• Asia pacific journal of information systems
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.57-81
• /
• 2008

Knowledge is an essential strategic weapon for sustaining competitive advantage and is the key determinant for organizational growth. When knowledge is shared and disseminated throughout the organization, it increases an organization's value by providing the ability to respond to new and unusual situations. The growing importance of knowledge as a critical resource has forced executives to pay attention to their organizational knowledge. Organizations are increasingly undertaking knowledge management initiatives and making significant investments. Knowledge sourcing is considered as the first important step in effective knowledge management. Most firms continue to make an effort to realize the benefits of knowledge management by using various knowledge sources effectively. Appropriate knowledge sourcing strategies enable organizations to create, acquire, and access knowledge in a timely manner by reducing search and transfer costs, which result in better firm performance. In response, the knowledge management literature has devoted substantial attention to the analysis of knowledge sourcing strategies. Many studies have categorized knowledge sourcing strategies into intemal- and external-oriented. Internal-oriented sourcing strategy attempts to increase firm performance by integrating knowledge within the boundary of the firm. On the contrary, external-oriented strategy attempts to bring knowledge in from outside sources via either acquisition or imitation, and then to transfer that knowledge across to the organization. However, the extant literature on knowledge sourcing strategies focuses primarily on large organizations. Although many studies have clearly highlighted major differences between large and small firms and the need to adopt different strategies for different firm sizes, scant attention has been given to analyzing how knowledge sourcing strategies affect firm performance in small firms and what are the differences between small and large firms in the patterns of knowledge sourcing strategies adoption. This study attempts to advance the current literature by examining the impact of knowledge sourcing strategies on small firm performance from a holistic perspective. By drawing on knowledge based theory from organization science and complementarity theory from the economics literature, this paper is motivated by the following questions: (1) what are the adoption patterns of different knowledge sourcing strategies in small firms (i,e., what sourcing strategies should be adopted and which sourcing strategies work well together in small firms)?; and (2) what are the performance implications of these adoption patterns? In order to answer the questions, this study developed three hypotheses. First hypothesis based on knowledge based theory is that internal-oriented knowledge sourcing is positively associated with small firm performance. Second hypothesis developed on the basis of knowledge based theory is that external-oriented knowledge sourcing is positively associated with small firm performance. The third one based on complementarity theory is that pursuing both internal- and external-oriented knowledge sourcing simultaneously is negatively or less positively associated with small firm performance. As a sampling frame, 700 firms were identified from the Annual Corporation Report in Korea. Survey questionnaires were mailed to owners or executives who were most erudite about the firm s knowledge sourcing strategies and performance. A total of 188 companies replied, yielding a response rate of 26.8%. Due to incomplete data, 12 responses were eliminated, leaving 176 responses for the final analysis. Since all independent variables were measured using continuous variables, supermodularity function was used to test the hypotheses based on the cross partial derivative of payoff function. The results indicated no significant impact of internal-oriented sourcing strategies while positive impact of external-oriented sourcing strategy on small firm performance. This intriguing result could be explained on the basis of various resource and capital constraints of small firms. Small firms typically have restricted financial and human resources. They do not have enough assets to always develop knowledge internally. Another possible explanation is competency traps or core rigidities. Building up a knowledge base based on internal knowledge creates core competences, but at the same time, excessive internal focused knowledge exploration leads to behaviors blind to other knowledge. Interestingly, this study found that Internal- and external-oriented knowledge sourcing strategies had a substitutive relationship, which was inconsistent with previous studies that suggested complementary relationship between them. This result might be explained using organizational identification theory. Internal organizational members may perceive external knowledge as a threat, and tend to ignore knowledge from external sources because they prefer to maintain their own knowledge, legitimacy, and homogeneous attitudes. Therefore, integrating knowledge from internal and external sources might not be effective, resulting in failure of improvements of firm performance. Another possible explanation is small firms resource and capital constraints and lack of management expertise and absorptive capacity. Although the integration of different knowledge sources is critical, high levels of knowledge sourcing in many areas are quite expensive and so are often unrealistic for small enterprises. This study provides several implications for research as well as practice. First this study extends the existing knowledge by examining the substitutability (and complementarity) of knowledge sourcing strategies. Most prior studies have tended to investigate the independent effects of these strategies on performance without considering their combined impacts. Furthermore, this study tests complementarity based on the productivity approach that has been considered as a definitive test method for complementarity. Second, this study sheds new light on knowledge management research by identifying the relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies and small firm performance. Most current literature has insisted complementary relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies on the basis of data from large firms. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, this study identifies substitutive relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies using data from small firms. Third, implications for practice highlight that managers of small firms should focus on knowledge sourcing from external-oriented strategies. Moreover, adoption of both sourcing strategies simultaneousiy impedes small firm performance.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.139-166
• /
• 2010

The supply chain management (SCM) systems have emerged as strong managerial tools for manufacturing firms in enhancing competitive strength. Despite of large investments in the SCM systems, many companies are not fully realizing the promised benefits from the systems. A review of literature on adoption, implementation and success factor of IOS (inter-organization systems), EDI (electronic data interchange) systems, shows that this issue has been examined from multiple theoretic perspectives. And many researchers have attempted to identify the factors which influence the success of system implementation. However, the existing studies have two drawbacks in revealing the determinants of systems implementation success. First, previous researches raise questions as to the appropriateness of research subjects selected. Most SCM systems are operating in the form of private industrial networks, where the participants of the systems consist of two distinct groups: focus companies and vendors. The focus companies are the primary actors in developing and operating the systems, while vendors are passive participants which are connected to the system in order to supply raw materials and parts to the focus companies. Under the circumstance, there are three ways in selecting the research subjects; focus companies only, vendors only, or two parties grouped together. It is hard to find researches that use the focus companies exclusively as the subjects probably due to the insufficient sample size for statistic analysis. Most researches have been conducted using the data collected from both groups. We argue that the SCM success factors cannot be correctly indentified in this case. The focus companies and the vendors are in different positions in many areas regarding the system implementation: firm size, managerial resources, bargaining power, organizational maturity, and etc. There are no obvious reasons to believe that the success factors of the two groups are identical. Grouping the two groups also raises questions on measuring the system success. The benefits from utilizing the systems may not be commonly distributed to the two groups. One group's benefits might be realized at the expenses of the other group considering the situation where vendors participating in SCM systems are under continuous pressures from the focus companies with respect to prices, quality, and delivery time. Therefore, by combining the system outcomes of both groups we cannot measure the system benefits obtained by each group correctly. Second, the measures of system success adopted in the previous researches have shortcoming in measuring the SCM success. User satisfaction, system utilization, and user attitudes toward the systems are most commonly used success measures in the existing studies. These measures have been developed as proxy variables in the studies of decision support systems (DSS) where the contribution of the systems to the organization performance is very difficult to measure. Unlike the DSS, the SCM systems have more specific goals, such as cost saving, inventory reduction, quality improvement, rapid time, and higher customer service. We maintain that more specific measures can be developed instead of proxy variables in order to measure the system benefits correctly. The purpose of this study is to find the determinants of SCM systems success in the perspective of vendor companies. In developing the research model, we have focused on selecting the success factors appropriate for the vendors through reviewing past researches and on developing more accurate success measures. The variables can be classified into following: technological, organizational, and environmental factors on the basis of TOE (Technology-Organization-Environment) framework. The model consists of three independent variables (competition intensity, top management support, and information system maturity), one mediating variable (collaboration), one moderating variable (government support), and a dependent variable (system success). The systems success measures have been developed to reflect the operational benefits of the SCM systems; improvement in planning and analysis capabilities, faster throughput, cost reduction, task integration, and improved product and customer service. The model has been validated using the survey data collected from 122 vendors participating in the SCM systems in Korea. To test for mediation, one should estimate the hierarchical regression analysis on the collaboration. And moderating effect analysis should estimate the moderated multiple regression, examines the effect of the government support. The result shows that information system maturity and top management support are the most important determinants of SCM system success. Supply chain technologies that standardize data formats and enhance information sharing may be adopted by supply chain leader organization because of the influence of focal company in the private industrial networks in order to streamline transactions and improve inter-organization communication. Specially, the need to develop and sustain an information system maturity will provide the focus and purpose to successfully overcome information system obstacles and resistance to innovation diffusion within the supply chain network organization. The support of top management will help focus efforts toward the realization of inter-organizational benefits and lend credibility to functional managers responsible for its implementation. The active involvement, vision, and direction of high level executives provide the impetus needed to sustain the implementation of SCM. The quality of collaboration relationships also is positively related to outcome variable. Collaboration variable is found to have a mediation effect between on influencing factors and implementation success. Higher levels of inter-organizational collaboration behaviors such as shared planning and flexibility in coordinating activities were found to be strongly linked to the vendors trust in the supply chain network. Government support moderates the effect of the IS maturity, competitive intensity, top management support on collaboration and implementation success of SCM. In general, the vendor companies face substantially greater risks in SCM implementation than the larger companies do because of severe constraints on financial and human resources and limited education on SCM systems. Besides resources, Vendors generally lack computer experience and do not have sufficient internal SCM expertise. For these reasons, government supports may establish requirements for firms doing business with the government or provide incentives to adopt, implementation SCM or practices. Government support provides significant improvements in implementation success of SCM when IS maturity, competitive intensity, top management support and collaboration are low. The environmental characteristic of competition intensity has no direct effect on vendor perspective of SCM system success. But, vendors facing above average competition intensity will have a greater need for changing technology. This suggests that companies trying to implement SCM systems should set up compatible supply chain networks and a high-quality collaboration relationship for implementation and performance.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.459-461
• /
• 2008

Much research evidence supports the hypothesis that chronic, low-grade inflammation related to innate immunity may play an important role in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2; MIM# 600211) acts as a scaffold that controls the integration, organization, and assembly of nucleic acids. To examine whether the novel promoter variant in RUNX2 is associated with the risk of T2DM and related phenotypes, RUNX2-742G > T was genotyped in 378 T2DM patients and 382 normal controls recruited in the Korean T2DM Study. Statistical analysis revealed that RUNX2-742G > T was associated with serum triglyceride level (TG) in nondiabetic controls, although it was not associated with the risk of T2DM. Individuals who carry T/T, T/G, and G/G genotypes had the highest ($2.061{\pm}0.20$), intermediate ($2.01{\pm}0.19$), and the lowest ($1.97{\pm}0.18$) levels of log [TG (mmol/l)] (P = 0.007), respectively. Our data on this important variant of RUNX2 suggest that lipid metabolism might be affected by genetic polymorphisms in the promoter region.

• THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE & LAW REVIEW
• /
• v.39
• /
• pp.281-310
• /
• 2008

An understanding of importance of port has increased according to the in and out environment changes surrounding port. And the jurisdiction of physical distribution including port logistics integrated to Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. It is a good time for review the related port law once more. Present related port law has no problems itself. But because there are many laws about port, so overlap is shown in many aspects. According to this viewpoint, this study has focused to reduce the overlap in the contents of the laws and propose the improvement methods. So as to achieve this goal, I divided study fields into three aspects. The first is the subject of port management and second is the object of port management, the third is contents of port management. And also improvement plan provided in three aspects. Improvement plan is as follows. Firstly, the diversity of management subject is reduced considerably due to the integration of government organization but the problem which what laws among the various laws would adopt to same object is still remained. So it is necessary to make into one or two laws. Secondly, in the case of object of port management, it is essential to cover the port, port facilities and port hinterland with one comprehensive law. Therefore it is important to adjust the related clauses in various laws. Thirdly, in connection with the contents of port management, port development plan or other related port business and etc. described in various laws have to cordinated. At the same time, it is desirable that the similar terminology used in various laws would be unified.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
• /
• v.22 no.6
• /
• pp.162-172
• /
• 2013

This study focuses on the genealogical analysis of the urban public spaces by the local history of Seoul which is significantly different from western cities. The analysis targets the discourse of the urban street which defines urban space-structure among the urban public spaces. Based on the analysis, we define the progress levels of urban public design policy in Seoul. Firstly, in 1960's and 1970's, 'urban reconstruction' was intensively carried out for the country modernization, and 'vehicle preferred street expansion' resulted in damages to historical inheritance, in-humanized street, and cultural uniformity. 1980's and 1990's would be defined as 'politic acceptance of plural values to the urban street.' There were the Olympic Games held in Seoul in 1988, which were the celebrations of the 600th capital establishment and the autonomous local government system. In the meanwhile, diverse values on the urban street were discussed in terms of globalization. There also were the self-reflection for the urban skyscrapers and high-population rate, the cultural uniformity of urban street, and the commercialization in downtown with urban reconstruction plans. Then, the sense of landscape and amenity was focused. Various urban projects and regulations were held according to the changes of value recognition. 2000's can be defined as 'introduction to the organic integration and the urban public design governance.' In the 21st century, types of recognition have changed significantly, which include publicness, humanism, sustainability, symbolism, artistry, placeness, and communication. They cause the establishment of ordinances and the installation of integrated organization via urban design administration. The legislation has been revised in order to support the various methods for the maintenance and operation of urban landscape in terms of local characteristics. New regulations were established for residents to participate in the processes of the urban planning with street design policy.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.23-39
• /
• 1995

The purpose of this study was to explore a paradigm for the development agricultural cooperative unit in Korea. To fulfill the purpose of the study, both a review of literature and case studies was used. The agricultural cooperative units selected for the survey were Doduram Swine, Songtan Cooperative Organization, Okyung Cooperative Farms, and Harim Poultry Company. To identify major factors and limitations associated with effective management of agricultural cooperative units, selected cooperative units for production, processing and marking were surveyed and analyzed. This study identified four major factors to be included in a development paradigm of effective agricultural cooperative units which were: 1) active participation of farmers, 2) techniques end attitude of participants, 3) horizontal integration of a high technology enterprise with agricultural production, and 4) increasing cooperative work on production and marking within the unit. Based on the results of the study, the following recommendations were made for further improvement and development of agricultural cooperative units : First, farmers should be encouraged and motivated to participate actively in agricultural cooperative units. Second, participants of the agricultural cooperative units should be equipped with both technical knowledge and skills on agricultural production, processing and marking. Third, a national net-work system should be established for the agricultural cooperative units throughout the country. Fourth, agricultural cooperative units should be expanded to various agricultural sectors covering wider area. Finally, agricultural cooperative units should be supported by farmers, agricultural organizations and the government for more effective management and further development.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.19 no.10
• /
• pp.107-115
• /
• 2014

In recent years, large companies and public institutions in the Smartphone business purposes has been used a lot. Personal Smartphone are worried about security of personal information only. But if you are a corporate or business purposes requires a more cautious approach. It can destroy an organization's network to hack Smartphones have very serious damage. For this purpose, the existing solution, and try to solve security issues with MDM or MAM. However, Smartphone users discomfort and there is a limit of organizational control. In this paper, we can propose with these issues more broadly would like to suggest. Secure mobile traffic management system enables companies or agencies the ease for users to use a Smartphone. And, for organizations that provide smart phones are more powerful and can provide a means of control. In addition, wired/wireless integration and security measures that can provide new services to offer.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.25-50
• /
• 2016

Archives and Records Management Studies is being developed its own independent domains. However, the existing library classification scheme such as the KDC don't properly reflect the characteristics of Archives and Records Management Studies. This classification scheme has the irrational part of the arrangement of the subject items and should be required to rearrange subdivision of the subject areas. In this study, According to the characteristics of Archives and Records Management Studies, It is set up 8 subject areas, Records Management (General), the law and polices of records management, the collection and appraisal of the records, the documentary organization, recording information services, preservation of the records, archives management, archives and records center, etc. After analyzing the major contemporary library classification system such as KDC, DDC, NDC, UDC, LCC, then It is suggested that improvement measures through analyzing classification status and keywords of the Archives and Records Management data contained in Korean National Bibliography. In Archives and records management studies, The contents of the eight subject areas related to the field are changed to allow integration with KDC 028.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
• /
• v.58 no.9
• /
• pp.536-545
• /
• 2020

In preparing for the era of Korean reunification, it is essential to consider the integration of medical systems and human resources. While Korean dental practitioners are expanding their activities in various fields both domestically and internationally, there are many restrictions on the activities for improving the health of North Korean people due to political and historical reasons even nowadays. In addition, there is little is known about the current state of dental health in North Korea. We analyzed the reports published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Public Health of North Korea prepared individually or in cooperation, and investigated the current status of the health care strategy applied to the dental field by conducting a full investigation of the 2018 『Rodong』newspaper. Based on the above, we tried to grasp the major health care strategies in North Korea and their application. Understanding the direction and status of North Korea's health care system would be an important cornerstone for international cooperation and practical activities to improve oral health care of North Koreans in the future. And there is a need that studies should be steadily conducted in various methods to overcome the heterogeneity of the two Koreas in the long-term perspective.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.120-127
• /
• 2001

The potential pollution problems resulting from tanker collision necessitate the requirement for an effective structural design and the development of relevant safety regulations. During a few decades, the great effort has been made by the international Maritime Organization and the Administration, etc, to reduce oil spillage from collision accidents. However there is still a need for investigation in the light of structural evaluation method for the experiments and rational analysis, and design development for an operational purpose of ships. This study aims for investigating a complicated structural response of bow structures of simplified models and oil carriers for assessing the energy dissipation and crushing mechanics of the striking vessels through a methodology of the numerical analysis for the various models and its design changes. Through these study an optimal bow construction absorbing great portion of kinetic energy at the least penetration depth prior to reach to the cargo area and an effective location of collision bulkhead are investigated. In order to obtain a rational results in this study, three stages of collision simulation procedures have been performed step by step as follows; 1) 16 simplified ship models are used to investigate the structural response against bow collision with variation of primary and secondary members. Mass and speed are also varied in four conditions. 2) 21 models consisted of 5 sizes of the full scaled oil carriers are used to perform the collision simulation with the various sizes and deadweight delivered in a recent which are complied with SOLAS and MARPOL. 3) 36 models of 100l oil carrier are used to investigate the structural response and its influence to the collision bulkhead against bow collision in variation with location of collision bulkhead, primary members, framing system and colliding conditions, etc. By the first study using simplified models the response of the bow collision is synthetically evaluated for the parameters influencing to the absorbed energy, penetration depth and impact force, etc.