• Title/Summary/Keyword: Product uncertainty

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A Study on Universal Design Using PSD (Preference Set-Based Design) Method (PSD법을 이용한 유니버설 디자인에 관한 연구)

  • Nahm, Yoon-Eui;Ishikawa, Haruo
    • Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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    • v.38 no.3
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    • pp.127-135
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    • 2015
  • Universal design is defined as the design process of products and environments usable by all people to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. The benefits of universal design have been promoted primarily through illustrative 'success stories' of public, residential and occupational environments and products. While case examples may be informative, they may unfortunately be limited in terms of generality to other designs or tasks. Therefore, design methods and criteria that can be applied systematically in a range of situations to encourage universal design are needed. In addition, the seven principles of universal design are intended to guide the design process. The principles provide a framework that allows a systematic evaluation of new or existing designs and assists in educating both designers and consumers about the characteristics of more usable products and environments. However, exactly how these principles are incorporated into the design process has beenleft up to the designer. Since the introduction of universal design, designers have become familiar with the principles of universal design, and they have developed many products based on universal design. However, the principles of universal design are qualitative, which means designers cannot quantitatively evaluate their designs. Some have worked to develop more systematic ways to evaluate products and environments by providing design guidelines for each of the principles. However, recommendations have not yet been made regarding how to integrate performance measures of universal design into the product design process before the product is mass produced. Furthermore, there are sets of requirements regarding each user group that has different age and ability. Consequently, there is an urgent need for design methods, based on a better understanding of age and ability related factors, which will lead to a universally designed product or environment. The authors have proposed the PSD (Preference Set-Based Design) method that can generate a ranged set of feasible solutions (i.e., robust and flexible solution set) instead of single point solution that satisfies changing sets of design targets. The objective of this paper is to develop a general method for systematically supporting the universal design process. This paper proposes the applicability of PSD method to universal design. Here, the proposed method is successfully illustrated with a universal design problem.

Discourse Analysis of Business Chinese and the Comparison of Negotiation Culture between Korea and China - Focused on Business Emails Related to 'Napkin Holder' Imports - (무역 중국어 담화 고찰과 한중 협상문화 비교 - '냅킨꽂이' 수입 관련 비즈니스 이메일을 중심으로 -)

  • Choi, Tae-Hoon
    • Cross-Cultural Studies
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    • v.50
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    • pp.103-130
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    • 2018
  • This research aims to explore the associated linguistic features and functions of Chinese as used for business trading purposes, and which is based on a discourse analysis through a case in which a Korean buyer and a Chinese supplier have exchanged Internet based e-mails. The research questions include first, the linguistic functions and characteristics of Chinese shown as identified in this trade case through e-mails, second, the use of Chinese trade specific terms, and third, the apparent and dynamic negotiation strategies that are identified as followed by the cultural value systems which are used for resolving interest conflicts and issues between the buyer and supplier in the course of negotiating business contracts between two parties. The participants of this research pertain to a Korean buyer, James and a Chinese supplier, Sonya. The associated data consists of 74 e-mails exchanged between the two parties, initiated in an effort to begin and complete a trade item, in this case namely the product of napkin holders. The research for the study is based on the discourse analysis and empirically analyses models of Chinese linguistic functions and features. The findings are the following. First, as identified, the specific Chinese functions used and sequenced in this trade case are of a procedure, request, informing, negotiation and persuasion. Second, the essential trade terms used in this business interaction involve the relevant issues of 1) ordering and price negotiating, 2) marking the origin of the products, 3) the arrangement of the product examination and customs declaration for the anticipated import items, 4) preparation of the necessary legal documents, and 5) the package and transport of the product in the final instance. Third, the impact of the similarities and differences in the cultural value systems between Korea and China on the negotiations and conflict resolution during a negotiated contract between two parties are speculated in terms of the use of culturally based techniques such as face-saving and the utilization of uncertainty-avoiding strategies as meant to prevent misunderstandings from developing between the parties. The concluding part of the study discusses the implications for a practical Chinese language education utilizing the linguistic functions and features of the Chinese culture and language strategies as useful in business associations for trading purposes, and the importance of intercultural communication styles based on similar of different identified cultural values as noted between two parties.

Development and Validation of an Analytical Method for Betanine and Isobetanine in Processed Food Products Labeled with Beet Red

  • Kang, Hyun-Hee;Yun, Choong-In;Lee, Gayeong;Shin, Jae-Wook;Kim, Young-Jun
    • Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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    • v.36 no.5
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    • pp.376-381
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    • 2021
  • Red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a root vegetable and a popular functional food ingredient of dark red-purple appearance due largely to betacyanins, principally betanine (75-95%) and its isomer, isobetanine (15-45%). This study developed an analytical method for beet red in terms of betanine and isobetanine in processed food products labeled with beet red as a food additive. High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD) was used with a C18 column. Linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), accuracy, precision and uncertainty in measurement were calculated for method validation. Matrix-matched calibration was applied to the candy, ice cream, and cocoa product, respectively, and R2 was ≥0.9998, showing a high level of linearity. The LOD and LOQ were 0.16 to 0.32 and 0.48 to 0.97 mg/L, respectively. As a result of repeated intra-day and interday experiments to validate the accuracy and precision of the analytical method, the recovery rates were 96.0-103.1% and 100.0-102.2%, respectively and the RSD% was 0.5-3.3% and 0.9-3.8%, respectively. Moreover, the measurement uncertainty was estimated to be 1.71-12.43% depending on the matrix and the measured concentration. In this study, betanine and isobetanine were quantified (8.4-3,823.4 mg/kg) by applying the developed analytical method to processed food products (n= 26; e.g., candy, ice cream, and other processed foods) labeled with beet red as a food additive.

An Exploratory Study on the Components of Visual Merchandising of Internet Shopping Mall (인터넷쇼핑몰의 VMD 구성요인에 대한 탐색적 연구)

  • Kim, Kwang-Seok;Shin, Jong-Kuk;Koo, Dong-Mo
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.18 no.2
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    • pp.19-45
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    • 2008
  • This study is to empirically examine the primary dimensions of visual merchandising (VMD) of internet shopping mall, namely store design, merchandise, and merchandising cues, to be a attractive virtual store to the shoppers. The authors reviewed the literature related to the major components of VMD from the perspective of the AIDA model, which has been mainly applied to the offline store settings. The major purposes of the study are as follows; first, tries to derive the variables related with the components of visual merchandising through reviewing the existing literatures, establish the hypotheses, and test it empirically. Second, examines the relationships between the components of VMD and the attitude toward the VMD, however, putting more emphasis on finding out the component structure of the VMD. VMD needs to be examined with the perspective that an online shopping mall is a virtual self-service or clerkless store, which could reduce the number of employees, help the shoppers search, evaluate and purchase for themselves, and to be explored in terms of the in-store persuasion processes of customers. This study reviewed the literatures related to store design, merchandise, and merchandising cues which might be relevant to the store, product, and promotion respectively. VMD is a total communication tool, and AIDA model could explain the in-store consumer behavior of online shopping. Store design has to do with triggering a consumer attention to the online mall, merchandise with a product related interest, and merchandising cues with promotions such as recommendation and links that induce the desire to pruchase. These three steps might be seen as the processes for purchase actions. The theoretical rationale for the relationship between VMD and AIDA could be found in Tyagi(2005) that the three steps of consumer-oriented merchandising are a store, a product assortment, and placement, in Omar(1999) that three types of interior display are a architectural design display, commodity display, and point-of-sales(POS) display, and in Davies and Ward(2005) that the retail store interior image is related to an atmosphere, merchandise, and in-store promotion. Lee et al(2000) suggested as the web merchandising components a merchandising cues, a shopping metaphor which is an assistant tool for search, a store design, a layout(web design), and a product assortment. The store design which includes differentiation, simplicity and navigation is supposed to be related to the attention to the virtual store. Second, the merchandise dimensions comprising product assortments, visual information and product reputation have to do with the interest in the product offerings. Finally, the merchandising cues that refer to merchandiser(MD)'s recommendation of products and providing the hyperlinks to relevant goods for the shopper is concerned with attempt to induce the desire to purchase. The questionnaire survey was carried out to collect the data about the consumers who would shop at internet shopping malls frequently. To select the subject malls, the mall ranking data announced by a mall rating agency was used to differentiate the most popular and least popular five mall each. The subjects was instructed to answer the questions after navigating the designated mall for five minutes. The 300 questionnaire was distributed to the consumers, 166 samples were used in the final analysis. The empirical testing focused on identifying and confirming the dimensionality of VMD and its subdimensions using a structural equation modeling method. The confirmatory factor analysis for the endogeneous and exogeneous variables was carried out in four parts. The second-order factor analysis was done for a store design, a merchandise, and a merchandising cues, and first-order confirmatory factor analysis for the attitude toward the VMD. The model test results shows that the chi-square value of structural equation is 144.39(d.f 49), significant at 0.01 level which means the proposed model was rejected. But, judging from the ratio of chi-square value vs. degree of freedom, the ratio was 2.94 which smaller than an acceptable level of 3.0, RMR is 0.087 which is higher than a generally acceptable level of 0.08. GFI and AGFI is turned out to be 0.90 and 0.84 respectively. Both NFI and NNFI is 0.94, and CFI 0.95. The major test results are as follows; first, the second-order factor analysis and structural equational modeling reveals that the differentiation, simplicity and ease of identifying current status of the transaction are confirmed to be subdimensions of store design and to be a significant predictors of the dependent variable. This result implies that when designing an online shopping mall, it is necessary to differentiate visually from other malls to improve the effectiveness of the communications of store design. That is, the differentiated store design raise the contrast stimulus to sensory organs to promote the memory of the store and to have a favorable attitude toward the VMD of a store. The results that navigation which means the easiness of identifying current status of shopping affects the attitude to VMD could be interpreted that the navigating processes via the hyperlinks which is characteristics of an internet shopping is a complex and cognitive process and shoppers are likely to lack the sense of overall structure of the store. Consequently, shoppers are likely to be alost amid shopping not knowing where to go. The orientation tool enhance the accessibility of information to raise the perceptive power about the store environment.(Titus & Everett 1995) Second, the primary dimension of merchandise and its subdimensions was confirmed to be unidimensional respectively, have a construct validity, and nomological validity which the VMD dimensions supposed to have a positive correlation with the dependent variable. The subdimensions of product assortment, brand fame and information provision proved to have a positive effect on the attitude toward the VMD. It could be interpreted that the more plentiful the product and brand assortment of the mall is, the more likely the shoppers to favor it. Brand fame and information provision as well affect the VMD attitude, which means that the more famous the brand, the more likely the shoppers would trust and feel familiar with the mall, and the plentifully and visually presented information could have the shopper have a favorable attitude toward the store VMD. Third, it turned out to be that merchandising cue of product recommendation and hyperlinks affect the VMD attitude. This could be interpreted that recommended products could reduce the uncertainty related with the purchase decision, and the hyperlinks to relevant products would help the shopper save the cognitive effort exerted into the information search and gathering, which could lead to a favorable attitude to the VMD. This study tried to sheds some new light on the VMD of online store by reviewing the variables mentioned to be relevant with offline VMD in the existing literatures, and tried to link the VMD components from the perspective of AIDA model. The effect size of the VMD dimensions on the attitude was in the order of the merchandise, the store design and the merchandising cues.It is said that an internet has an unlimited place for display, however, the virtual store is not unlimited since the consumer has a limited amount of cognitive ability to process the external information and internal memory. Particularly, the shoppers are likely to face some difficulties in decision making on account of too many alternative and information overloads. Therefore, the internet shopping mall manager should take into consideration the cost of information search on the part of the consumer, to establish the optimal product placements and search routes. An efficient store composition would be possible by reducing the psychological burdens and cognitive efforts exerted to information search and alternatives evaluation. The store image is in most part determined by the product category and its brand it deals in. The results of this study support this proposition that the merchandise is most important to the VMD attitude than other components, the manager is required to take a strategic approach to VMD. The internet users are getting more accustomed and more knowledgeable about the internet media and more likely to accept the internet as a shopping channel as the period of time during which they use the internet to shop become longer. The web merchandiser should be aware that the product introduction using a moving pictures and a bulletin board become more important in order to present the interactive product information visually and communicate with customers more actively, therefore leading to making the quantity and quality of product information more rich.

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A Study on the Effects of Meterological Factors on the Distribution of Agricultural Products: Focused on the Distribution of Chinese Cabbages (기상요인이 농산물 유통에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구: 배추 유통 사례를 중심으로)

  • Lee, Hyunjoung;Hong, Jinhwan
    • Journal of Distribution Research
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    • v.17 no.5
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    • pp.59-83
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    • 2012
  • Agriculture is a primary industry that influenced by the weather or meterological factors more than other industry. Global warming and worldwide climate changes, and unusual weather phenomena are fatal in agricultural industry and human life. Therefore, many previous studies have been made to find the relationship between weather and the productivity of agriculture. Meterological factors also influence on the distribution of agricultural product. For example, price of agricultural product is determined in the market, and also influenced by the weather of the market. However, there is only a few study was made to find this link. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of meterological factors on the distribution of agricultural products, focusing on the distribution of chinese cabbages. Chinese cabbage is a main ingredient of Kimchi, and basic essential vegetable in Korean dinner table. However, the production of chinese cabbages is influenced by weather and very fluctuating so that the variation of its price is so unstable. Therefore, both consumers and farmers do not feel comfortable at the unstable price of chinese cabbages. In this study, we analyze the real transaction data of chinese cabbage in wholesale markets and meterological factors depending on the variety and geography. We collect and analyze data of meterological factors such as temperatures, humidity, cloudiness, rainfall, snowfall, wind speed, insolation, sunshine duration in producing and consuming region of chinese cabbages. The result of this study shows that the meterological factors such as temperature and humidity significantly influence on the volume and price of chinese cabbage transaction in wholesale market. Especially, the weather of consuming region has greater correlation effects on transaction than that of producing region in all types of chinese cabbages. Among the whole agricultural lifecycle of chinese cabbages, 'seeding - harvest - shipment - wholesale', meterological factors such as temperature and rainfall in shipment and wholesale period are significantly correlated with transaction volume and price of crops. Based on the result of correlation analysis, we make a regression analysis to verify the meterological factors' effects on the volume and price of chines cabbage transaction in wholesale market. The results of stepwise regression analysis are shown in

    and
    . The type of chinese cabbages are categorized by 5 types, i.e. alpine, gimjang for winter, spring, summer, and winter crop, and all of the regression models are shown significant relationship. In addition, meterological factors in shipment and wholesale period are entered more in regression model than those in seeding and harvest period. This result implies that weather in consuming region is also important in the distribution of chinese cabbages. Based on the result of this study, we find several implications and recommendations for policy makers of agricultural product distribution. The goal of agricultural product distribution policy is to insure proper price and production cost for farmers and provide proper price and quality, and stable supply for consumers. Therefore, coping with the uncertainty of weather is very essential to make a fruitful effect of the policy. In reality, very big part of consumer price of chinese cabbage is made up of the margin of intermediaries, because they take the risk. In addition, policy makers make efforts for farmers to utilize AWIS (Agricultural Weather Information System). In order to do that, it should integrate the relevant information including distribution and marketing as well as production. Offering a consulting service to farmers about weather management is also expected to be a good option in agriculture and weather industry. Reflecting on the result of this study, the distribution authorities can offer the guideline for the timing and volume of harvest, and it is expected to contribute to the stable equilibrium of supply and demand of agricultural products.

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  • A study on the Success Factors and Strategy of Information Technology Investment Based on Intelligent Economic Simulation Modeling (지능형 시뮬레이션 모형을 기반으로 한 정보기술 투자 성과 요인 및 전략 도출에 관한 연구)

    • Park, Do-Hyung
      • Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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      • v.19 no.1
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      • pp.35-55
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      • 2013
    • Information technology is a critical resource necessary for any company hoping to support and realize its strategic goals, which contribute to growth promotion and sustainable development. The selection of information technology and its strategic use are imperative for the enhanced performance of every aspect of company management, leading a wide range of companies to have invested continuously in information technology. Despite researchers, managers, and policy makers' keen interest in how information technology contributes to organizational performance, there is uncertainty and debate about the result of information technology investment. In other words, researchers and managers cannot easily identify the independent factors that can impact the investment performance of information technology. This is mainly owing to the fact that many factors, ranging from the internal components of a company, strategies, and external customers, are interconnected with the investment performance of information technology. Using an agent-based simulation technique, this research extracts factors expected to affect investment performance on information technology, simplifies the analyses of their relationship with economic modeling, and examines the performance dependent on changes in the factors. In terms of economic modeling, I expand the model that highlights the way in which product quality moderates the relationship between information technology investments and economic performance (Thatcher and Pingry, 2004) by considering the cost of information technology investment and the demand creation resulting from product quality enhancement. For quality enhancement and its consequences for demand creation, I apply the concept of information quality and decision-maker quality (Raghunathan, 1999). This concept implies that the investment on information technology improves the quality of information, which, in turn, improves decision quality and performance, thus enhancing the level of product or service quality. Additionally, I consider the effect of word of mouth among consumers, which creates new demand for a product or service through the information diffusion effect. This demand creation is analyzed with an agent-based simulation model that is widely used for network analyses. Results show that the investment on information technology enhances the quality of a company's product or service, which indirectly affects the economic performance of that company, particularly with regard to factors such as consumer surplus, company profit, and company productivity. Specifically, when a company makes its initial investment in information technology, the resultant increase in the quality of a company's product or service immediately has a positive effect on consumer surplus, but the investment cost has a negative effect on company productivity and profit. As time goes by, the enhancement of the quality of that company's product or service creates new consumer demand through the information diffusion effect. Finally, the new demand positively affects the company's profit and productivity. In terms of the investment strategy for information technology, this study's results also reveal that the selection of information technology needs to be based on analysis of service and the network effect of customers, and demonstrate that information technology implementation should fit into the company's business strategy. Specifically, if a company seeks the short-term enhancement of company performance, it needs to have a one-shot strategy (making a large investment at one time). On the other hand, if a company seeks a long-term sustainable profit structure, it needs to have a split strategy (making several small investments at different times). The findings from this study make several contributions to the literature. In terms of methodology, the study integrates both economic modeling and simulation technique in order to overcome the limitations of each methodology. It also indicates the mediating effect of product quality on the relationship between information technology and the performance of a company. Finally, it analyzes the effect of information technology investment strategies and information diffusion among consumers on the investment performance of information technology.

    Exposure Assessment and Health Risk of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) Flame Retardants in Indoor Environments of Children's Facilities in Korea

    • Kim, Ho-Hyun;Yang, Ji-Yeon;Jang, Yun-Suk;Lee, Yong-Jin;Lee, Chung-Soo;Shin, Dong-Chun;Lim, Young-Wook
      • Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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      • v.5 no.4
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      • pp.247-262
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      • 2011
    • This study assessed the health risks of childhood exposure to PBDEs via different possible pathways in children's facilities and indoor playgrounds. When PBDE contamination was measured, it was determined through multiple routes, including inhalation of indoor dust, dermal contact with product surfaces and children's hands, and incidental dust ingestion. Samples were collected from various children's facilities (playrooms, daycare centers, kindergartens, and indoor playgrounds) during summer (Jul-Sep, 2007) and winter (Jan-Feb, 2008). The hazard index (HI) was estimated for non-carcinogens, and PBDEs, such as TeBDE, PeBDE, HxBDE, and DeBDE, were examined. The sensitivity to the compounds did not exceed 1.0 (HI) for any of the subjects in any facility. However, current data about toxicity does not reflect effects that were fully sensitive in children, so there is uncertainty in the dose-response data. The contribution rates of PBDEs were 71.4 to 96.1% and 3.7 to 28.2% for intake and inhalation exposure, respectively, indicating that intake of floor dust and inhalation are the primary routes.

    A Study on Determining Factors for Manufacturers to Distributors Warehouse in Supply Chain (제조업체의 유통업체 물류창고 활용 결정 요인에 관한 연구)

    • Lee, Sang-Hyun
      • Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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      • v.4 no.2
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      • pp.15-20
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      • 2013
    • This study aims to determine factors related for manufacturers to use distributors storehouse and its cost efficiency in Supply Chain. When manufacturers which have relationships with Big distributors determine the way of their logistics, they can use their own warehouse, or the distributors', or outsource its function. In which case the manufacturers face the cost efficiency of using warehouse will be different, therefore, the driven factors will exist internally or externally. The findings of this study are that internal factors(brand value, product portfolio, and technological capabilities), external factors(technological characteristics, demands fluctuations, and munificence), and transaction characteristics(transaction experiences, dependency) would be driven factor between manufacturer and distributors in supply chain. These driven factors effects manufacturers transactions power on their distributors.

    Assessment and merging technique for GPM satellite precipitation product using ground based measurement (GPM 위성 강우자료의 검증과 지상관측 자료를 통한 강우 보정 기법)

    • Baik, Jongjin;Park, Jongmin;Kim, Kiyoung;Choi, Minha
      • Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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      • v.51 no.2
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      • pp.131-140
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      • 2018
    • Precipitation is a key variable to enhance the understanding of water cycle system and secure and manage the water resources efficiently. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of GPM precipitation datasets through comparison with the 92 ASOS sites in South Korea during 2015. Additionally, three merging techniques (i.e., Geographical Differential Analysis, Geographical Ratio Analysis, Conditional Merging) were applied to improve accuracy of precipitation by fusing the advantages from point and satellite-based datasets. The results of this study are as follows. 1) GPM dataset indicated slightly overestimation with compared ASOS dataset, especially high uncertainties in summer season. 2) Validation of three merging techniques through jackniffe cross-validation showed that uncertainty were decreased as the spatial resolution increased. Especially, conditional merging showed the best performance among three methods.

    Congestion Control with Multiple Time Scale under Self-Similar Traffic (자기유사성 트래픽 조건에서 다중 시간 간격을 이용한 혼잡제어)

    • Park, Dong-Suk;Ra, Sang-Dong
      • Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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      • v.9 no.1
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      • pp.65-75
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      • 2005
    • Measurement of network traffic have shown that the self-similarity is a ubiquitous phenomenon spanning across diverse network environments. In previous work, we have explored the feasibility of exploiting the long-range correlation structure in a self-similar traffic for the congestion control. We have advanced the framework of the multiple time scale congestion control and showed its effectiveness at enhancing performance for the rate-based feedback control. Our contribution is threefold. First, we define a modular extension of the TCP-a function called with a simple interface-that applies to various flavours of the TCP-e.g., Tahoe, Reno, Vegas and show that it significantly improves performance. Second, we show that a multiple time scale TCP endows the underlying feedback control with proactivity by bridging the uncertainty gap associated with reactive controls which is exacerbated by the high delay-bandwidth product in broadband wide area networks. Third, we investigate the influence of the three traffic control dimensions-tracking ability, connection duration, and fairness-on performance.


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