• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.27-37
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• 2012

Many studies have focused on the importance of organizational integration when companies try to achieve growth through mergers and acquisitions (M&A). However, there has been little research that focuses on the new branding or customer base integration of the M&A process, despite the fact that this integration is very important for achieving M&A goals and business performance in industries such as retail. The purpose of this study is to provide an M&A case study of the retail industry, focused especially on the new branding and customer integration of two department stores. This study examined key integration processes in terms of brand name and membership systems of both companies by examining how the merged company achieved its new branding and the integration of its membership systems. The methodology of this research is the case study, which is used in both normative and empirical studies for distribution research in Korea. This research analyzes the case of both new branding and customer membership systems of the two companies. The new branding initiatives of this case centered on decision making including brand extension and brand naming. The customer membership integration of the two companies is analyzed on the basis of the customer reward programs that include both financial and service rewards. This study shows the success factors of new branding and customer integration in the M&A process in terms of achieving marketing goals and business performance as follows: First, companies should identify the integration areas by analyzing the brand and membership of both companies and make a balanced decision for both the customer and company. Second, the goals of new branding and membership integration in the M&A process should not emphasize business efficiency from a short-term perspective but rather should consider brand power and business synergy from a long-term perspective. Third, the post-merger integration process of the brand or customer areas requires not only the organized execution of integration tasks but also follow-up programs for changes in business strategy and marketing-related programs to realize the synergy effects of integrated organization. Although this study provides a detailed review and analysis of the new branding and customer integration processes in post-merger integration and in identifying the primary decision-making areas of these processes, there are some limitations requiring further research that may overcome or compensate for these limitations. The suggested future research areas are as follows: First, since this research is a case study of only one M&A, it makes few theoretical contributions such as new propositions or theories or possibilities for generalization. This limitation can be overcome through further research using multiple cases, which may lead to new propositions. Second, the methodology of this study lacks sufficient rigor in terms of its analytic approach because this case study was developed and analyzed descriptively. Further research is needed to compensate for these limitations, such as using a theory-based approach or comparative analysis approach that makes case analysis more systematic.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.65-82
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• 2017

This study is to examine the effects of high commitment HRM on service performance in the service industry, and to examine the mediating effect of the organizational internal innovation direction. Specifically, the direction of internal innovation consists of high-value-added HR and service and cost-reduction downsizing. We assumed that the high-value-added direction of HR and service will have a positive mediating effect. And assumed that cost-reduction downsizing direction has negative mediating effect. The data were collected from 2013 workplace panel survey(WPS) of the Korea Labor Institute(KLI). Among the 1,775 companies, 896 companies classified as wholesale and retail, transportation, professional scientific services, education services, health social services, financial services, and other services (such as information society support services) were extracted and used. In summary, high-commitment HRM has a positively significant effect on the direction of high value-added innovation of HR and services, and has a negatively significant effect on the cost-reduction downsizing direction. In addition, the direction of high value-added innovation of HR and service was positive effect on service performance, and cost-reduction downsizing innovation direction has a negative effect on service performance. And the direct effect of high commitment HRM on service performance has not been confirmed. However, we confirmed the positive mediating effect of high value-added innovation direction of HR and services, and confirmed that the negative mediating effect of cost-reduction downsizing. Therefore, it is confirmed that the two variables have a full mediating effect on the relationship between high commitment HRM and service performance.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.103-111
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• 2016

Purpose - Many variables are needed for brand loyalty such as brand attitude, brand attachment, brand love and brand commitment. Thus, we should manage these all variables successfully for strong and differentiated brand equity. This study aims to identify the process of how the brand value propositions affect the brand attitude and brand attachment. This study specially conceptualizes that not only utilitarian value and hedonic value influence the brand attitude but also hedonic value influences the brand attachment. This study focuses on the moderating role of consumer involvement such as cognitive involvement and affective involvement in the causal relationships among brand value propositions, brand attitude, and brand attachment. Research design, data, and methodology - The five hypotheses were proposed and tested in this study. Three hypotheses were about the relationship among the brand value propositions(utilitarian value and hedonic value), brand attitude, and brand attachment. The other two hypotheses were about the moderating effect on consumer involvement in the causal relationships among brand value propositions, brand attitude, and brand attachment. Research data were collected from the students of universities located in Daejeon-Si and Chungchungnam-Do. For the purpose of test the hypotheses empirically, the 208 responses were used. We utilized SPSS18.0 for statistical analysis such as reliability test, factor analysis, and regression analysis. Results - The results show that the utilitarian value and hedonic value have influence on the brand attitude positively. The results also show that the hedonic value has influence on the brand attachment positively. We found that there is a moderating effect on the cognitive involvement in the relationship between the utilitarian value and the brand attitude. However, there is no moderating effect on the affective involvement in the relationship between the hedonic value and brand attachment. In Summary, 4 of 5 hypotheses in this study were supported and 1 hypothesis was not supported. We should identify the reason why the hypothesis 5, the moderating effect of the affective involvement in the relationship between the hedonic value and brand attachment, was rejected in this empirical analysis. Conclusions - Both the utilitarian value and the hedonic value that propose a brand are important for brand attitude. Specially, the hedonic value is important for brand attachment. Companies should provide the consumers with both the utilitarian value and the hedonic value in a balanced way for their favorable brand attitude and strong brand attachment. In the retail industry, the balance between the utilitarian value and the hedonic value is important in that there are many product brands and store brands providing consumers with various benefit and values. Also, there are possibilities that the causal relationships among brand value propositions, brand attitude and brand attachment are moderated by consumer involvement such as cognitive involvement and affective involvement. Companies should understand and consider consumer involvement for their efficient and effective brand management decision making.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.49-77
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to examine a relationship between the headquarters and the sales offices of a car manufacturing company by comparing their channel types. It examines how the level of communication and commitment of sales offices on their headquarters differently affects some mediating effects between participation and relationship performance. It also tries to find out what kind of mechanisms are needed in order to improve the relationship. Through the data analysis of a total of 200 sales offices which are directly managed stores and agency stores by a domestic car manufacturing company, the following conclusions were reached: Participation, one of the variables in bureaucratic structuring, influences all dimensions of communication. Also, it has found that communication dimensions influence commitment dimensions differently by the type of channels, and commitment dimensions influence relationship performance by the type of channels. Recently, import car makers are accelerating their moves in the domestic market, and the importance of a customer-oriented retail innovation and a relationship management in an auto manufacturing industry is increasing. This study will give an useful suggestion on how to improve a long term relationship of distributors through an enhancement of communication and commitment.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 2015

Purpose - This is a comparative study of the market development and characteristics of Ulsan in South Korea, Fukuoka in Japan, and Yanji in China, which are major East Sea Rim cities with adjacent areas of similar natural characteristics of the sea and the country. Particularly, it considers these aspects while focusing on the evolution of networks that appear in the distribution system and at the same time examining the institutions of market activation and regulations that are handled by the central and the local government and the changing logistics due to the development of transportation and the concern of food safety, using a meso-analysis approach. Research design, data, and methodology - The study used a historical and comparative approach with a focus on case studies. It made use of various materials such as local newspaper articles, reports, literature, interviews with experts, discussions with local merchants, discussions with customers, and so forth. Results - In the case of Fukuoka, from the 1960s, due to the entry of supermarkets, supermarkets expanded and they have now come to a dominant market position in the current market. They offer a convenient and comfortable environment while providing a large mall offering a variety of educational and cultural activities for customers to meet the customers' needs, such as the preferences of Korean tourists, who appear to prefer Japanese foods. The Fukuoka City Central Wholesale Market has been exporting fruits and vegetables as well as seafood products to Korea, China, and so forth. In the case of Ulsan, as in the early 2000s, due to the expansion of supermarkets, the traditional markets have been shrinking and further, the modernization of traditional markets was conducted under the auspices of the Small Business Administration. In addition to the large discount malls, the expansion of SSM is expected to further drive the small trader bay. Shopping malls, department stores, and traditional markets contend with each other in Yanji, China, but a large number of citizens appear to prefer traditional markets and imported milk in the supermarket after the melamine scandal in China. Recently, the WanYuan (萬源) wholesale market has been partially completed and made an attempt to become a logistics hub in Northeast Asia. Conclusions - For the development of Korea's retail industry, it is important to offer the government with proposals regarding desired regulation. On the other hand, in order to enable the business of traditional markets, it requires an association for cultural tourism. At present, it would be better to provide a venture fund for the youth rather than infrastructure support. This study emphasizes the importance of institutions and policy to develop networks in the East Sea Rim. Future studies should conduct a survey on customers, managers, and merchants more carefully and systematically to understand the market situation while considering the size of the city and its evolution of markets, as well as policies and institutions.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.121-140
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• 2006

This study has explored a number of problems arising from distribution restrictions and the ways to improve efficiency. As matters stand, since the cooperation between larger stores and local retailers is limited due to the nature of the market, the current situations call for bottom up restrictions such as the active promotion of smaller merchants and traditional marketplaces, the enhancement of the competitiveness of smaller merchants and manufacturers through the establishment of a customized consulting support program for individual shops, and the continual support for traditional marketplaces with facilities and management modernization. The government should maintain the optimal balance between the efficiency and effectiveness of the distribution industry through such bottom up restrictions as shown above, rather than the top down restrictions primarily relying on the hurdles to the establishment of stores. The problems raised in this study include: (i) the decline of traditional marketplaces and the alleged over saturation of stores; (ii) the possible abuse of indiscreet restrictive measures; (iii) the harmful effects of the monopoly or oligopoly by larger distributors; and (iv) the lack of systematic programs to promote development. The ways to improve efficiency are: (i) the establishment of the policies to specialize and nurture traditional marketplaces; (ii) the effort to prevent the injury arising from monopoly; (iii) the two tire strategies for the coexistence of larger and smaller businesses; and (iv) the administration of joint sales promotion and training.

• The Journal of Small Business Innovation
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.17-42
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• 2016

Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes: An interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, requires firms to evaluate uncertain tax positions and disclose information on their liabilities for these positions, unrecognized tax benefits (UTBs). We analyze the FIN 48 disclosures for calendar-year-end Korean companies listed on NYSE and NASDAQ and examine the Korean firms' tax aggressiveness utilizing the UTBs. The results suggest that stock exchange and firm size do not play a role in the Korean firms' tax aggressiveness, contrary to the matched U.S. firms and that the Korean firm in the miscellaneous retail industry is more tax aggressive than the firms in the communications, depository institutions and business services. In addition, we find evidence that the Korean firms are less tax aggressive than the matched U.S. firms. We also examine the Korean firms' tax avoidance tendencies using other measures of avoidance, leading to mixed results. Finally, we examine the association between the UTBs and other measures of tax avoidance and find a significant and negative association between the UTBs and the long-run cash effective tax rate.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.1-25
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• 2020

This study analyzed key success factors of Korean car-sharing enterprises, Socar and Greencar, and the responsive strategies of Korean car-manufacturing company, Hyundai Motor Group, in the face of emerging sharing economy under the specific economic and regulatory system in Korea. The outcomes of the analysis are as follows. 'Timely market entry' in early startup phase and 'use of external resources' in early growth phase were key success factors common to both Socar and Greencar. However, the differences in the eventual business directions of the two companies also resulted in different key success factors in the expansion phase of their business. For Socar which focused on maintaining its independence and the external growth of B2C business, customer relation marketing and sufficient capital raising were key success factors. For Greencar which became a part of a business group and focused on improving the efficiency of business operations, timely market entry (B2B market) was key success factor. The use of external resources and cooperation with large corporations emerged as key success factors common to both companies in the rapid growth phase. The responsive strategies of the Hyundai Motor Group were collaboration, investment and direct management of DeliveryCar. The short-term goal of the responsive strategy was the operation of test-bed in collaboration with car-sharing company while the mid/long term goal was planning new mobility services by utilizing collected data. Securing opportunities for early market dominance for autonomous car industry was also found to be an important goal.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2009

This study was undertaken to analyze the hygienic problems of group food services and to predict the outbreak patterns of future food-borne diseases. A delphi survey with 20 experts identified the main causes of food-borne outbreaks in group food services as improper hygienic management of raw food materials, washing of worker's hands, dividing the spaces and unsanitary retail storage. Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Escherichia coli (EPEC), non-typhoid Salmonella serotypes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli (ETEC), norovirus, and the hepatitis A virus all have potential to cause outbreaks of food-borne disease. We analyzed the daily food use and the possibility of food-borne outbreaks in school food services for fruits, milk, fish, pork, eggs, and meat as raw food materials, and bibimbab, soybean sprouts muchim, spinach namul, cucumber sengchae, jabchae, and pork bulgogi as prepared food items. Frozen (${\leq}\;-20^{\circ}C$) and refrigerated ($0{\sim}10^{\circ}C$) processed foods are popular items in group food services. Their storage, heating, and chemical sanitization methods are potential sources of food disease outbreaks. Our results can be applied to a well-organized hygiene control system and can be used to develop menus for preventing food-borne outbreaks.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.79-99
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• 2016

Supply network of automobile part is addressed with the e-invoices generated at real time. Automobile is composed of 8 modules. Firms which produce these modules are defined as the first outsourcing firm. Brake is the part of power control module and so, brake manufacturing firm is called the second outsourcing firm. In this paper, the third supply networks of brake manufacturing firms is analyzed with e-invoices and social network method. At the node-level, the third outsourcing firms are classified into 3 categories, interator, allocator and hub with respect to their role at the ego-network of each brake manufacturing firm. At the network level, A2, one of 3 brake manufacturing firms have more outsourcing firms and bigger centrality than the other brake manufacturing firms. Intre-firms trade patterns are, also, analyzed by using the degree of trade dedication with respect to the modes of business. It is shown that trade pattern of retail, commodity brokerage firm, rubber and plastic manufacturing firm are hierarchical trade because their degree of trade dedication is almost near to 1.