• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.51-89
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• 2007

INTRODUCTION Due to the high broadband internet penetration rate and its group-oriented culture, various types of online communities operate in Korea. This study use 'Uses and Gratification Approach, and argue that members' usage-needs satisfaction with brand community is an important factor for promoting community commitment. Based on previous studies identifying the effect of brand image on consumers' responses to various marketing stimuli, this study hypothesizes that brand image can be a moderate variable affecting the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction with brand community and members' commitment to brand community. This study analyzes the influence of usage-needs satisfaction on brand community commitment and how apparel brand image affects the relationships between usage-needs satisfactions and community commitments. The hypotheses of this study are proposed as follows. H1-3: The usage-needs satisfaction of apparel brand community (interest, transaction, relationship needs) influences emotional (H1), continuous (H2), and normative (H3) commitments to apparel brand communities. H4-6: Apparel brand image has a moderating effect on the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and emotional (H4), continuous (H5), and normative (H6) commitments to apparel brand communities. METHODS Brand communities founded by non-company affiliates were excluded and emphasis was placed instead on communities created by apparel brand companies. Among casual apparel brands registered in 6 Korean portal sites in August 2003, a total of 9 casual apparel brand online communities were chosen, depending on the level of community activity and apparel brand image. Data from 317 community members were analyzed by exploratory factor analysis, moderated regression analysis, ANOVA, and scheffe test. Among 317 respondents answered an online html-type questionnaire, 80.5% were between 16 to 25 years old. There were a total of 150 respondents from apparel brand communities(n=3) recording higher-than-average brand image scores (Mean > 3.75) and a total of 162 respondents from apparel brand communities(n=6) recording lower-than-average brand image scores(Mean < 3.75). In this study, brand community commitment was measured by a 5-point Likert scale: emotional, continuous and normative commitment. The degree of usage-needs satisfaction (interest, transaction, relationship needs) was measured on a 5-point Likert scale. The level of brand image was measured by a 5-point Likert scale: strength, favorability, and uniqueness of brand associations. RESULTS In the results of exploratory factor analysis, the three usage-needs satisfactions with brand community were classified as interest, transaction, and relationship needs. Brand community commitment was also divided into the multi-dimensional factors: emotional, continuous, and normative commitments. The regression analysis (using a stepwise method) was used to test the influence of 3 independent variables (interest-needs satisfaction, transaction-needs, and relationship-needs satisfactions) on the 3 dependent variables (emotional, continuous and normative commitments). The three types of usage-needs satisfactions are positively associated with the three types of commitments to apparel brand communities. Therefore, hypothesis 1, 2, and 3 were significantly supported. Moderating effects of apparel brand image on the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and brand community commitments were tested by moderated regression analysis. The statistics result showed that the influence of transaction-needs on emotional commitment was significantly moderated by apparel brand image. In addition, apparel brand image had moderating effects on the relationship between relationship-needs satisfaction and emotional, continuous and normative commitments to apparel brand communities. However, there were not significant moderate effects of apparel brand image on the relationships between interest-needs satisfaction and 3 types of commitments (emotional, continuous and normative commitments) to apparel brand communities. In addition, the influences of transaction-needs satisfaction on 2 types of commitments (continuous and normative commitments) were not significantly moderated by apparel brand image. Therefore, hypothesis 4, 5 and 6 were partially supported. To explain the moderating effects of apparel brand image, four cross-tabulated groups were made by averages of usage-needs satisfaction (interest-needs satisfaction avg. M=3.09, transaction-needs satisfaction avg. M=3.46, relationship-needs satisfaction M=1.62) and the average apparel brand image (M=3.75). The average scores of commitments in each classified group are presented in Tables and Figures. There were significant differences among four groups. As can be seen from the results of scheffe test on the tables, emotional commitment in community group with high brand image was higher than one in community group with low brand image when transaction-needs satisfaction was high. However, when transaction-needs satisfaction was low, there was not any difference between the community group with high brand image and community group with low brand image regarding emotional commitment to apparel brand communities. It means that emotional commitment didn't increase significantly without high satisfaction of transaction-needs, despite the high apparel brand image. In addition, when apparel brand image was low, increase in transaction-needs did not lead to the increase in emotional commitment. Therefore, the significant relationship between transaction-needs satisfaction and emotional commitment was found in only brand communities with high apparel brand image, and the moderating effect of apparel brand image on this relationship between two variables was found in the communities with high satisfaction of transaction-needs only. Statistics results showed that the level of emotional commitment is related to the satisfaction level of transaction-needs, while overall response is related to the level of apparel brand image. We also found that the role of apparel brand image as a moderating factor was limited by the level of transaction-needs satisfaction. In addition, relationship-needs satisfaction brought significant increase in emotional commitment in both community groups (high and low levels of brand image), and the effect of apparel brand image on emotional commitment was significant in both community groups (high and low levels of relationship-needs satisfaction). Especially, the effect of brand image was greater when the level of relationship-needs satisfaction was high. in contrast, increase in emotional commitment responding to increase in relationship-needs satisfaction was greater when apparel brand image is high. The significant influences of relationship-needs satisfaction on community commitments (continuous and normative commitments) were found regardless of apparel brand image(in both community groups with low and high brand image). However, the effects of apparel brand image on continuous and normative commitments were found in only community group with high satisfaction level of relationship-needs. In the case of communities with low satisfaction levels of relationship needs, apparel brand image marginally increases continuous and normative commitments. Therefore, we could not find the moderating effect of apparel brand image on the relationship between relationship-needs satisfaction and continuous and normative commitments in community groups with low satisfaction levels of relationship needs, CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS From the results of this study, we draw several conclusions; First, the increases in usage-needs satisfactions through apparel brand communities result in the increases in commitments to apparel brand communities, wheres the degrees of such relationship depends on the level of apparel brand image. That is, apparel brand image is a moderating factor strengthening the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and commitment to apparel brand communities. In addition, the effect of apparel brand image differs, depending on the level and types of community usage-needs satisfactions. Therefore, marketers of apparel brand companies must determine the appropriate usage-needs, depending on the type of commitment they wish to increase and the level of their apparel brand image, to promote member's commitments to apparel brand communities. Especially, relationship-needs satisfaction was very important factor for increasing emotional, continuous and normative commitments to communities. However the level of relationship-needs satisfaction was lower than interest-needs and transaction-needs. satisfaction. According to previous study on apparel brand communities, relationship-need satisfaction was strongly related to member's intention of participation in their communities. Therefore, marketers need to develope various strategies in order to increase the relationship- needs as well as interest and transaction needs. In addition, despite continuous commitment was higher than emotional and normative commitments, all types of commitments to apparel brand communities had scores lower than 3.0 that was mid point in 5-point scale. A Korean study reported that the level of members' commitment to apparel brand community influenced customers' identification with a brand and brand purchasing behavior. Therefore, marketers should try to increase members' usage-needs satisfaction and apparel brand image as the necessary conditions for bringing about community commitments. Second, marketers should understand that they should keep in mind that increasing the level of community usage needs (transaction and relationship) is most effective in raising commitment when the level of apparel brand image is high, and that increasing usage needs (transaction needs) satisfaction in communities with low brand image might not be as effective as anticipated. Therefore, apparel companies with desirable brand image such as luxury designer goods firms need to create formal online brand communities (as opposed to informal communities with rudimentary online contents) to satisfy transaction and relationship needs systematically. It will create brand equity through consumers' increased emotional, continuous and normative commitments. Even though apparel brand is very famous, emotional commitment to apparel brand communities cannot be easily increased without transaction-needs satisfaction. Therefore famous fashion brand companies should focus on developing various marketing strategies to increase transaction-needs satisfaction.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.73-87
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to clarify the continuous usage intention of artificial intelligence products and services. In this study, we try to define the artificial intelligence quality and preference on the online job information platform and investigate the effect of artificial intelligence on continues usage intention. A survey of artificial intelligence users was conducted and recalled 184. The empirical analysis shows that the artificial intelligence quality and preference have a positive effect on satisfaction, and that the satisfaction has significant effect on the intention of continuing use. but the artificial intelligence quality does not significantly affect the intention of continuing use. These results are expected to provide useful guidelines for artificial intelligence technology products or services in the future.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.689-706
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• 2016

Purpose: This study identifies causality in IoT-based healthcare user's experience(playful experience, economical experience), trust, usage, degree of dependence and continuous use intention, especially focused on chinese case. Methods: Face to face interviews was conducted for people who has experience in the use of the Xiaomi Mi band. This study used Partial Least Square(PLS) method with the questionnaires from the interview. Results: IoT-based healthcare users taking playful experience have a strong trust in a positive economic experiences. Also, the user recognizing the experience as an economic one shows stronger intention to use continuously. Conclusion: By getting healthcare users have more economic experience, they have continuous use intention of healthcare product. The empirical findings can be applied to the related companies strategy building.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.89-97
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• 2010

The most important concern in the internet service organizations in competitive market circumstances is to focus on formation and maintenance of continuous relationship with customers. The purpose of this study is to verify the effect of perception of the fairness - procedural fairness for recovery, interactional fairness, fairness for reward on customer's satisfaction and trust, behavior when the internet service company failed to service such as disclosure of personal information. This study aims to apply justice theories to service recovery. As a result, first, the customer's perceived justice had a significant effect on the customer satisfaction and trust in service recovery. Second, the customer's satisfaction positive effect on trust. Third, customer's satisfaction formed by service recovery had a effect on the customer's behavior such as continuous usage intention. Therefore, this study was reveal how the extent of justice perception felt by customers in the service recovery process, causes positive causation relationship which affect customer behavior intention.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.2076-2082
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• 2017

Users of Smartphone in Korea are using the majority of the economically active population over 99% and experts have seen that they have reached saturation after the initial formation stages. The purpose of this study is to investigate the influencing factors of dominant design attributes on the intention of continuous use of Smartphone users. Predictor factors were selected perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use suggested on extended the technology acceptance model. The concept model was completed by selecting the dominant design attribute as a mediator. Participants of this study were 135 Smartphone users in Busan Gyeongnam and Iksan Jeonbuk province in accordance with convenience sampling. IBM SPSS Statistics 19 were employed for descriptive statistics, Smart PLS (partial least squares) was employed for confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis of casual relationship among variables. Therefore, when moderating mediated factor of dominant design and attitude, factor of continuous usage intention showed 76% explanatory power.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.41-51
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• 2015

The purpose of this research is to investigate the relationship between job creation and ICT usage in service industries. This research is particularly important because job creation is one of the most critical issues for the country. With technology innovation and system integration, manufacturing industries do not create enough employment, therefore, the society relies on service industries for creating job opportunities. Until now, due to limitations, analysis of job creation in service industries through ICT usage has not been investigated in depth. Thus, development of an effective ICT support policy was impossible. In this research, we used seven methods to investigate overall relationship between ICT usage level and job creation. A rule of large numbers has been applied to reach conclusion. Through this research, the government can focus its investment on service industries where job creation rate is the highest. We can expect both reinforcement in competitiveness of our service industry and continuous creation in employment, eventually leading to a virtuous cycle.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.95-112
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• 2015

Spread of internet service had a huge effect on usage and spread of SNS world widely. Variety of the service has increased from human network managing to commerce, education, payment method and so on. Also, it is expanding its service territory to not only PC area but also that of mobile equipment with development of information technology. Spread of use on SNS provides existing corporations the expansion of service area. Late SNS starter companies are advancing in diverse way for attracting users by serving shopping, games and other services with association with SNS. Therefore, analysis on consumers' thought and pattern which analyze users' demand, service's function and contents and other factors in order to reflect on plans and operations of SNS is needed. On this perspective, this research is suggesting properties that are crucially related to sustained usage of SNS and study factors of SNS's characteristics that influence trust and satisfaction on SNS and continuous usage intent of SNS.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.199-220
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• 2023

Projects to deploy and diffuse smart factories in South Korea are aimed at enhancing national manufacturing competitiveness. However, a significant portion of deployed companies remain at the basic stage and struggle to utilize smart factories regularly. Existing studies have primarily focused on the technical aspects of smart factories, using data analytics and case studies, leading to a gap in empirical research on continuous use and upgrade intentions. This study identifies key factors influencing smart factory usage and user satisfaction, drawing on the Information Systems Success Model (ISSM) and previous research. It empirically examines the impact of these factors on continuous use intention, management performance, and advancement acceptance intention through smart factory usage and user satisfaction. A structural equation model is employed to validate the research hypotheses, using survey data from 287 small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs) that have adopted smart factories. Results demonstrate that system quality, information quality, service quality, and government support significantly affect smart factory usage, while service quality and government support influence user satisfaction. Furthermore, smart factory usage and user satisfaction have positive effects on management performance, continuous use intention, and subsequently advancement acceptance intention. This study provides novel insights by demonstrating the specific impact mechanisms of smart factory user satisfaction on the business and the intentions of manufacturing SMEs regarding continuous use and advancement acceptance, leveraging the ISSM.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1081-1090
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• 2018

The study has been derived through the empirical analysis so as to find the Continuous Usage of Electronic Official Document 24 System. Total of 236 questionnaires were analysis to users who used or experienced the Electronic Official Document 24 System. As a result of the analysis First Accuracy, Convenience, and Security have a positive(+) effect on Ease of Use. However, Compatibility and Innovation were not effect on Ease of Use Second, Accuracy, Convenience, Security, and Innovation have a positive(+) effect on Perceived Usefulness. However, Compatibility was not effect on Perceived Usefulness. Third, Behavioral Costs have a positive(+) effect Continuous Intention and perceived ease of use positively affects perceived usefulness and Continuous Intention. Finally, perceived usefulness also has a positive effect on the Continuous Intention.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.206-211
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• 2011

In this paper, the evolutionary algorithm was specifically formulated for optimization with continuous parameter space. The proposal was motivated by the fact that the genetic algorithms have been most intensively reported for parameter identification problems with continuous search space. The difference of primary characteristics between genetic algorithms and the proposed algorithm, discrete or continuous individual representation has made different areas to which the algorithms should be applied. Results obtained by optimization of some well-known test functions indicate that the proposed algorithm is superior to genetic algorithms in all the performance, computation time and memory usage for continuous search space problems.