• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.119-144
• /
• 2003

This study attempts to figure out the impact of Information and communication technologies (ICTs) on spatial structure and to speculate on spatial strategies in the electronic economy from a geographical perspective. The unprecedented development of ICTs based on the explosive use of the Internet was enough to lead to the expectation that physical distance would not be a significant barrier in business activities. In fact, however, at least at a current stage, the development of ICTs has not automatically removed the inequality in spatial structure. The accessibility to electronic space is different by economic and social status within a country as well as between countries. The importance of place, locality, and place-specific assets has been strengthened in the global economy. Physical proximity is still of great importance because it helps to minimize transaction costs, to exploit place-specific social networks, and to accumulate credibility for successful businesses. Likewise, the development of electronic commerce such as B2B and B2C EC also does not necessarily result in the ignorance of place and locality. Rather, the recognition of the importance of spatial strategies is extremely important for the success in online businesses. As a conclusion, the spatial dimension becomes more important in the digital era for successful businesses and balanced regional developments than ever before. The need for the improvement of ICT infrastructures, the development of human resources, and the establishment of regional innovation systems in peripheral areas cannot be overemphasized even in the digital era.

• Asia Marketing Journal
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.105-132
• /
• 2006

The major purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of environmental uncertainties and logistics resources capabilities mediated by relational norms and logistics services on logistics performance in the industrial products. The 272 data were collected from the key informants who were working at the logistics-related departments in the H Heavy Industries & Construction and HSD Engine. The following results were verified using structural equation modeling. First, environmental uncertainties such as dynamism and heterogeneity unexpectedly had insignificant effects on relational norms such as information exchange and flexibility and logistics services such as product availability and on-time delivery. Second, logistics resource capabilities showed unique effects based upon its component's characteristics. For example, Logistics Information Systems did not have direct impact on logistics services but had indirect effect on logistics services via relational norms. On the other hand, logistics resources such as logistics specific assets and transportation service competencies had direct impact on logistics services but not on relational norms. Third, relational norms between transaction partners significantly affected logistics services but had insignificant effects on logistics performance such as logistics costs reduction and delivery qualities. Fourth, consistent with several studies, excellent logistics services between industrial purchaser and suppliers based upon relational norms did have significant effect on logistics performance such as delivery consistency and delivery qualities. Finally, the empirical results in this study could be strategic logistics management guidelines based upon the theoretical relationships among the environmental uncertainties, logistics information systems, logistics resources, relational norms, logistics services, and logistics performance.