• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.39-49
• /
• 2019

Purpose - Customer loyalty and citizenship behavior are key success factors of franchise system. They make the management of franchisee more effective and efficient. Prior studies, however, mainly dealt with only acquisition utility of customer, such as perceived product/service quality and brand reputation to explain customer loyalty and citizenship behavior, which explains only on one side. We tried to investigate the effect of exchange utility of customer, such as relationship strength and psychological obligation together with the acquisition utility. In addition, we tried to investigate the relationship between customer loyalty and citizenship behavior in franchise context. Research design, data, and methodology - This study used data collected from the dining franchisee managers of 342 franchisors in South Korea. The franchisors consist of more than ten franchisees, the majority of which participated directly in the transaction with franchisor and have worked for more than six months. To test the hypotheses, the study used structural equation model analysis. Results - H1-1, 1-2, 1-3 predicted that acquisition utility would increase customer loyalty to franchisee. In support of H1-1, 1-2, 1-3, the results indicated that acquisition utilities such as perceived product value, perceived service value, and franchise brand reputation had positive effects on customer loyalty. H2-1, 2-2 predicted that exchange utility would increase customer loyalty to franchisee. In support of H2-2, the result indicated that psychological obligation had positive effects on customer loyalty like other acquisition utilities. However, H2-1 was not supported. Relationship strength had no significant effect on customer loyalty. H3 predicted that customer loyalty would increase customer citizenship behavior. In support of H3, the results indicated that customer loyalty had positive effect on customer citizenship behavior. Overall, the evidences generally supported the hypotheses. Conclusion - The results of the study show that not only acquisition utility but also exchange utility increases customer loyalty to franchisee and also show that customer loyalty increases customer citizenship behavior. Interestingly, however, relationship strength has no significant effect on customer loyalty. These results have two implications. The one is that increasing exchange utility can improve customer loyalty as acquisition utility can. The other one is that both of customer utilities can improve customer citizenship via customer loyalty.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.69-78
• /
• 2007

The international EARTHSHINE mission is to measure 1% anomaly of the Earth global albedo and total solar irradiance using Amon-Ra instrument around Lagrange point 1. We developed a new ray truing based integrated end-to-end simulation tool that overcomes the shortcomings of the existing end-to-end performance simulation techniques. We then studied the in-orbit radiometric performance of the breadboard Anon-Ra visible channel optical system. The TSI variation and the Earth albedo anomaly, reported elsewhere, were used as the key input variables in the simulation. The output flux at the instrument focal plane confirms that the integrated ray tracing based end-to-end science simulation delivers the correct level of incident power to the Amon-Ra instrument well within the required measurement error budget of better than ${\pm}0.28%$. Using the global angular distribution model (ADM), the incident flux is then used to estimate the Earth global albedo and the TSI variation, confirming the validity of the primary science cases at the L1 halo orbit. These results imply that the integrated end-to-end ray tracing technique, reported here, can serve as an effective and powerful building block of the on-line science analysis tool in support of the international EARTHSHINE mission currently being developed.

• Journal of Distribution Research
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.103-129
• /
• 2007

One of the most enduring concepts in the history of marketing thought relates to the classification of consumer goods. The product classification theory first proposed by Copeland(1923) has, with little modification, survived to the present day, and continues to be endorsed by the American Marketing Association and other related institutions some 80 years after it was first published. In truth, Copeland's classification is now outdated and bears little, if any, relevance to modern product advertising, retailing and consumption. In particular, it can not accommodate the fact that, in modern societies, consumer preoccupations with style, personal identity and status have meant that the social characteristics of goods, heavily promoted by brand managers who understand their markets, are key determinants of consumer choice and buyer behavior. In this respect, the author attempted to explore the reasons why product classification theory has been unresponsive to changes in market conditions over so many years and argue that its failure to embrace the many social influences on consumption and on consumer behavior is now its most serious weakness. And also, the author proposed the new categorization system of goods, based on the several existing literatures.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.53-64
• /
• 2017

Purpose - This study focuses on use intention of mobile travel Apps by Chinese tourists visiting Korea based on UTAUT model, ISS model and ITM model. And the corresponding market promotion schemes are proposed for operators of mobile travel Apps by the research results. Research design, data, and methodology - After collecting 326 respondents in China with cross-sectional questionnaires, this study begins the empirical research with users of mobile travel Apps, and analyzes data with IBM SPSS 23.0 and IBM AMOS 23.0. Results - The results of this study include the following aspects: firstly, the System quality and Information quality are accepted for hypotheses of Satisfaction and Performance expectancy. Secondly, the Personal Propensity to Trust and Firm Reputation are accepted for Initial Trust hypothesis, and the hypotheses of Firm Reputation and Initial Trust are accepted for Use Intention. Thirdly, the Performance expectancy, Effort expectancy, Social influence are accepted for Use Intention hypothesis. Conclusions - With the increase of tourists visiting Korea, it can be predicted that the needs visiting Korea will be increased persistently for Chinese - this trend brings about the increase of the Chinese travel. First, information quality greatly influences satisfaction and performance expectancy. The research result shows that, the higher the mobile traveling App's information quality is, the higher the satisfaction and performance expectancy will be. Therefore, operators of mobile traveling App should have in-depth investigations towards users, to know the latter's real demand to the information quality and then provide corresponding services. Second, performance expectancy and effort expectancy greatly influence users' intention. Therefore, mobile traveling App operators should improve Apps' convenience and efficiency and, in doing so, find an effective method for market expansion. Third, social influence greatly affects users' intention. The result shows that mobile traveling App operators should pay attention to the influence of mass media and friends' recommendation on users, thereby it is necessary to improve advertisement activities. Fourth, initial trust also influences users' intention. The result shows that initial trust is a key element inducing users to generate use intention. Therefore, mobile traveling Apps operators should make efforts to catch elements that influence users' initial trust.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.39 no.9
• /
• pp.527-533
• /
• 2017

Environmental concern about smart phone is growing because it has short product life span while having intensive production technology and cost. In this study environmental impact of the smart phone is quantified using the LCA methodology based on the ISO 14040 series standards. The assessment considers potential environmental impacts across the whole life cycle of the smart phone including; pre-manufacturing; manufacturing; distribution; product use; and end-of-life stages. The pre-manufacturing stage is the most dominant life cycle stage causing the highest environmental impacts among all 10 impact categories assessed. The global warming impacts of the smart phone in the pre-manufacturing, distribution, use, manufacturing, and end-of-life stages were 52.6% 23.9%, 15.7%, 7.0%, and 0.8%, respectively. Sensitivity of the life cycle impact assessment results to the system boundary definition and assumptions made were quite high. Three components of the smart phone, PCB, battery, and display module were identified as the key components causing majority of the potential environmental impact in the pre-manufacturing stage. As such the slim and light-weight design and the use of environmental friendly materials are important design factors for reducing the environmental impact of the smart phone.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.275-281
• /
• 2012

Thermal distribution in soils must be considered in engineering designs and constructions, including estimates of frost heave and thaw settlement, infrastructure in cold regions, and geothermal systems. Because thermal conductivity is a key parameter for evaluation of thermal distribution in soils, it must be accurately estimated. The thermal conductivity of fine-grained soils has been widely studied in recent years; however, few studies have reported a reliable method for experimental measurement. The present study presents the results of an experimental investigation of the thermal conductivity of a saturated kaolinite-silica mixture with respect to the variation of dry density. Thermal conductivities were measured in Constant Rate of Strain (CRS) consolidation tests, and the experimental data were analyzed to evaluate the accuracy of the new measurement system. In addition, we present an evaluation method for predicting thermal conductivity in fine-grained soils.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.14 no.12
• /
• pp.141-151
• /
• 2016

Purpose - Salesperson perceptions of the fairness and accuracy of a performance evaluation system were examined by managerial and professional employees of large organization. The performance evaluation process is central to many personal decisions such as attitude for job and sales performance. This study investigates the relationship between perceived evaluation fairness, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and sales performance. The main purpose of this study is to develop and empirically test a comprehensive model of salespersons' perceived evaluation fairness on sales performance. For this purpose, we identified the structural relationship between perceived evaluation fairness, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and sales performance. Also we investigate the mediating effects on job satisfaction and organizational commitment between perceived evaluation fairness and sales performance. Research design, data, and methodology - To empirically test these relationships, data were collected by in-depth interviews from sales managers and questionnaire surveys from 300 salespersons who work for sales area (credit card company, insurance company). Demographically, the overall sample was 91.6% female, 77.9% 30s and 40s, and 34% college educated, with an average tenure with their present organizations of 4 years. The questionnaire was composed of total 20 items dealing with frequency, quality, and consequences of perceived evaluation fairness, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and sales performance. To test the research hypotheses, collected data analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structure equation model (SEM). Results - Through extensive and rigorous literature review process of related literature(Perceived evaluation fairness, Job satisfaction, Organizational commitment, Sales performance), research model and research hypothesis was set up. This study obtains the following research results. First, perceived evaluation fairness has a positive effect on job satisfaction, whereas the effects of perceived evaluation fairness on organizational commitment and sales performance did not show statistically significant result. Second, job satisfaction and organizational commitment have complete mediating roles to the relationship between perceived evaluation fairness and organizational commitment, and relationship between perceived evaluation fairness and sales performance. Conclusions - Based on the results, salespersons' perceived evaluation fairness is one of the key independent variable for making high job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and sales performance. Finally the theoretical, managerial implication and research limitations are mentioned in the discussion.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.71-79
• /
• 2015

With the growth of aging population in Korea, a better care of chronic and other degenerative illnesses is urgently needed. Evidences suggest that this can be achieved through incorporating a wide range of care options, expanding beyond medical interventions. The aim of this study is to analyze the distribution of publically funded research to understand if the Korean research and development funding system matches various approaches and purposes to successfully tackle the chronic care needs of an aging society. We complied the list of funded projects to be analyzed by searching the National Technical Information Service database with key words such as aging society/senescence, chronic diseases, disability, and health promotion. Most projects were based on the biomedical approach with the purpose of establishing the etiology and clinical (treatment) interventions. Health promotion projects showed a distinctive distribution with more percentage of projects based on psycho-behavioral approaches while research on chronic diseases predominantly biomedical. It would be necessary to diversify publically-funded research projects to develop effective and efficient care technologies for the future.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.736-746
• /
• 2011

This study aims tried to present develop a management plan for about old and big trees and legally protected trees by investigating through the present the current status and the distribution of the legally protected trees and old and big tree that range in Gwangju, South Korea. The number of legally protected plants that distributed in Gwangju City is 68 individual trees from 9 species. The largest number was found in Gwangsan-gu (18 trees). The total number of the old and big trees that are distributed in Gwangju City was confirmed as 155 individual trees from 10 species. It must to be corrected to a correct plant species name that species name is written in review articles incorrectly. The average vitality rate of the legally protected plants was 1.2 and the status of ground was 1.7 on average. And the vitality rate of the old and big trees was 1.3 and the status of ground was 2.0 on average. Vitality are not significantly different between the legally protected trees and old and big trees. Ground status of old and big trees worse than legally protected trees. Gingko biloba (found in Gwangsan-gu Songdaedong Daechon village) was only legally protected plant that requires urgent management due to low vitality rate (between 3.2 and 4.0). Among old and big trees Salix glandulosa which is found in Gwangsan-gu Sansu-dong Gamdong village was only one that requires urgent care. The most important status for the old and big tree is securing minimal space for growth. Therefore, we conclude that the most urgent measure in the management and projection of old and big trees and legally protected plants is removal of asphalt or cement above the surface of root system.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
• /
• v.55 no.spc1
• /
• pp.1235-1249
• /
• 2022

This study applied the web crawling technique for extracting big data news on water quality accidents in the water supply system and presented the algorithm in a procedural way to obtain accurate water quality accident news. In addition, in the case of a large-scale water quality accident, development patterns such as accident recognition, accident spread, accident response, and accident resolution appear according to the occurrence of an accident. That is, the analysis of the development of water quality accidents through key keywords and sentiment analysis for each stage was carried out in detail based on case studies, and the meanings were analyzed and derived. The proposed methodology was applied to the larval accident period of Incheon Metropolitan City in 2020 and analyzed. As a result, in a situation where the disclosure of information that directly affects consumers, such as water quality accidents, is restricted, the tone of news articles and media reports about water quality accidents with long-term damage in the event of an accident and the degree of consumer pride clearly change over time. could check This suggests the need to prepare consumer-centered policies to increase consumer positivity, although rapid restoration of facilities is very important for the development of water quality accidents from the supplier's point of view.