• Information Systems Review
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.169-183
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• 2017

As global competition is heating up and product life cycle has been rapidly shortened, each company pursues a variety of competitive technology innovations through different means of innovation. In this study, we assume that open innovation can be a shift motive of the technology innovation paradigm of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) being beyond the limitations of R&D within a company. We analyze the process and content of open innovation and performance. In addition, we identify the problems generated in the open innovation process and analyze the ways to strengthen open innovation. This study is based on the investigations into the technological competitiveness of local SMEs. The innovation ecosystem is analyzed from the perspective of product/service innovation, organizational innovation, and marketing innovation. Situational analysis is presented on the relationship between the innovation capabilities of information and communication technology SMEs and innovation performance.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.110-122
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• 2024

This study aims to cultivate specialized professionals equipped with practical skills essential for compliance with textile environmental regulations and analysis of harmful substances. This is achieved through the revision and restructuring of educational programs targeting workers in the chemical analysis industry. To address this, a survey was conducted among chemical industry workers in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to gauge the demand for educational programs. Specifically, a survey was conducted among 240 SME workers who participated in the 2022 education curriculum to identify their educational needs and specific requirements in the field. The research findings indicate that the majority of SMEs recognize the necessity of education in the chemical field and express a strong willingness to engage in the curriculum. Particularly emphasized was the need to enhance practical skills crucial for compliance with chemical environmental regulations. Consequently, adjustments were made to the curriculum, reallocating time and increasing the duration of practical training. This enables trainees to directly operate analysis machines and interpret results. Additionally, in response to further educational demands reflected by survey participants, the curriculum was expanded from five to six courses, with adjustments made to existing educational programs. Based on these research outcomes, practical educational methods tailored to SME requirements are proposed, aiming to bridge the gap between regulatory compliance and industry needs.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.152-162
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• 2024

Recently, ESG(Environmental, Social, Governance) has been recognized as an important factor for the sustainable growth of companies. However, only 14.5% of food manufacturing companies have adopted ESG management. In particular, small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs) face difficulties in implementing ESG management due to a lack of specialized personnel and resource constraints. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of ESG ratings on the management performance of 40 food manufacturing companies listed on the Korea Exchange(KRX) that have been evaluated for ESG. The one-way ANOVA was used and performed on data for 40 food manufacturing companies published by the Korea Institute of Corporate Governance and Sustainability(KCGS) in 2023. The results of the analysis showed statistically significant differences in sales (F=12.936, p<0.001) and foreign ownership (F=7.74, p<0.01) based on ESG ratings. Furthermore, Scheffe's post-hoc analysis indicated that the higher the ESG rating and individual scores, the better the overall management performance. Therefore, it is concluded that food manufacturing companies should continuously invest in and focus on ESG management to secure a competitive advantage in the market and achieve sustainable growth.

• Journal of Wellbeing Management and Applied Psychology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.65-73
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• 2024

In modern management, leadership has become an essential strategy rather than a choice, and interest in coaching leadership is increasing. Additionally, companies face inevitable tasks such as sustainable management and ESG management, which are crucial aspects of corporate social responsibility. This is a global phenomenon, and social value management activities play a significant role in evaluating the worth of modern companies. ESG management is assessed as a decisive indicator for investors' decision-making based on various global guidelines. ESG is an important issue not only for large corporations but also for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The government is actively expanding infrastructure and providing support to enable SMEs to lead ESG management among domestic companies. However, research on the ESG management of SMEs is still insufficient, and existing ESG studies have primarily focused on financial indicators. Therefore, the necessity for empirical studies involving various variables is emphasized. This study analyzed the impact of coaching leadership on organizational innovation behavior and performance in SMEs, mediated by ESG management. According to the analysis, coaching leadership positively influences organizational innovation behavior and performance by promoting ESG management in SMEs. The findings indicate that coaching leadership has a positive impact on organizational innovation behavior and performance, while persuasion and participation of internal members are essential for success. Moreover, this study provides practical and policy implications, offering specific strategies for SMEs to effectively implement ESG management and ensure sustainability, thereby supporting long-term growth.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.235-242
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• 2024

This study analyzes the development process of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies in Korea and corporate response strategies, comparing them with cases from major countries. The results show that while Korea has established a basic framework for ESG policies through the K-ESG guidelines and plans for mandatory ESG disclosure, these policies lack the specificity and enforceability seen in major countries. In terms of corporate response, large companies are actively formulating ESG strategies, but strengthening ESG capabilities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remains an urgent task. Industry-specific ESG strategies reflect the characteristics of each sector, such as carbon neutrality in manufacturing, expansion of responsible investment in finance, and enhanced data security in IT. This study suggests improving Korean ESG policies by enhancing the alignment of ESG disclosure standards with international norms, strengthening tailored support for SMEs, and developing industry-specific policies. For effective corporate ESG response, the study proposes strategic integration of ESG, enhanced communication with stakeholders, and improved ESG data management capabilities.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.87-100
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• 2012

This study is to determine the key factors of internal situational characteristics, affecting the motivation and performance for overseas expansion of Korean venture business in global markets and to investigate the moderating effect of them on the relationship between entrepreneurship and overseas expansion. To meet the research purpose, by reviewing previous researches, we categorized internal factors into four situational factors of firm size with sales growth, firm age with main product's life cycle, overseas experience and organizational structure and into three entrepreneurship sub-categories of innovativeness, pro-activeness and risk-taking. As result of the statistical analysis of 289 small and medium-sized enterprises with Korean Venture Certificate, it is verified that the motivation for globalization has been influenced by firm size, entrepreneurship, and overseas experience. On the other hand, all factors excepting firm size have positive effects on globalization performance overseas. And, it also verified that there are positive moderating effects of internal situational factors on the relationship of entrepreneurship and the performance of globalization, wheres overseas experience only plays positive moderating effects on the relationship between entrepreneurship and the motivation of globalization. On the basis of these results, we discussed and suggested practical and political issues and implications in order to vitalize globalization of Korean SMEs in the conclusion.

• The Journal of Small Business Innovation
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.47-57
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• 2017

Closing the book for the recent accounting period and issuing financial statements is one of the most common challenges for companies. This study examines a case of an automated financial close process and discusses issues related to its implementation. First, the study introduces the closing process of a case company including the purpose, improvement plan, and designing process. Second, the study discusses the impacts of the newly adopted system. Specifically, it reveals that under the new plan, close process automation has been maximized. It also shows that raw data validation has been improved so that past data errors can be categorized by their types and removed before the closing process begins. The order of the process has also been redefined saving closing time. Third and finally, difficulties and considerations for successful use of the system have been discussed. This study aims to provide useful information to companies which consider implementing more organized closing systems. We expect that this study will be helpful to small and medium enterprises which suffer from delayed closing but have little experience with automated BPM system.

• Korean small business review
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.1-20
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• 2021

The survival period according to technological capability was analyzed for about 22,500 innovative SMEs in the service industry. The survival period was defined as the occurrence of overdue and default, and the technological capability was divided into two clusters. As a result of estimating the survival period according to technological capability through Kaplan-Meier analysis, it was confirmed that the estimated survival period of T1-T4 grade service innovative SMEs was significantly greater in both overdue and default. As a result of the analysis of the Cox proportional hazard model applying the control variable, it was confirmed that the higher technological capability, the lower the risk in the group of start-up companies. However, in the group of non-start-up companies the technological capability did not significantly affect the survival period, and the influence of the variables related to the size of the company was found to increase. Therefore, the technological capability is meaningful as additional information that has a significant effect on the survival period of innovative SMEs in the start-up companies group of service industry. In addition, it was concluded that it is necessary to reflect the technological capability when establishing the SME support and promotion policy of the start-up companies group in the service industry.

• Korean small business review
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.147-172
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• 2020

This study presents the determinants of R&D efficiency as the focus on CEO's competency, which influences R&D competency and R&D efficiency. The research samples are 6,708 technology-innovation small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The independent variable is the R&D competency(existence of R&D organization, level of R&D personnel, R&D personnel management, R&D investment), the dependent variable is R&D efficiency. The moderator is the CEO's competency(experience level in its own industry, technical knowledge level, technology management strategy, management ability). R&D efficiency measures the relationship between inputs(level of R&D personnel, R&D investment) and outputs(patent applications, prototype) by the DEA. and the determinant analysis uses Tobit regression. As a result of the analysis, the existence of R&D organization and R&D personnel management is positively significant, level of R&D personnel and R&D investment is negatively significant for R&D efficiency. The moderating effect of CEO's competency on the relationship between the R&D competency and R&D efficiency is significant determinants of CEO's experience(experience level in its own industry, technical knowledge level) and technology management strategy. The finding is to measure the efficiency of R&D performance, and to analyze its determinants as the moderating effect of CEO's competency, using the technology appraisal data. In the conclusion session, the limitations of the research and future research directions were discussed.

• Korean small business review
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.29-51
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• 2019

This study investigates how SMEs' (small and medium-sized enterprises) financing strategies affect firm valuation. Given that information asymmetry is engaged in firm valuation in the stock market, investors interpret the meanings of debt financing depending on how SMEs construct the portfolio of financing strategies (retained earnings vs debt financing), thereby making investment decision. Specifically, given that SMEs' debt financing has two meanings in the market signals, called "benefit" and "cost", this study postulates that firm valuation will be differently made by investors, depending on how they interpret the meanings of debt financing under choice competition between retained earnings and debt financing. In this study, we argue that under choice competition, as a SME's debt proportion increases, the "cost" signal outweighes the "benefit" signal, thereby decreasing firm valuation. Moreover, the effect of such signal can be contingent on the SME's characteristics-firm visibility. These ideas are examined using 363 U.S. SMEs ranging from 1971 to 2010. The fixed-effects models estimating Tobin's q show that under choice competition, a SME's debt proportion has a negative impact on firm valuation and that the firm's high visibility mitigates the effect of "cost" signal. In conclusion, this study sheds new light on how investors' interpretations of SMEs' financing strategies affect firm valuation.