• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.484-495
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• 2004

In this paper appears that in this extremely attractive and growing services segment, academics, as well as practitioners, would benefit from investigating the relationships among the players' loyalty, word of mouth and flow, and the impacts of several other key game-related constructs on consumer behavioral intentions. A conceptual framework is proposed and a structural equation model is developed. This paper develops the exploratory LISREL model for identifying the factors affecting the players' loyalty for some specific brand of online games. The concept of flow, feedback, challenge, etc, are all introduced into the model, as the independent variables affecting the loyalty directly and indirectly. Statistical results show that depending upon the types of games, the configuration of structural equation model is a little different from each other, but overall results are very much intuitive in that challenge positively enforces flow, and flow strengthens loyalty. Other interesting results concerning game development strategy are also provided. It is hoped that this result might provide the useful guidelines for developing the successful online game contents. With a better understanding of the players' behavioral intentions, online game developers should be able to make adjustments in their development and marketing plans, providing them with a sustainable advantage over their competition.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.49-74
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• 2014

The introduction of smartphone caused the most revolutionary change in the domestic telecommunications market after the digital revolution. However, due to the saturation of the local market, it is expected to post negative growth in 2016 and the sales of national communication carriers is in stasis. Thus, the smartphone industry is starting to shift its marketing efforts to secure the silver generation who still has room for increase in the rate of smartphone usage. As the silver generation has physical limitations and differences in needs, the marketing strategy based on the smartphone utilization is not appropriate. This study suggests the new silver generation, who has high income level and similar characteristics to the younger generation, as the new customer segment for smartphone. We analyze the effects of the major variables of UTAUT on smartphone use, as well as examine how these relationships differ between the new silver and the net generation. We verified the hypotheses using a survey with 309 smartphone users. The research findings supported the hypotheses regarding the effects of performance expectancy, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions on smartphone use, but did not support the hypothesis on the effect of social influence. The result of the group comparisons showed that both generation have similar characteristics on innovativeness and cognitive absorption, but the moderating effect of age on performance expectancy, effort expectancy and use is stronger in conjunction with the new silver generation. The study results are expected to be used in establishing a marketing strategy for the new silver generation.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.883-895
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• 2016

Purpose: The demand for ordinary mail services supplied by 'Korea POST' is decreasing due to the opening of mail service market and the growth of alternative communication media such as e-mail and SNS. To overcome this situation it is urgent to introduce new services that can be able to appeal customers and to improve existing services. Methods: A field survey is conducted to corporate customers who send ordinary mails and individual customers who receive these mails, respectively. Quality attributes of ordinary mail services are classified by two-dimensional perspectives in terms of Kano model. Decision tree model is utilized for classifying the quality attributes. Comparative analyses are done whether there are perceived differences on each quality attributes between corporate customers and individual customers. Results: Quality attributes such as 'discount postal charges', 'sending small packages by simply dropping it into a mail box', 'sending a mail of any appearance', 'delivering a mail anywhere', and 'receiving a mail at a preferred time where a customer is located ' are classified differently according to some market segments, while most of the quality attributes are classified as attractive or one-dimensional. Conclusion: Decision tree model has been found to be most effective to classify quality attributes for each market segment especially when trying to classify quality attributes belonging to 'gray areas'. Based on the perceived differences on quality attributes among customers, strategic implications are suggested to obtain potential customers and to have competitive advantages.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.473-476
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• 2002

In this paper by realizing the knowledge base on the web, for example, the information of the technology and human resources of the universities, which is the mecca of the knowledge management, technology information in various segment, education information, visible anti invisible knowledge information like technical advice, etc, and scholaristic knowledge like basic science technologies, economic theories which are verified by experts of the field, and pragmatic knowledge like technical patent, software, data base, also, hands on experience and knowledge like field technology, customer service, front line management. All those related information provides easy access to anyone who need of. This system is also designed for the utilization of the study, company activities, and professionals of the basic science technology which enables not only professor to exchange the research results but also, general public, companies, students can effectively share and exchange the information.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.134-144
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to verify the relationship of laptop purchasing behaviors based of Theory of Planned Behavior. The data collected from the 240 experience to that who used laptop computer, but was analyzed. With the collected data, factor analysis, K-Means analysis, correlation analysis, crosstabs analysis, and structural equation model analysis was performed by SPSSWIN 15.0 and AMOS 7.0. Factor and cluster analyses were used to segment the sample into four clusters. After analyzing the results, various relationships between attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention were determined for the different groups.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.150-190
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• 2024

This article proposes a framework to elucidate the structural dynamics of the generative AI ecosystem. It also outlines the practical application of this proposed framework through illustrative policies, with a specific emphasis on the development of the Korean generative AI ecosystem and its implications of platform strategies at AI platform-squared. We propose a comprehensive classification scheme within generative AI ecosystems, including app builders, technology partners, app stores, foundational AI models operating as operating systems, cloud services, and chip manufacturers. The market competitiveness for both app builders and technology partners will be highly contingent on their ability to effectively navigate the customer decision journey (CDJ) while offering localized services that fill the gaps left by foundational models. The strategically important platform of platforms in the generative AI ecosystem (i.e., AI platform-squared) is constituted by app stores, foundational AIs as operating systems, and cloud services. A few companies, primarily in the U.S. and China, are projected to dominate this AI platform squared, and consequently, they are likely to become the primary targets of non-market strategies by diverse governments and communities. Korea still has chances in AI platform-squared, but the window of opportunities is narrowing. A cautious approach is necessary when considering potential regulations for domestic large AI models and platforms. Hastily importing foreign regulatory frameworks and non-market strategies, such as those from Europe, could overlook the essential hierarchical structure that our framework underscores. Our study suggests a clear strategic pathway for Korea to emerge as a generative AI powerhouse. As one of the few countries boasting significant companies within the foundational AI models (which need to collaborate with each other) and chip manufacturing sectors, it is vital for Korea to leverage its unique position and strategically penetrate the platform-squared segment-app stores, operating systems, and cloud services. Given the potential network effects and winner-takes-all dynamics in AI platform-squared, this endeavor is of immediate urgency. To facilitate this transition, it is recommended that the government implement promotional policies that strategically nurture these AI platform-squared, rather than restrict them through regulations and stakeholder pressures.

• Korean Security Journal
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• no.36
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• pp.177-200
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• 2013

As we enter a high industrial society that widens the gap between the rich and poor, demand for the security services has grown explosively. With the growth in quantitative expansion of security services, people have also placed increased requirements on more sophisticated and diversified security services. Consequently, market outlook for private security services industry is positive. However, Korea's private security services companies are experiencing difficulties in finding a direction to capture this new market opportunity due to their small sizes and lack of management-strategic thinking skills. Therefore, we intend to offer a direction of development for our private security services industry using a management-strategy theory and the Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP), a structured decision-making method. A resource-based theory is one of the important management strategy theories. It explains that a company's overall performance is primarily determined by its competitive resources. Using this theory, we could analyze a company's unique resources and core competencies and set a strategic direction for the company accordingly. The usefulness and validity of this theory has been demonstrated as it has often been subject to empirical verification since 1990s. Based on this theory, we outlined a set of basic procedures to establish a management strategy for the private security services companies. We also used the AHP method to identify competitive resources, core competencies, and strategies from private security services companies in contrast with public companies. The AHP method is a technique that can be used in the decision making process by quantifying experts' knowledge and unstructured problems. This is a verified method that has been used in the management decision making in the corporate environment as well as for the various academic studies. In order to perform this method, we gathered data from 11 experts from academic, industrial, and research sectors and drew distinctive resources, competencies, and strategic direction for private security services companies vis-a-vis public organizations. Through this process, we came to the conclusion that private security services companies generally have intangible resources as their distinctive resources compared with public organization. Among those intangible resources, relational resources, customer information, and technologies were analyzed as important. In contrast, tangible resources such as equipment, funds, distribution channels are found to be relatively scarce. We also found the competencies in sales and marketing and new product development as core competencies. We chose a concentration strategy focusing on a particular market segment as a strategic direction considering these resources and competencies of private security services companies. A concentration strategy is the right fit for smaller companies as a strategy to allow them to focus all of their efforts on target customers in a single segment. Thus, private security services companies would face the important tasks such as developing a new market and appropriate products for such market segment and continuing marketing activities to manage their customers. Additionally, continuous recruitment is required to facilitate the effective use of human resources in order to strengthen their marketing competency in a long term.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 2012

Despite the enforcement of SSM control laws such as 'the Law of Developing the Distribution Industry (LDDI)' and 'the Law of Promoting Mutual Cooperation between Large and Small/medium Enterprises (LPMC)' stipulating the business adjustment system, the number of super-supermarkets (SSMs) has ever been expanding in Korea. In France, however, Super Centers are being regulated most strongly and directly in the whole Europe viewing that there is not a single SSM in Paris, which is emphasized to be the outcome from French government's regulation exerted on the opening of large scale retail stores. In France, the authority to approve store opening is deeply centralized and the store opening regulation is a socio-economic regulation driven by economic laws whereas EU strongly regulates the distribution industry. To control the French distribution industry, such seven laws and regulations as Commission départementale d'urbanisme commercial guidelines (CDLIC) (1969), the Royer Law (1973), the Doubin Law (1990), the Sapin Law (1993), the Raffarin Law (1996), solidarite et renouvellement urbains (SRU) (2000), and Loi de modernisation de l'économie (LME) (2009) have been promulgated one by one since the amendment of the Fontanet guidelines, through which commercial adjustment laws and regulations have been complemented and reinforced while regulatory measures have been taken. Even in the course of forming such strong regulatory laws, InterMarche, the largest supermarket chain in France, has been in existence as a global enterprise specialized in retail distribution with over 4,000 stores in Europe. InterMarche's business can be divided largely into two segments of food and non-food. As a supermarket chain, InterMarche's food segment has 2,300 stores in Europe and as a hard-discounter store chain in France, Netto has 420 stores. Restaumarch is a chain of traditional family restaurants and the steak house restaurant chain of Poivre Rouge has 4 restaurants currently. In addition, there are others like Ecomarche which is a supermarket chain for small and medium cities. In the non-food segment, the DIY and gardening chain of Bricomarche has a total of 620 stores in Europe. And the car-related chain of Roady has a total of 158 stores in Europe. There is the clothing chain of Veti as well. In view of InterMarche's management strategies, since its distribution strategy is to sell goods at cheap prices, buying goods cheap only is not enough. In other words, in order to sell goods cheap, it is all important to buy goods cheap, manage them cheap, systemize them cheap, and transport them cheap. In quality assurance, InterMarche has guaranteed the purchase safety for consumers by providing its own private brand products. InterMarche has 90 private brands of its own, thus being the retailer with the largest number of distributor brands in France. In view of its IT service strategy, InterMarche is utilizing a high performance IT system so as to obtainas much of the market information as possible and also to find out the best locations for opening stores. In its global expansion strategy of international alliance, InterMarche has established the ALDIS group together with the distribution enterprises of both Spain and Germany in order to expand its food purchase, whereas in the non-food segment, it has established the ARENA group in alliance with 11 international distribution enterprises. Such strategies of InterMarche have been intended to find out the consumer needs for both price and quality of goods and to secure the purchase and supply networks which are closely localized. It is necessary to cope promptly with the constantly changing circumstances through being unified with relevant regions and by providing diversified customer services as well. In view of the InterMarche's positive policy for promoting local partnerships as well as the assistance for enhancing the local economic structure, implications are existing for those retail distributors of our country.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.101-108
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• 2015

Purpose - The convenience store business sector in South Korea has contributed to economic growth and job creation, and the growth potential of this market segment remains very high. In addition, service value is a more important factor than price in determining purchase intention. Research in the convenience store market is relatively very low compared to other retail sectors. In particular, research on service quality for the convenience of retailers who examine and analyze customer behavior and service quality factors used in the convenience store side of the situation is very inadequate. We have investigated the relationship of store service quality, service satisfaction, and store loyalty. In addition, we have examined the way service value moderates the relationship among these variables. Research design, data, and methodology - The questionnaire was developed using modified and supplementary questions based on the KD-SQS and RSQS models. The study suggested a theoretical model composed of 15 hypotheses on the relations between theoretic variables, and surveys conducted with consumers in discount stores in the Seoul and Gyunggi Metropolitan area in order to verify the hypotheses. We used the SPSS/PC statistical packages to analyze the results. The number of surveys used was 227. Moreover, a structural equating model was also used to analyze the reliability and validity of the composing elements and to verify the suggested hypotheses. Results - The overall results of this study are as follows. First, all service quality elements have a significant effect on service satisfaction. Second, all service quality elements have a significant effect on store loyalty. Third, service satisfaction has a significant effect on store loyalty. Finally, when the participants were divided into high and low service value the results of the multiple regression analyses showed that only the relationship between policy of service quality and satisfaction, and human interaction and policy of service quality and loyalty were significant. The implications are discussed based on the findings of the study. Conclusions - First, through direct hypotheses testing, we confirmed that the convenience service quality positively impacts the service satisfaction and loyalty of buyers. In particular, the reliability, origin benefit, and promotion were found to have more influence on satisfaction and loyalty of consumers of a convenience store. Further, for the service quality of the convenience for the consumer loyalty, greater human interaction was a high-value and statistically significantly higher than the degree of improvement in consumer loyalty. This underscores the importance of education and human services management of employees working in a convenience store. In particular, frequent changes in personnel generate results that negatively impact loyalty with customers. These results may lead to a serious problem in the economics of the store. Therefore, it should enhance the value of services through the establishment of training and compensation for employees. In addition, a certain educational level is required as well as a basis for compensation and retention.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.61-72
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• 2013

Purpose - It is widely accepted that the process of developing marketing strategy is composed of three steps: market segmentation, target market selection and positioning. However, mass marketing strategy based on cost reduction through economies of scale and standardized products, can be also an effective strategic option. Many marketing scholars including Theodore Levitt emphasize the importance of applying the mass production concept to various industries including service industries. Especially, in times of economic downturn, the capability of providing consumers with low-priced, value products can be an important source of competitive advantage, as well as the ability of providing high-priced premium products. Marketers should decide whether they will implement mass marketing strategy or target marketing strategy. The present study theoretically shows that firms should understand the target customers' price elasticity as well as the firm's cost structure in order to make such a strategic decision. Research design, data, and methodology - Instead of implementing an empirical study, this study provides a theoretical(mathematical) investigation on the effect of consumers' price elasticity on a firm's optimal price level, profit, sales volume, revenue, and cost. The results are mostly deduced from derivative calculations and several graphs are utilized to represent the results on the relationships between the variables under study. Results - The analytical results suggest that it is more profitable for a firm to adopt the segment/target marketing strategy (more specifically the differentiation strategy) when the degree of consumers' heterogeneity is high and the proportion of the fixed cost in the total cost is low. On the other hand, if the degree of consumers' heterogeneity is low and the fixed cost is high, it is better to adopt the mass marketing strategy or the cost leadership strategy. The strategy of concentrating on a single target market will be effective when consumers' needs are highly heterogeneous but the fixed cost is high. Any of the three types of generic strategies proposed my Porter(1980, 1985) can be applied when both the consumers' heterogeneity and the fixed cost are low. This study also proposes the contribution-margin-based method for developing the optimal pricing strategy. Conclusions - One of the primary roles of marketers is to find a proper compromise between the two conflicting goals of maximizing customer satisfaction and minimizing cost. In order to do so, he or she should understand the characteristics of the target customers as well as the cost structure of the firm. In addition to the theoretical analyses, this study discusses several business cases and explains how superior companies find the optimal compromise position between these two goals and dominate the market. One of the radical changes recently taking place in business arena is the reduction of production and distribution costs of both physical goods and information due to the advancement and the wide diffusion of information technology. The cost reduction combined with lowered priced elasticity incurred by customized products and services, will enable many firms to adopt the mass customization strategy.