• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.7 no.3 s.31
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• pp.65-75
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• 2006

Emerging trends regarding USFK(United States Forces, Korea)'s EC(Engineering/Construction) market include: (1) introduction of MATOC(Multiple Award Task Order Contract); (2) increase of DB(Design-Build) contract; and (3) encroachment of large US-origin private EC firms upon Korea. This study analyzes the change of USFK's EC market with focus on the change of construction management actors for USFK's EC projects. Specifically, USFK's EC projects have been managed by FED(Far East District). Recently, however, the large US private EC companies substitute the role previously taken by FED. This phenomenon is accelerated by the business chances in Korea due to LPP(Land Partnership Plan) and intentions of US Government to save military construction costs by means of utilizing US private EC companies. The large US EC firms entering into Korea are business opportunities as well as challenges to Korean EC firms, which are contracting USFK's EC projects. This study concludes that, through teaming joint venture with the large US EC firms, the market changes can be opportunities to acquire foreign market information and learn advanced construction management skill from them.

• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.35-49
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• 2017

The main objective of this paper is to empirically analyze the efficiency effects of mergers on Korean pharmaceutical firms and suggests managerial or policy implications for managers or policy makers. This study selects non-merging control firms close to the size of merging firms, as well as a set of merging firms, and measures the effects of mergers on efficiency three years before and after the merger using the non-parametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) method. To compare the differences of efficiency means among several groups, Wilcoxon rank sum test or Wilcoxon signed rank test is used. It showed that the long-term effects after the merger appeared partially. Furthermore, it was observed that there was no difference statistically in the efficiency between merging and non-merging firms. Also, there was no difference statistically in the efficiency between the pre- and post-merger periods. In conclusion, there was not any observed synergy effect through group (or affiliated) mergers between affiliates or related mergers for Korean pharmaceutical firms.

• The Korean Journal of Financial Management
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.63-91
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• 2009

This paper tests the validity of pecking order theory by Myers(1977) and Myers and Majluf(1984) on Korean manufacturing firms listed in the KRX for the years of 1994 to 2003. We also want to see if there is any difference in financing behavior between chaebol affiliated firms and non-chaebol affiliated firms. We develop testable hypotheses from the idea that established relationship between bank and firm mitigates the problem of information asymmetry (Kang and Lim, 2001), and thus makes it easier for firms to raise funds through banks. The test result of the first stage shows that firms prefer cash reserves to debt financing, and prefer debt to equity. Chaebol affiliated firms are found to behave as if they already exploit internal capital markets. The second stage of the test carried out by dividing debt capital into bank loans and corporate bonds also shows a consistent pattern of financing behavior. Firms are testified to prefer cash to bank loans, bank loans to corporate bonds, and corporate bonds to equity. In this case chaebol affiliation seems to make firms behave as if they already establish internal capital markets. Further analysis shows that some, though not in every case, difference of ordering around the occasion of Korean financial crisis exists. It may be from the change of attitude of Korean firms to risk, or from weakened influence of internal capital market along with strengthened market power in the post-crisis period.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.121-131
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• 2010

Technological innovation depends on the quality of workers, whose ability is the key component to raise business competitiveness. Our study evaluates how satisfactory is the training of workers at small and medium sized firms, and suggest how to improve upon it. We show the theoretical framework for the relation between customer satisfaction and their behavioral intent on the one side, and factors of training service quality. Our result show: (1) Factors affecting customer satisfaction are, in descending order of importance, expertise, policy, follow-up service, attitude and behavior, and convenience. (2) Contrary to established views on the service quality, satisfaction for training would not be the prerequisite variable for intent to act, in case of training service quality. (3) Satisfaction level for training depends on the type of organization in charge of training (government, university, or private sector.) It also varied among different types of business (L-type, A-type, and J-type.) Small and medium sized firms find it difficult to commit to training education due to lack of money and manpower. The recent expansion of free training service would address part of this problem. On the other hand, the outfit in charge of training could boost service quality by customizing their training program to the type of business they cater to.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2015.10a
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• pp.660-661
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• 2015

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a nascent technology in Korea, and currently lacks formal guidelines to assist Architectural and Engineering (AE) firms in estimating BIM service fees, while also allowing government agencies to allocate budgets for the rendered BIM services. This research provides a method to estimate costs for BIM services based on the cost-plus pricing framework. The approach requires a generalized estimate of the man hour per floor area data to calculate the direct labor costs. Man-hour data were collected from forty five projects that have implemented BIM. Interpolation of the man-hours was performed to develop a general reference table for 'Type 2' (i.e., public schools and office buildings, etc.) projects. By providing an objective approach for estimating the costs of BIM services, it allows clients and AE firms to agree upon a fair cost for BIM related services, and thus expedite its adoption in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.6 no.1 s.23
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• pp.151-161
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• 2005

This paper analyzes the technical efficiencies of 38 Korean engineering and construction firms and the efficiency changes from 1999 to 2003 using data envelopment analysis (DEA). Best practice firms in terms of technical efficiency and profit are identified. For inefficient firms, performance targets to be efficient are suggested. Technical efficiencies had been increased over the five year period, and the efficiency difference between firms had been reduced during this period. The differences in efficiency due to the differences in cooperate governance structures are statistically significant. In addition, the technical efficiency is correlated with product portfolios, degree of subcontract, rates of value added, returns on invested capital, and EBITDA.

• Management Science and Financial Engineering
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.25-48
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• 2005

Firms often collaborate on building an infrastructure, which benefits all the firms in the industry, although in unequal magnitudes. Then a difficult and tricky issue is concerned with 'free riding.' Should there be only 'common, i.e., industry-wide' benefits in such collaboration, the literature indicated that the free rider problem is unavoidable, In this paper, however, we suggest that while collaborating, the firm also learns firm-specific knowledge, experience, and know-how, which can be directly utilized for its own internal improvement. That is, the collaboration between firms provides them with not only 'industry-wide,' but also 'firm-specific' benefits, Our analysis shows that if there indeed exist two types of benefits simultaneously, depending on the balance between the two, the free rider problem can be mitigated or even eliminated.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.26-39
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• 2016

Korea's main manufacturing industries, which have led its economy for the past three decades, are faced with a serious downturn and loss of competitive advantages due to the current economic depression, China's rise, and the drop of oil prices. Korean business firms must adopt the paradigm shift in their value strategies, along with a government-led industrial restructuring in order to gain sustainable competitive advantages. Business firms allocate their limited resources between value creation and value appropriation, however, what effect does strategic emphasis on value creation versus value appropriation have on a business firm's financial performance? This paper empirically addresses this issue by examining the effect of shifts in strategic emphasis on stock return. Furthermore, this study examines appropriate choices of strategic emphasis to gain differential financial performance. The data set used in this regression analysis comes from the KISLINE database of NICE Information Service. The variables that form the basis of this analysis are stock return, ROA, and Strategic Emphasis [(advertising expenditures-R&D expenditures)/assets]. The interactive effect with situational factors regarding the firm and the type of technological environment in which the firm is operating was also analyzed. Our results show that investors acknowledge a shift of strategic emphasis as a sign of stock valuation. In comparison to US, Korean business firms have weak value creation capabilities in high-technology industries, and weak value appropriation capabilities in low-technology industries. This proves Korean firms are fast followers in the global market. Our findings suggest that Korean firms have to adopt a balanced value strategy, nurturing value creation and developing value appropriation for overcoming the current economic downturn and becoming a first mover in the dawn of "Industry 4.0."

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.93-109
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• 2009

The study focuses on analysing situation of disasters and characteristics in construction process which the technical construction firms accomplish. Besides, the study aims at the role and responsibilities of technical construction firms in construction safety. It is found out by a questionnaire and interviews in this study that safety control and management have a key role to prevent accidents in construction projects. Based on the result of the research, it is concluded that institutional improvement and support strategies are suggested and that additional to the support of the government and institutions in charge of the field of construction safety the effort of the first contractor, the second contractor and the laborer it is also important.

• International conference on construction engineering and project management
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.426-431
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• 2011

The quality of performance evaluation on engineering consultants that provide design-related technical services is difficult to be measured, and only a handful of papers discussed the quality during the design stage. Although design cost is relatively far less than construction cost for a project, the decisions made in the design phase have a significant impact on the final products of the project, especially for large public construction projects. Therefore, this research focuses on reviewing and then establishing a performance evaluation framework for the consulting firms that execute detailed design and provide technical services for the Taipei Rapid Transit Systems (TRTS). By interviewing experts, this study first established a set of indicators to evaluate these firms' performance. Then, those indicators were incorporated into the four aspects of balanced scorecard (BSC) to establish the architecture of the evaluation mechanism. The weight of each indicator was calculated by analytic hierarchy process (AHP) from a survey conducted among experts. The results showed that the top-three indicators were quantity take-off, functions conformity, and budgeting. The framework of performance evaluation established by this study can be applied to measure service performance during the design stage. It not only facilitates the monitoring of consulting firms, but also helps to reduce unnecessary change orders and disputes during the construction stage.