• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.357-380
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• 2014

Buyers' Trust in suppliers is critical in all commerce, but particularly in the relationship between foreign provider and local consumer due to the liability of foreignness. This study examines (1)how local consumers trust in the product of MNCs is affected by their perceptions of the product attributes, (2)does the product trust affects customers loyalty, and (3)whether Global Corporate Citizenship moderates the relationship between the product attributes and trust. Based on previous researches, hypotheses are formulated and the statistical method used to test them was a moderated regression analysis using SPSS 20. 330 respondents from the university student group in Korea were used for this analysis. The results of this study are follows: Service communication and product perceptions such as quality, technological newness, design, and brand value have a significant effect on the product trust. The Effectiveness of product-related service communication had greater than that of the physical characteristics of product. But, price fairness is not significantly. The trust then has a positive relation to customers loyalty. When global corporate citizenship as the moderating role is introduced into the model, the interaction terms with 'price fairness' are verified to be significant. Therefore, global corporate citizenship moderates the relationship between price fairness and product trust. The results of the empirical study provide important implications for Korean firms operating in foreign markets. But, the findings are limited to the University students and to manufacturing sectors. Thus, the generalization of the results of this research remains limited.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.79-91
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• 2015

Purpose - First, the study identifies and analyzes consumer preferences with regard to health foods and supplements. Second, it identifies and analyzes consumer preferences with regard to the properties of Vitamin C supplements. Third, in order to provide a basic data for the development of Vitamin C supplements and to measure how consumers value the properties of different Vitamin C products, a consumer survey was conducted through the choice-based conjoint model. Based on the results, the research estimates consumers' relative product-related priorities as well as price levels and willingness to pay (WTP) for different product types, and makes suggestions regarding consumer-oriented new product development and progressive directions for the successful launch of health foods and supplements. Research design, data, and methodology - This study aims to define the attributes of health foods and supplements based on several characteristics including their natural ingredients, product price, product originality, natural ingredient content, and additional functional ingredients, and makes suggestions regarding strategic market pricing and product development for health foods and supplements according to customer attitudes and characteristics. The research used choice-based conjoint analysis methodology based on the Multinomial Logic Model and collected 94 questionnaires filled out by users of Korean Vitamin C supplements. Results - Product price is the most influential factor among the five analyzed properties. When consumers buy Vitamin C products, the relative significance level of four of the examined properties is as follows: 40.9% for product price, 23.3% for product originality, 21.9% for natural ingredient content, and 13.9% for additional functional ingredients. Vitamin C content is excluded as it is not a statistically significant factor. It is interesting that supplement manufacturers and retailers consider Vitamin C content to be very important whereas consumers do not regard it as an important factor at the time of purchase. The results for the marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) for each property of Vitamin C supplements show that consumers are willing to pay an additional 11,146 Korean won for a 50% increase in the natural ingredient content. With regard to product originality, consumers are willing to pay an additional 11,301 Korean won for products manufactured in Europe than for products manufactured in China. Moreover, consumers show a greater preference for products manufactured in Korea than in Europe. However, consumers are not willing to pay more for additional Vitamin C or additional functional ingredients added to Vitamin C products. Conclusions - According to the results of consumer research on Vitamin C supplements, which represent a popular health food supplement in Korea, most Korean health food and supplement companies are not consumer- or market-oriented when developing new products. Companies gather information from either R&D specialists or sales managers and their opinions are highly reflected in new product development. The study's results will help companies recognize the importance of understanding consumers' unmet needs in advance to develop new products in the future.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.27-43
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• 2015

The objective of this study is to find out the construct of intellectual capital in a fashion company. To this end, the mixed research methods that combined qualitative and quantitative approaches were conducted. Qualitative research was first conducted by in-depth interviews with 16 experts working in the fashion industry, and a questionnaire was then given to 121 fashion companies in order to fulfill the quantitative research portion of this study. The findings of this study are as follows: First, the conceptual structure of intellectual capital in a fashion company was revealed. A fashion company's intellectual capital is composed of 'human capital', 'structural capital', and 'relational capital'. Human capital has three components: a chief executive officer (CEO), members, and a human resource management capability. Structural capital has four components: organizational culture, information management capability, merchandising capability, and product innovation capability. Relational capital has three components: customer equity, marketing capability, and relationship management capability. Second, the conceptual structure of intellectual capital was confirmed via quantitative research analysis. All of the components of intellectual capital have internal consistency, convergent validity, construct validity, and discriminant validity.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.639-648
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• 2016

Purpose: Existing precedent studies include success factors of individual management innovation activities constantly. However, those studies have limitations about the common key success factors of individual management innovation activities. Methods: For this study, we investigate the key success factors using literature research of the most typical management innovation activities adopted and implemented by many companies in Korea, such as 6sigma, TQM, Lean 6sigma, ERP, TPM, BPR, Project Management, System Engineering. Factors emerging repeatedly was combined into common factors and inherent factors that are necessary for the success of individual management innovation activities are designated to essential factors. Results: 'Essential factors for Six Sigma' consist of 5 items. Black belt operating system, personnel management system linkage, the correct management of the data, perform improvement projects associated with financial performance financial result, linked to financial performance improvement project, project progress management. 'Essential factors of TQM' are arranged 4 items. Quality team's independence and role, goal-setting, Quality Information System, corporate's philosophy of quality first. 'Essential factors of Lean Six Sigma' are the selection of value stream which is based on the customer needs and the value creation and identify the project based on the selected value in the company. 'Essential factors of ERP' are investigated 6 items. Ongoing system maintenance and upgrades, the measurement and support of user satisfaction, the operating systems and the policies for the maintenance, IT infrastructure, change adaption condition monitoring, focusing on improving business performance. 'Essential factors for TPM' are arranged 4 items. Motivated and energetic Bottom-Up, CEO's recognition of the importance facility management, long-term perspective of necessity and ongoing patience. 'Essential factors for BPR' are the pursuit of change process and the staff's sense of crisis management. 'Essential factors for Project Management' are the strategy that reduce the risk management skills through risk management and the understanding and organized management for the project participant's needs. 'Essential factors for System Engineering' consist of 2 items. The first is the design for the best balanced system with pre-analysis about the compromise the cost, schedule and the performance. The second is the analysis of large problem into small problems which can solved. We have found the solution considering components of the interface through the systematic perspective. Conclusion: Common factors and essential factors presented in this study will properly help to introduce the individual management innovation activities for the each business sector and implement management innovation. After this study, new literature research that reflect new studies should accomplish steadily.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.195-209
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• 2009

The embedded software has been become more important than the hardware in mobile systems in ubiquitous society. The improvement models such as CMMI(Capability Maturity Model Integration) and SPICE(Software Process Improvement and Capability dEtermination) are used to improve the quality of software in general systems. Software process improvement is also necessary for mobile embedded software development to improve its quality. It is not easy to apply the general software improvement model to the mobile embedded software development due to the high cost effectiveness and heavy process. On the other hand, XP has the characteristics on focused communications with customers and iteration development. It is specially suitable for mobile embedded software development as depending on customer's frequent requirement changes and hardware attributes. In this paper, we propose a framework for development small process improvement based XP(eXtreme Programming)'s practice in order to accomplish CMMI level 2 or 3 in mobile embedded software development at the small organizations. We design and implement the Mobile Embedded Software Process Improvement System(MESPIS) to support process improvement. We also suggest the evaluation method for the mobile embedded software development process improvement framework with CMMI coverage check by comparing other process improvement model. In the future, we need to apply this proposed framework to real project for practical effectiveness and the real cases quantitative. It also include the enhance the functionality of MESPIS.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.74-91
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficiency of a government-supported project developed to improve the quality and hygiene levels of food, service, and restaurant facilities for foreign customers in Chungnam province. Data was collected from 53 restaurant owners and restaurant managers. This study empirically analyzes and presents a mode with key factors influencing transfer of training and training satisfaction. Multiple regression analysis methods were used to test the relationships among four factors for transfer of training, training satisfaction, and retraining intentions. There are three main findings. First, teaching methods and relevance factors had a significant effect on transfer, but instructor and education environment factors did not. Second, the teaching methods, instructor and education environment factors had a direct influence on training satisfaction, but the relevance factor didn't. Third, transfer and satisfaction both were influenced significantly by retraining. Based on the findings of this study, a trainer, designing training curriculum for a production environment, should emphasize the role of the trainer and focus on learning tools. Finally, a thorough learning design is needed for learner's satisfaction.

• The KIPS Transactions:PartD
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• v.16D no.3
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• pp.395-406
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• 2009

Korean government has operated EA by the act on efficient introduction of information system and operation, etc. But the evaluation system for EA and the criteria don't prepare well. Particularly, There is no model for EA performance measurement and the way is insufficient. In this study, we derived 8 areas and 17 criteria for the performance evaluation based on the Performance Reference Model of U.S FEA and Korea. And we also derived 8 areas and 10 criteria for it based on the OMB EA Assessment Framework and the EA maturity model in Korea. We propose the performance evaluation model of the five areas that consists of the business performance, customer performance, process, human resource and the technology for EA performance evaluation. To verify the model, we applied the model to three organizations and evaluated EA performance. In addition, we compared the performance result with the performance evaluation area of EA maturity model of Korea to verify the result. We also analyzed the criteria of the proposed performance evaluation model with the current EA maturity model and Performance Reference Model of Korea. As a result of the evaluation, we verified of the proposed performance evaluation model, too.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.1-17
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• 2018

Recently, most online firms are trying to provide personalized services based on customer's data. However, customers are reluctant to give their information to online firm because of concerns about data breach. Online firms are seeking to increase their trust by ensuring the protection of personal information for customers through privacy seal (e.g. e-privacy) or data breach insurance. This research examines the effects of privacy assurance(i.e. privacy seal, data breach insurance) on consumer behavior in online environment. An experiment based on the hypothetical scenario was conducted using a between-subjects 2 (type of privacy assurance) + 1 (control) design. We found that both privacy seal and data breach insurance increased perceived privacy trust. In addition, privacy seal has a positive effect on the intention to provide personal information through perceived privacy trust. Finally, in the case of the group with a high (low) disposition to trust, higher perceived privacy trust is formed through privacy seal (data breach insurance). Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.587-596
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• 2021

Naval battleships have systems to perform special purposes, such as the Command and Fire Control System (CFCS). Some of the this equipment should be equipped with an Uninterruptible Power System (UPS ) to ensure operational continuity and the backup of important data, even during unexpected power outages caused by problems with the ship's power generator. Heavy combat losses can occur if the equipment cannot satisfy the function. Therefore, it is important to design a stable UPS. The battery and Battery Management System (BMS) are two of the most important factors for designing a stable UPS. A power outage will be encountered if the battery and BMS are not stable. The customer will be exposed to abnormal situations, loss of important tactical data, and inability to operate some of the CFCS. As a result, an enhanced safety system should be designed. Thus, this study implemented and verified the improved system in terms of three methods, such as comparative analysis of the batteries, improvement about leakage current of the circuit, and tests of the aggressive environmental resistance to improve the UPS for CFCS.