• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.173-180
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• 2014

In this research, we aim to analyze how different external knowledge search strategies of small and medium enterprises affect technological innovation. In particular, since there has been little comparison between Korean small and medium firms, we investigated the differences of the two groups by employing the "Korean Innovation Survey 2010." As a result, it was found that "external search breadth", which refers to expanding the spectrum of external knowledge search due to lack of resources and capabilities inside small firms, spurred technological innovation. On the other hand, "external search depth", which implies seeking a long-term and close relationship with the subjects that provide outside knowledge for medium firms, catalyzed technological innovation. These results emphasize that we need to separately analyze technological innovation of small and medium firms, which was, in most previous studies, viewed as one group, i.e. SMEs. In addition, the results can be, from the perspective of a firm's growth, interpreted as follows. That is, it is more effective to formulate a "diversity" pursuing strategy in the "small firm" stage where little time has passed since its establishment, whilst it is more useful to apply a "focus" strategy on sophisticated knowledge in the "medium firm" stage where a firm has grown to some extent.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.109-127
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• 2020

This study empirically investigates the effects of information search on new product development (NPD) process and performance with a sample of 82 NPD projects in 5 firms. The information search is consisted of general sources, internal sources, and external sources. The performance is consisted of technological and market performance. Findings show that information search from internal sources increases the technological knowledge of the NPD team, and information search from external sources increases the market knowledge of the NPD team. The technological and market knowledge of the NPD team increases its technical performance respectively. Only the market knowledge of the NPD team increases its market performance. Overall, the technological knowledge of the NPD team fully mediates the relationship between the information search from internal sources and its technical performance. The market knowledge of the NPD team fully mediates the relationship between the information search from external sources and its technical performance, and the relationship between the information search from external sources and its market performance. There is no other significant mediation relationships between the information searches and the performances. Implications of the research findings are discussed, and recommendation for future research are provided.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.299-331
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• 2017

This research details firm knowledge search types based on the locus and features for Korean firms in the knowledge-based industry, and then analyzes differences in innovation performance according to the types from the view of a configurational approach. Existing research has mainly concentrated on establishing a relation between knowledge search and outcome variables. Consequently, firms have relatively insufficient understanding of how to systematize knowledge search. Hence, this research classifies knowledge search into four dimensions-external search breadth, external search depth, internal search breadth, and internal search depth-by the locus and features of search. Furthermore, the research draws actual types of knowledge search of firms and analyzes differences in innovation performance. The main result of the research is as follows. First, the research reasons out six clusters of firms which have a dissimilar knowledge search type. Each cluster shows differences while participating in every dimension of knowledge search or few dimensions. Second, as for innovation performance, each cluster shows different exploitative and exploratory innovation performance according to their knowledge search type. This research applies a configurational approach while existing research applied a reductionistic approach, thereby establishing the major contribution which enables us to study a phenomenon as it comes, not to analyze variables and relationships of variables. Lastly, the research suggests a future direction of research based on the result of this research.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.223-232
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• 2001

This paper describes Genetic Algorithm-Based Relay Search Method, RS-GA, which is developed in this study to search the multiple design variables in the design space. The RS-GA based on Simple-GA consists of some functions to search many variables from some wide variable space. It repeats a Simple-GA, that is the convergence process of the Simple-GA, which makes many time reiteration itself. From the results of the numerical studies, it was actually found that RS-GA can search all peak-variable from the 2D functions including 5 peaks. Finally, RS-GA applied for design-strengthening problems in composite plate girder bridges using the external prestressing technique is also verified.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.99-117
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• 2012

This study aimed to measure consumer information competency, which indicates consumers' general ability to search and utilize information. The model of this study was constructed in order to identify how consumer information competency influences the efficiency and the effectiveness of external information search. The model was verified with related prior knowledge as a moderator variable in order to understand holistic consumer information search activity. The result of the study is as follows. First, the concept of consumer information competency was constructed with four sub-abilities: define, search, extract, and synthesis & use. The ability of define was the highest, as opposed to the ability of extract, which was the lowest. Second, consumer information competency was lower for women as well as for low family income. The sub-abilities of search and synthesis & use were lower for aging consumers. Third, consumer information competency has positive effects on information search efficiency and effectiveness. Moreover, the efficiency influences the effectiveness positively. Fourth, prior knowledge moderates the effect of consumer information competency to the efficiency. Only for consumers with high knowledge the efficiency has the effect of mediating between consumer information competency and the effectiveness.

• Korean Journal of School Psychology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.159-187
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to shed light on a role of hope in understanding the relationship between the search for meaning in life and academic satisfaction and to suggest ways to increase hope among Korean students. We hypothesized that the relationship between search for meaning in life and academic satisfaction would be mediated by hope and the positive relationship between search for meaning and hope would be strengthened by family support and friend support. We conducted two surveys to examine the hypotheses. Based on Study 1 using a sample of 190 undergraduate students, we found that the relationship between search for meaning in life and academic satisfaction was fully mediated by hope. In Study 2, we examined the four types of hope that include internal hope and three types of external hope (i.e., family, friends, and supernatural being) to extend knowledge on what features of hope mediate the relationships between search for meaning and academic satisfaction. Study 2 based on a sample of 313 high school students showed that the link from the search for meaning in life and academic satisfaction was fully mediated by internal hope and external-peers hope. The mediating effects of external-family hope and external-spiritual hope were not significant in Study 2. Also, we found that family support strengthened the positive links from the search for meaning in life to hope (Study 1) and to internal hope (Study 2) while the interactive effects of friend support and the search for meaning on hope were not significant in both studies. Based on the results, we discussed several implications, limitations, and recommendations for future research.

• Magazine of the Korea Concrete Institute
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.133-141
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• 1997

This work presents a method of optimum design for reinforced concrete building frames with rectangular cross sections. To overcome difficulties arising from the presence of two materials in one element(concrete and steel) , the principle of divided parameters is adopted. The design variable parameters are divided into two groups - external and internal. The optimization is also divided into external and internal procedure. Several scarxh algorithms are tested to verify their accuracy for the external optimization. This work proposes a new search method, a modified pattern search, and sample problems prove its accuracy and uscf'ulness. The design obtained by this method is an optimum and in full accord with ACI Building Code Ftequirements(ACI'318-89).

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.169-176
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• 1982

This study attempts to explore and explain major socieconomic factors which determine the extent of rural consumers' external search behavior in cases of two product categories: electric appliances and clothing. For the purpose of this study, interviews were conducted with 201 home managers in four rural towns(Hwasun, Haenam, Naju, and Bulkyo) of South Cholla Province. On the whole, the hypotheses that socioeconomic status, age and the characteristics of region of rural consumers make significant differences in their shopping motivation and the extent of external search are generally supported in case of clothing. No substantial differences are found in case of electric appliances. This study suggests that the effective purchasing system and the providing of informative consumer information would be needed to rural consumers for their extensive search. It also suggests that psychological aspects and situational variables in addition to socioeconomic aspects presumably contribute to our understanding of search behavior.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.45-60
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• 2009

This study reviewed the influence of consumer innovativeness and consumer knowledge on external information search behavior for the purchase of high-tech products. The strategies for offering information effectively for high-tech products may be proposed as follows based on the results of this study. First, the advertisements of high-tech products which are generally encountered need to offer sufficient information about the products in addition to fulfilling the function of persuading consumers. Second, it is necessary to implement an information network so that neutral offerings of information about high-tech products may be made promptly by reliable institutions. Third, information about high-tech products should be offered with easier explanations so that there should be no information-underprivileged class in utilizing the function of high-tech products.

• Proceedings of the Korea Concrete Institute Conference
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• 1994.10a
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• pp.267-272
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• 1994

This work presents a method of optimum design for reinforced concrete building frames with rectangular cross sections. The optimization techniques used is based on the principle of divided parameters. The design variable parameters are divided into two groups, external and internal, and the optimization is also divided into external and internal procedure. This principle overcomes difficulties arising from the presence of two materials in one element, the property peculiar to reinforced concrete. Several search algorithms are tested to verify their accuracy for the external optimization. Among them pattern search algorithms has been found consistent. This work proposes a new method, modified pattern search, and a number of sample problems prove its accuracy and usefulness. Exhaustive search for all local minima in the design spaces for two sample problems has been carried out to understand the nature of the problem. The number of local minima identified is quite more than expected and it has become understood that the researcher's task in this field is to find a better local minimum if not global. The designs produced by the method preposed have been found better than those from other method, and they are in full accord with ACI Building Code Requirments(ACI 318-89).