an initial step earnings differentials between racial/ethnic groups and selected 65 metropolitan areas were examined using analysis of variance, and then earnings differentials were attributed to the individual attributes such as education, age, and immigration status, and four dimensions of metropolitan labor market differentiation devised by principal component analysis of industrial and occupational segments: Public versus Blue Collar Core(CS1), Finance-Core Utility versus Blue Collar Local Monopoly (CS2), Oligopoly versus Blue Collar Periphery(CS3), and Self Employed-White Collar Periphery versus Low-Skill Core(CS4). As a final analysis, individual earnings were related to each individual attribute and its interaction with metropolitan labor market characteristics to examine how the differentiated metropolitan labor market characteristics alter the role of individual attributes on earnings attainment. The findings indicated that individual attributes, education in particular exert significant effects on earnings attainment, but their effects were significantly altered by metropolitan labor market characterristics. Particularly important dimensions were: Oligopoly differentiated from Blue Colla Periphery metropolitan areas enhancing earnings returns to individual attributes for all groups but minority groups (black, asians, hispanics) rely more on this, and Finance-Core Utility differentiated from Blue Collar Local Monopoly metropolitan areas provide higher earnings returns to whites exclusively. These findings suggest that individuals with identical individual attributes involving racial/ethnic categories would have different earnings atteinments depending on the metropolitan labor market characteristics where they reside. Referring back to the major traditions of the human capital and the labor market segmentation in labor market research, the interaction between individual attributes and metropolitan labor market haracteristics on earnings attainment highlights the complimentary nature of the two on earnings determination in particular geographic places, Hence, labor market characteristics differentiatcd across metropolitan areas are an integral part of labor market operation which should be considered for the explanation of individual earnings attainment and racial/ethnic group earnings differentials. Gcographic places are the important contexts for labor market segmentation and individual labor market experiences. In conclusion, this study brings geographic labor markets to the forefront in the examination of individuals' earnings attainments. The empirical vaidation of the role of metropolitan labor market charecteristics on earnings attainment, while exploratory contributes towards a broader perspective of geographic labor market research that recognizes that individuals' labor market experiences are intertwined with geographic contexts of labor market operatin. operatin.

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The Critical Thinking of Philosophy as a Creative Method of Science: Neurophilosophical Explication (창의적 과학방법으로서 철학의 비판적 사고: 신경철학적 해명)

  • Park, Jeyoun
    • Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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    • v.33 no.1
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    • pp.144-160
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    • 2013
  • This study is a proposal, which is the trial to explicate, in neurology, on how critical thinking as a creative method of sciences functions. The creative methods of sciences, even at present, are mostly the hypothetical insistences concerning with the logical processes of researches suggested from the philosophers of science; Popper, Kuhn, Hempel, or Lakatos. These insistences do excavate what process or approach can be scoped out of scientists' creativity. I call the tendency or approach of the researches, "Process Approach of Creativity (PAC)". From my view point, any PAC trial does not concern with how creative theories can actually be invented. On the other hand, this study is focused on the philosophical thinking abilities of scientists who invented new great theories. They mostly had some experiences to study philosophy while studying their science fields, thus had critical thinking abilities on their studies. From my point of view, critical thinking in philosophy raised questions as to their fundamental and basic (old) concepts and principles, and thus gave them new creative theories. I will try to explain this from the point of neurophilosophy. From the perspectives coming from "the state space theory of representation" of Paul & Patricia Churchland, the pioneers of neurophilosphy, the "creative theories" are the networks of topographic maps giving new comprehensive explanations and predictions. From these perspectives, I presuppose that the attitude of critical questioning revises the old networks of maps with back-propagation or feedback, and thus, is the generative power of searching new networks of maps. From the presupposition, I can say, it is important that scientists reflect on the basic premises in their academic branches for issuing out extraordinary creativity. The critical attitude of philosophy can make scientists construct the maps of new conceptual scheme by shaking the maps of the old basic premises. From this context, I am able to propose "Critical Thinking Approach of Creativity (CTAC)".

Analyses of the Efficiency in Hospital Management (병원 단위비용 결정요인에 관한 연구)

  • Ro, Kong-Kyun;Lee, Seon
    • Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.66-94
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    • 2004
  • The objective of this study is to examine how to maximize the efficiency of hospital management by minimizing the unit cost of hospital operation. For this purpose, this paper proposes to develop a model of the profit maximization based on the cost minimization dictum using the statistical tools of arriving at the maximum likelihood values. The preliminary survey data are collected from the annual statistics and their analyses published by Korea Health Industry Development Institute and Korean Hospital Association. The maximum likelihood value statistical analyses are conducted from the information on the cost (function) of each of 36 hospitals selected by the random stratified sampling method according to the size and location (urban or rural) of hospitals. We believe that, although the size of sample is relatively small, because of the sampling method used and the high response rate, the power of estimation of the results of the statistical analyses of the sample hospitals is acceptable. The conceptual framework of analyses is adopted from the various models of the determinants of hospital costs used by the previous studies. According to this framework, the study postulates that the unit cost of hospital operation is determined by the size, scope of service, technology (production function) as measured by capacity utilization, labor capital ratio and labor input-mix variables, and by exogeneous variables. The variables to represent the above cost determinants are selected by using the step-wise regression so that only the statistically significant variables may be utilized in analyzing how these variables impact on the hospital unit cost. The results of the analyses show that the models of hospital cost determinants adopted are well chosen. The various models analyzed have the (goodness of fit) overall determination (R2) which all turned out to be significant, regardless of the variables put in to represent the cost determinants. Specifically, the size and scope of service, no matter how it is measured, i. e., number of admissions per bed, number of ambulatory visits per bed, adjusted inpatient days and adjusted outpatients, have overall effects of reducing the hospital unit costs as measured by the cost per admission, per inpatient day, or office visit implying the existence of the economy of scale in the hospital operation. Thirdly, the technology used in operating a hospital has turned out to have its ramifications on the hospital unit cost similar to those postulated in the static theory of the firm. For example, the capacity utilization as represented by the inpatient days per employee tuned out to have statistically significant negative impacts on the unit cost of hospital operation, while payroll expenses per inpatient cost has a positive effect. The input-mix of hospital operation, as represented by the ratio of the number of doctor, nurse or medical staff per general employee, supports the known thesis that the specialized manpower costs more than the general employees. The labor/capital ratio as represented by the employees per 100 beds is shown to have a positive effect on the cost as expected. As for the exogeneous variable's impacts on the cost, when this variable is represented by the percent of urban 100 population at the location where the hospital is located, the regression analysis shows that the hospitals located in the urban area have a higher cost than those in the rural area. Finally, the case study of the sample hospitals offers a specific information to hospital administrators about how they share in terms of the cost they are incurring in comparison to other hospitals. For example, if his/her hospital is of small size and located in a city, he/she can compare the various costs of his/her hospital operation with those of other similar hospitals. Therefore, he/she may be able to find the reasons why the cost of his/her hospital operation has a higher or lower cost than other similar hospitals in what factors of the hospital cost determinants.

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Practical Study on Learning Effects of University e-Learning (대학 e-러닝 학습효과에 관한 실증연구)

  • Kim, Joon-Ho
    • Information Systems Review
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.19-48
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    • 2010
  • This study focused on characterizing various factors in order for learners to maintain their interests in learning and to maximize learning effects as the top priority purpose of university e-Learning, on the basis of results of conceptual studies on existing e-Learning and practical studies, and then on examining them practically. It also analyzed which factors would have greater influence on learning effects of e-Learning in general. Moreover, in comparison with existing numerous studies which examined only factor such as learning effects of e-Learning, it analyzed such things in detail according to division into three items such as learning satisfaction, learning transfer and learning recommendation. To achieve such purposes of the study, it characterized and set 3 factors such as learning contents, instructional design and user convenience on the assumption that such factors have a significant influence on learning effects of e-Learning. Moreover, the factor of learning contents includes 3 detailed elements, i.e., learning issue and objective, knowledge information, and consistency and propriety, and the factor of instructional design includes 4 detailed elements, i.e., interest and sympathy, interaction, contents presentation and explanatory strategy. Lastly, the factor of user convenience includes 2 detailed elements such as screen configuration, and check-up of contents and teaching schedule. According to analytical results, it showed all 3 factors such as learning contents, instructional design and user convenience have a significant influence on learning effects of e-Learning(i.e., learning satisfaction, learning transfer and learning recommendation). In more detail, it showed the learning issue and objective from the factor of learning contents have the greatest influence on learning satisfaction of e-Learning. Then, it is the most important to set the learning issue and objective with given priority to learners and set the learning objective estimable, in order to raise the learning satisfaction. It showed the contents presentation from the factor of instructional design on the learning transfer. Therefore, it is the most important to structuralize mutual relation and presentation orders to promote learning systematically and to let learners access to such things, for the purpose of raising the learning transfer. Moreover, it showed the interest and sympathy from the factor of instructional design has the greatest influence on the learning recommendation. Thus, it is the most important to promote learners' interests to the maximum using well-timed media, and to give a lecture enough to arouse learners' sympathy.

Study on the Planting Index of School Forest - The Case of Gyeonggido - (학교숲 조성지표에 관한 연구 - 경기도를 중심으로 -)

  • Jang, Dong-Su;Sin, Kwang-Sun
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.37 no.6
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    • pp.12-18
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    • 2010
  • This study was carried out in order to propose a planning index for improved school forests in Gyeonggido. For the purpose of this study we selected 42 out of 75 school forests established during 2005 in Gyeonggido. All 42 school forests were surveyed and analyzed by frequency, cross tabulation, and group average analysis with SPSS 12.0 version. The present condition of the school forests was analyzed with in conjunction with items such as the surrounding environment, centralization, and locational characteristics as nominal points. Other items: trees, shrubs, pavement, fruit trees, transplantation, evergreen trees, and recreation facility content percentage were analyzed as a proportion point. After reviewing the literature and analyzing the present condition of school forests, we constructed a conceptual framework and formulated a hypothesis for this research. Data were obtained through a questionnaire, given to 98 students majoring in landscape architecture at Hankyong University in 2007. Results showed that the primary variables for tree health were soil compaction and the depth of soil filling. They were the most serious factors that deteriorate the health of trees. Based on the relationship between tree health and growing conditions, trees inside the school forest should be managed to provide more growing space and less abuse. The minimum area for trees inside the school forest for good growth conditions should be within the drip lines. We have found that the minimum percentage of tree content is 0.13, which means that more than 130 trees need to be planted over $1,000m^2$ green space. More than 3,580 shrubs need to be planted over $1,000m^2$ green space. The pavement area should be controlled to less than 19% of the total size of the school forest area. Finally, more than 39 trees out of 100 trees planted should be evergreen. The research results suggest that the construction planning index of Gyeonggido school forest be recommended in the planning and development process of the construction project carried out every year.