• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.23-35
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• 2009

A hypermarket as the one of the most globally standardized retailing format is also the type of store among various types of stores that the most active in expanding into other foreign markets. Recently, as several Korean retailing companies start to penetrate into Chinese market they differentiate themselves with modern facilities and customers service oriented high-end concept. China and Korea as Far East Asian countries share many common values, however precise and careful analysis should be carried out since there may also be critical differences in socio-economic aspects as well as in consumption patterns due to the level of development stages of retail industry among two countries. Even though precise and careful study is crucial on Chinese retailing market and consumers, none of researches and studies on 'how the quality of service dimensional structure is different between Korea and China', and 'what will be the most important and influential service dimensional factors for Chinese consuers compared to the hypermarkets customers in Korea' in order to improve the level of Chinese consumers satisfaction' have been fulfilled At this point of view, this study uses KD-SQS (Rho Eun Jung & Sir Yong Gu, 2008) which is a measure of Korean hypermarkets service quality to set up a hypothesis on Korean and Chinese consumers, and an empirical analysis is conducted. We try to get the answers about how the comparative importance of Service quality dimensions which decides the level of customer satisfaction is different depending on the cultural dimensions and socio-economic factors among two countries, Korea and China. Based upon the results, we try to give a valuable suggestion of what service dimensional factors should be reinforced to improve the level of CS in Chinese retailing market. Hypotheses for this study are as follows : H1. Each dimension of Service Quality significantly affects the level of CS H2. The effect of 'Basic Benefit' in service quality dimensions on the level of CS is greater in China than in Korea H3. The effect of 'Promotion' in service quality dimensions on the level of CS is greater in China than in Korea H4. The effect of 'Physical Aspects'in service quality dimensions on the level of CS is greater in Korea than in China. H5. The effect of 'Personal Interaction' in service quality dimensions on the level of CS is greater in China than in Korea H6. The effect of 'Policy' in service quality dimensions on the level of CS will be greater in Korean than in China H7. The effect of additional convenience in service quality dimensions on the level of CS will be greater in Korean than in China. More than 1,100 data were collected directly from the surveys of Chinese and Korean consumers in order to verify the hypotheses above. In Korea, stores which have floor space of over $9,000m^2$and opened later than year 2000 were selected for the samples, and thus Gayang, Wolgye, Sangbong, Eunpyeong, Suh-Suwon, Gojan stores and their customers were surveyed. In China, notable differences in the income levels and consumer behaviors between cities and regions were considered, and thus the research area was limited to the stores only in Shanghai. 6 stores which have the size of over $6,000m^2$ and opened later than 2000, such as Ruihong, Intu, Mudanjang, Sanrin, Raosimon, and Ranchao stores were selected for the survey. SPSS 12.0 and AMOS 7.0 were used as statistical tools, and exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and multi-group analysis were conducted. In order to carry out a multi group analysis that decides whether the structure variables which shows the different effects of 6 service dimensions in Korean and Chinese groups is statistically valid, configural invariance, metric invariance, and structural invariance are tested in order. At the results of the tests, 3 out of 7 hypotheses were supported and other 4 hypotheses were denied. According to the study, 4 dimensions (Basic Benefit, Physical Environment, Policy, and additional convenience) were positively correlated with CS in Korea, and 3 dimensions (i.e. basic benefit, policy, additional convenience) were significant in China. However, the significance of the service-dimensions was turned out to be partially different in Korea and China. The Basic Benefit is more influential in deciding the level of CS in china than Korea, however Physical Aspect is more important factor in Korea. 'Policy dimension' did not make significant difference between two countries. In the 'additional convenience dimension', the differences in 'socio-economic factors' than in'cultural background' were considered as more important in Chinese consumers than Korean. Overall, the improvement of Service quality will be crucial factors to increase the level of CS in Chinese market same as Korean market. In addition, more emphases need to be placed on the service qualities of 'Basic Benefit' and 'additional convenience' dimensions in China. In particular, 'low price' and 'product diversity' that constitute 'Basic Benefit' are proved to be comparatively disadvantageous and weak points of Korean companies compared to global players, and thus the prompt strengthening those dimensions would be urgent for Korean retailers. Moreover, additional conveniences such as various tenants and complex service and entertaining area will be more important in China than in Korea. Besides, Applying advanced Korean Hypermaret`s customer policy to Chinese consumers will help to get higher reliability and to differentiate themselves to other competitors. However, as personal interaction, physical aspect, promotions were proved as not significant for the level of CS in China, Korean companies need to reconsider the priority order of resource allocations when they tap into Chinese market.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.71-79
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• 2018

This study discussed the meaning of a drone, and especially drone journalism and legal and ethical issues around that, at an introductory dimension, which is used in various social bases, but is still just an academic discussion at the beginning stage. As a methodology, content analysis was used. It seems that drone journalism has high diffusibility as a technology with high 'relative advantage', 'compatibility', 'trial ability' and 'observability' and low 'complexity' in terms of the diffusion of innovation theory. However, it will be very likely that controversies will be raised, such as safety issue due to collision and crash, a dispute over violation of privacy that may seriously infringe privacy like individual portrait rights and a controversy about the accuracy and source of information as drone filming low price and ease of use. Suggest solutions to legal and ethical issues based on existing research. Technical stability is required. Also, it is necessary to change the awareness of journalists about the drones coverage and to educate ethics, and it is necessary to establish social public opinion on issues such as privacy violation and establish system and legal measures through it. Future research is expected to carry out empirical research including journalists and public awareness surveys.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.773-783
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• 2007

A simple unbonded-type shear strengthening technique for reinforced concrete beams using wire rope units is developed. Six two-span continuous T-beams externally strengthened with wire rope units and an unstrengthened control beam were tested. The main variables investigated were the amount and prestressing force of wire rope units. All specimens had the same geometrical dimension and arrangement of internal reinforcement. Influence of the distribution of vertical stresses in beam web owing to the prestressing force of wire rope units on the diagonal shear cracking load and the ultimate shear capacity of beams tested is presented. Based on the current study, it can be concluded that the amount and initial prestress of wire rope should be limited to be above 2.5 times the minimum shear reinforcement ratio specified in ACI 318-05 and below 0.6 times its own tensile strength, respectively, to ensure the enhancement of shear capacity and ductile failure mode of the strengthened beams. A numerical analysis based on the upper-bound theorem is developed to assess the shear capacity of continuous T-beams strengthened with wire rope units. From the comparisons of measured and predicted shear capacities, a better agreement is achieved in the proposed numerical analysis than in empirical equations recommended by ACI 318-05.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.91-100
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• 2018

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) endeavor to overcome the adverse resource conditions and secure competitive advantage through technological innovation capability. Prior studies have focused on the overall or specific dimensions of technological innovation capability, and examined their performance impact. However, there has been less scholarly attention on the dynamic characteristics such as the relative importance of technological innovation capability or its performance impact at the different growth stages of a firm. In this vein, this study investigates the relationship between SME innovation capability and innovation performance at each growth stages of a firm. Based on the empirical analysis of manufacturing SMEs in Korea, we found that all dimensions of technological innovation capability had positive effects on innovation performance. However, each dimension of technological innovation capability had different effect on innovation performance by the growth stages. The planning capability can improve innovation performance at the growth and maturity stages. Manufacturing capability can have positive effect on innovation performance at the maturity stage. Both of new product development capability and commercialization capability contribute to innovation performance at all of the growth stages. This study suggests the guidelines for enhancing technological innovation capability at the different growth stages of SMEs. It also provides policy implications for the design and operation of growth-stage specific programs. Finally, the limitations of the research and future research directions are presented.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.29-57
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• 2006

While a number of studies have recognized the importance of environment of channel systems and consequences of changed environment, only limited studies have dealt with this issue theoretically and practically. The purpose of this study is to empirically validate whether one dimension of environment, called dynamism, has an influence on the relationship characteristics such as transaction specific investment opportunism and conflict or not: further, it is designed to delve into whether these relationship characteristics have any influence on one crucial relationship quality, 'trust' and its two constituent dimensions - credibility and benevolence. In order to provide empirical validation, a survey was conducted to 163 sales office managers at a major newspaper publisher in Korea. An analysis of the data retrieved from this survey indicated that while environmental dynamism has a positive influence on the publisher's opportunism and conflict perceived by the sales office managers, it did not show a direct influence on the transaction specific investment made by the publisher. Furthermore, while publisher's transaction specific investment had a positive influence on the credibility and the benevolence respectively, publisher's opportunism and level of sales office conflict had a negative influence on the credibility and the benevolence respectively. Currently, a publisher is facing an unprecedentedly dynamic environment. This study should provide ample implications for the publisher in establishing trust, which is a crucial condition in developing and maintaining a long-term successful relationship with its sales offices.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.175-197
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• 2009

Numerous researches related to internet shopping malls have been researched by numerous researchers. Such as, establishing criteria to evaluate service quality of electronic commerce, identifying factors affecting successful internet shopping mall operation, and examining relationships among the factors in electronic commerce based shopping mall needed to be focused on. However, most researches that have been undertaken only consider the service quality model or basic functional dimension. In accordance with this indispensability, the integrated structural relationship among variables, which are potentially inherent in customer's perception and affect personnel royalty on internet shopping mall needs to be acknowledged. The purpose of this study is to examine which factors should be able to facilitate performance of internet shopping mall. Based on the relevant literature, it has been empirically analyzed how corporate image, system quality, service quality and delivery quality affect customer satisfaction as well as customer royalty. The research's problem is that it was tested with data collected from 212 respondents. This study developed and empirically analyzed a model representing the relationship by using the Structural Equation Model. The major findings of this study are, firstly, that the higher corporate image is positively affecting the system quality and delivery quality. Secondly, the higher delivery quality is positively affecting the service quality. Thirdly, the higher service quality is positively affecting the customer satisfaction. Finally, the higher customer satisfaction is affecting the customer royalty.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.488-504
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to identify whether environmental evidence and experiences respectively could affect brand attitude in Korean restaurant. Also, this study investigated a moderating effect of brand reputation in the causal relationship between environmental evidence and brand attitude and, between experiences and brand attitude. Questionnaires were given to a sample of customers who visited branches of H or B Korean restaurant brand which ranked within 20th in sales volume among Korean restaurant brands. A total of 353 questionnaires were analyzed with hierarchical regression analysis using SPSS/PC+. There were four major empirical research findings. Firstly, among components of environmental evidence, space, aesthetics, cleanliness and pleasance affected brand attitude. Secondly, all components of experiences, act, relate, think and feel affected brand attitude. Thirdly, brand reputation had a moderating role in the causal relationship between aesthetics dimension and brand attitude, but space, cleanliness, convenience and pleasance dimensions did not have a moderating role of brand reputation to the relationship of brand attitude. Fourth, brand reputation had a moderating role in the causal relationship between act and brand attitude, but relate, think and feel didn't have a moderating role of brand reputation to the relationship of brand attitude. Based on these findings, marketers of Korean restaurants were recommended to strengthen environmental evidence and experiences. Also, they are advised to strengthen brand reputation with use of marketing.

• Archives of design research
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• v.19 no.5 s.67
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• pp.233-242
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to investigate communication efficacy of advertisement text through audience responses. This study approached qualitatively to KT&G TV commercials. The research proceeded as follows: First, as background theory, studies on audience focusing advertisement criticism and the interpretation of advertising texts were reviewed. Secondly, the characteristics of the audiences of the advertisements, analyzed through in-depth individual interviews as well as group interviews, were incorporated into a broad theme and then divided into different dimensions. Finally, the audiences' decoding code and critic reponses in reading ambiguous advertising texts, and the interrelationship between strategic ambiguity were discussed under a unified model. The major findings of this study are as follows: In interpreting the ambiguous advertising texts, the audiences use various decoding codes such as language, visuals, technology and rhetoric, and various critic responses such as linguistic, macroscopic, schematic, non-verbal and socio-cultural factors, in quite comprehensive manner. Also, it was shown that audiences make use of different decoding strategies in terms of their recognition, reliability, emotional attitude, and behavior. It can therefore be concluded that the strategic ambiguity has its limit in explaining its effectiveness in the entire dimensions of recognition, emotional attitude, and behavior, in the sense that the strategic ambiguity is most effective in recognition while it invokes more negativity in the behavioral dimension. Finally, this empirical study, focusing on qualitative analyses, may have its limit as well; however, deeper statistic-qualitative studies in the future could compensate for it.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.59-70
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• 2016

Purpose - The objectives of this study are described as following. First, the study will establish the concept of Brand Values of Environmentally-friendly agricultural product through theoretical discussion. Second, it shows the effects of Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Products brand value on Brand Satisfaction, Brand Trust and Brand Loyalty by empirical investigation. Third, in order to provide the methodology of brand development, literature regarding and questionnaire survey were used such as Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Products Brand Value, Brand Satisfaction, Brand Trust and Brand Loyalty. Based up on the results, the research estimates consumers' relative priorities of Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Products Brand Value factors in purchase. This research also suggests the consumer oriented new brand development and the progressive direction for the successful launching of Korean Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Products Brand. Research design, data, and methodology - Because the relative literatures reviewed regarding not only each factor but also the relationships among them, Brand Value was categorized into 4 dimensions: Emotional, Social, Functional, and Epistemic Value. Then, Brand Loyalty was added as an outcome variable and Brand Satisfaction, Brand Trust were also added as mediators. The proposed research model and 13 hypotheses were created and 23 measurement items were developed. A face-to-face questionnaire survey with items concerning the Brand Value of Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Products is conducted to housewives in metropolitan area in May 2016. Respondent answered about Brand Value, Brand Satisfaction, Brand Trust and Brand Loyalty in preferred Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Products. 333 copies of the questionnaire were collected and analyzed using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 20.0 to determine the reliability and validity of the measurements. Results - From the confirmatory factor analysis and a structural equation modeling, the outcomes of these studies were as follows; (1) Three Brand value dimensions, i.e. Emotional Value, Social Value, and Epistemic Value had a significant and positive impact on Brand Satisfaction, but Functional Value did not. (2) Social Value also had an impact on Brand Trust, (3) Brand Satisfaction significantly affected Brand Trust, and Brand Trust influenced on Brand Loyalty, and (4) Brand Satisfaction were perfectly effective in mediation between Emotional Value, Epistemic Value and Brand Trust, and it also partially mediated between Social Value and Brand Trust. Conclusions - According to the result of consumer research on Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Product brand, 3 dimensions of brand value affected brand satisfaction, and especially Social Value was a significant positive dimension. So, marketers should concern about value proposition of Environmentally-Friendly Agricultural Product to consumers by using premium package design, store identity, and distinctive product. Consumers wanted to get self-esteem, self-regard, and high social position by purchasing it. This study has academic and practical significance, so the findings can be applied to a wide range of brand management strategies. However, there are some limitations; 1) limitation about development of new brand value dimensions, 2) limitation about gender in the area of respondents. Future research should be done with wide range of respondents.