• Korean small business review
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.19-37
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• 2009

The purpose of this research is to explore differences between small and medium-sized companies and large-sized companies in the impact of human resource innovativeness(HRI), learning orientation(LO), and HRI-LO interaction on innovation effect and business performance. Although learning orientation has long been considered as a key factor influencing good performance of a business, little research was devoted to exploring the effect of HRI-LO interaction on innovation effect and business performance. In this study, it is investigated whether there is a synergy effect between innovative human workforce and learning orientation corporate culture, in addition to each by itself, to generate good business performance as well as a success of new innovations in the market. Research hypotheses were as follows, including H1) human resource innovativeness(HRI), learning orientation(LO), and interactions of HRI and LO(HRI-LO interaction) positively affect innovation effect, H2) there is a difference of the effect of HRI, LO, and HRI-LO interaction on innovation effect between large-sized and small-sized companies, H3) HRI, LO, HRI-LO interaction, innovation effect positively affect business performance, and H4) there is a difference of the effect of HRI, LO, HRI-LO interaction, and innovation effect on business performance between large-sized and small-sized companies. Data were obtained from 479 practitioners through a web survey since the web survey is an efficient method to collect a national data at a variety of fields. A single respondent from a company was allowed to participate in the study after checking whether they have more than 5-year work experiences in the company. To check whether a common source bias is existed in the sample, additional data from a convenient sample of 97 companies were gathered through the traditional survey method, and were used to confirm correlations between research variables of the original sample and the additional sample. Data were divided into two groups according to company size, such as 352 small and medium-sized companies with less than 300 employees and 127 large-sized companies with 300 or more employees. Data were analyzed through t-test and regression analyses. HRI which is the innovativeness of human resources in the company was measured with 9 items assessing the innovativenss of practitioners in staff, manager, and executive-level positions. LO is the company's effort to encourage employees' development, sharing, and utilizing of knowledge through consistent learning. LO was measured by 18 items assessing commitment to learning, vision sharing, and open-mindedness. Innovation effect which assesses a success of new products/services in the market, was measured with 3 items. Business performance was measured by respondents' evaluations on profitability, sales increase, market share, and general business performance, compared to other companies in the same field. All items were measured by using 6-point Likert scales. Means of multiple items measuring a construct were used as variables based on acceptable reliability and validity. To reduce multi-collinearity problems generated on the regression analysis of interaction terms, centered data were used for HRI, LO, and Innovation effect on regression analyses. In group comparison, large-sized companies were superior on annual sales, annual net profit, the number of new products/services in the last 3 years, the number of new processes advanced in the last 3 years, and the number of R&D personnel, compared to small and medium-sized companies. Also, large-sized companies indicated a higher level of HRI, LO, HRI-LO interaction, innovation effect and business performance than did small and medium-sized companies. The results indicate that large-sized companies tend to have more innovative human resources and invest more on learning orientation than did small-sized companies, therefore, large-sized companies tend to have more success of a new product/service in the market, generating better business performance. In order to test research hypotheses, a series of multiple-regression analysis was conducted. In the regression analysis examining the impact on innovation effect, important results were generated as : 1) HRI, LO, and HRI-LO affected innovation effect, and 2) company size indicated a moderating effect. Based on the result, the impact of HRI on innovation effect would be greater in small and medium-sized companies than in large-sized companies whereas the impact of LO on innovation effect would be greater in large-sized companies than in small and medium-sized companies. In other words, innovative workforce would be more important in making new products/services that would be successful in the market for small and medium-sized companies than for large-sized companies. Otherwise, learning orientation culture would be more effective in making successful products/services for large-sized companies than for small and medium-sized companies. Based on these results, research hypotheses 1 and 2 were supported. In the analysis of a regression examining the impact on business performance, important results were generated as : 1) innovation effect, LO, and HRI-LO affected business performance, 2) HRI by itself did not have a direct effect on business performance regardless of company size, and 3) company size indicated a moderating effect. Specifically, an effect of the HRI-LO interaction on business performance was stronger in large-sized companies than in small and medium-sized companies. It means that the synergy effect of innovative human resources and learning orientation culture tends to be stronger as company is larger. Referring to these result, research hypothesis 3 was partially supported whereas hypothesis 4 was supported. Based on research results, implications for companies were generated. Regardless of company size, companies need to develop the learning orientation corporate culture as well as human resources' innovativeness together in order to achieve successful development of innovative products and services as well as to improve sales and profits. However, the effectiveness of the HRI-LO interaction would be varied by company size. Specifically, the synergy effect of HRI-LO was stronger to make a success of new products/services in small and medium-sized companies than in large-sized companies. However, the synergy effect of HRI-LO was more effective to increase business performance of large-sized companies than that of small and medium-sized companies. In the case of small and medium-sized companies, business performance was achieved more through the success of new products/services than much directly affected by HRI-LO. The most meaningful result of this study is that the effect of HRI-LO interaction on innovation effect and business performance was confirmed. It was often ignored in the previous research. Also, it was found that the innovativeness of human workforce would not directly influence in generating good business performance, however, innovative human resources would indirectly affect making good business performance by contributing to achieving the development of new products/services that would be successful in the market. These findings would provide valuable managerial implications specifically in regard to the development of corporate culture and education program of small and medium-sized as well as large-sized companies in a variety of fields.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.67-78
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• 2017

The competitive nature of enterprises requires organizations to foster an environment that encourages employee innovation that leads to profitability and customer satisfaction. Organizational innovation is influenced by several factors with employee behaviour being one of the important factors. Employees contribute in the innovation process and thus, it is important for organizations to understand employee expectations to demonstrate innovative work behaviour in order to create and maintain an innovative work culture. In the present study, a conceptual model based on culture, reward and program, training, compensations, leadership and systems was tested to assess that impact on employee expectations leading to innovative work behaviour. The study was conducted in the context of city-state of Singapore due to its significant emphasis on promoting and nurturing employee innovation. The model was tested using empirical data collected through a survey of employees in Singapore. The results indicate that while culture, rewards and training programs have a direct relationship on employee expectations to demonstrate innovative work behaviour, when considered together, leadership and systems are significantly and positively associated with employee expectations. These factors are usually under the control of organizations and can be enhanced through systematic interventions, thereby providing practice managers an avenue to improve employee innovation behaviour. The other implications of the findings and future scope are discussed.

• East Asian Journal of Business Economics (EAJBE)
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• 제7권2호
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• pp.11-20
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• 2019

Purposes - This study propose the following 4 methods to establish Global HRD system focusing on transferable skill which is attracting attention as future science and technology Manpower. The activation of convergence research creates new industries in the era of 4th industrial revolution. Research design and methodology -This study was conducted by using research methods and expert interviews focused on document analysis. This study also reflects trends through books and materials that cover the latest issues such as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Results - 4 Things are reflecting the policies of S&T Manpower and securing execution capability, developing competence-based transferable skill model, enhancing science and technology convergence R&D and performance capability, and developing customized HRD program. Conclusions - Transferable skills will contribute to strengthen the national competitiveness of science and technology in the long term by establishing the foundation of technological innovation that can create new industries and secure future growth power in the 4th industrial revolution era. Practically, it was suggested that science and technology professionals should be able to refer to the HRD program design and HRD program design by suggesting the view of transferable skill and the activation plan reflecting the insight.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• 제9권5호
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• pp.95-101
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• 2014

With the evocative interests in food safety, food traceability has been spotlighted by researchers as well as consumers. However, food traceability systems are not yet in reality even though there are continuous needs from market. Also, studies about food traceability focus on technical aspects without considering the spectrum of the adoption. In this study, we chose ginseng whose traceability systems are not easily adopted. Innovation-resistance model is employed to find out factors affecting either adoption, resistance or both. As results, we find out the followings. First, relative benefits and reasonableness of cost do not affect adoption and resistance of innovation. Second, there is difference between continuously resisting group and adoption-postponing group.

• Proceedings of the Korea Database Society Conference
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• 한국데이타베이스학회 2010년도 춘계국제학술대회
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• pp.5-12
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• 2010

With a sample of 147 Korean small and medium size companies, this study examined the relationships among degree of information orientation, corporate culture, degree of information management implementation and selected business performances in the process of implementing IMS improvement programs, such as IMS(Information Management System). Information orientation is defined as company-wide understanding and implementation of the underlying philosophy, principles, approached, and tools of information improvement programs. It is assumed that successful implementation of information improvement programs requires a information-oriented mind-set of the employees. The key elements of information orientation include continious improvement structured processes, organixation-wide participation and customer-focused spirit. Culture id defined as the value and beliefs of em organization that shape its behavior. It is also assumed that successful implementation of information improvement programs require strong support from s corporate culture that emphasizes cintinious improvement. Adopting the competing values model of Quinn and McGrath(1985), corporate culture is classified into 'flexible' versus 'controlled culture' and 'outer-directed' versus 'inner-directed culture'. Fitness was defined through the relationship between levels of information oriented and types of corporate culture. The results were as follows. First, it was found that when a company with high information orientation promoted information innovation programs, such as IMS, it reported higher degree of information management implementation and improvement in business performances. Second, the results showed the importance of 'flexible culture' and 'outer-directed culture' in performing information, innovation. Regarding the types of corporate culture, the analysis found that developmental culture, rational culture and group culture were effective. Third, companies with high information oriented and flexible culture or companies with high information orientation and outer-directed culture reported the highest implementation in Information management activities. Fourth, the results showed that the level of information management implementation had a mediating effect on the relationship between information orientation and business performance. It was also found that enhanced non-financial performance led to the improvement of financial performance. This study attempted to exaime the factor that lead information management program to success. In order to reach success, first, it is suggested that companies have positive mind set toward continious information improvement. Secondly, it is recommended that a flexible and outer-directed culture appropriate for continious information improvement is cultivated.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• 제21권9호
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• pp.1-11
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• 2023

Purpose: This study focuses on developing a structural equation model of variables influencing loyalty to buying and selling food products through e-marketplaces in Thailand. The variables investigated comprised food attributes, online system attributes, marketing innovations, attitudes, and satisfaction. Research design, data and methodology: An online questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample group (200 buyers and 200 sellers) using quota sampling. The data were analyzed using the structural equation model. Results: The developed structural equation model was consistent with the empirical data. Factors in the model could explain 40.1% of the variance in loyalty to buying and selling food products through e-marketplaces. Food attributes and online system attributes influenced satisfaction directly. Online system attributes, market innovation, and attitudes directly influenced loyalty. The developed model had no variation between groups of buyers and sellers. Conclusions: This research demonstrated the causal factors leading to consumer loyalty to buying and selling food products through e-marketplaces. The research findings help e-marketplace providers manage factors of buying and selling to comply with the needs of buyers and sellers, which will increase the number of buyers and sellers, help generate long-term profits for service providers, and increase the country's financial value.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.38-49
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• 2023

Fashion vertical platforms offer various content and events to consumers and have established a strong customer base. Especially, they cater to the sensibilities of young customers. This study analyzed the characteristics of a sensuous fashion vertical platform, which enhances expertise and provides customized services. In addition, this study aimed to find out whether consumer innovation modulates the relationship between fashion vertical platform, platform satisfaction, and continuous shopping intention. An online survey was conducted targeting consumers in their 20s and 30s who had experience using fashion vertical platforms, and 222 samples were analyzed. Factor analysis and structural equation model were analyzed using the SPSS 29.0 and Smart-PLS. Smart-PLS analysis results showed that exclusivity, convenience and informativeness did not directly affect continuous shopping intention but showed a complete mediating effect through platform satisfaction. Both the high and low innovative groups demonstrated significant effects of exclusivity on platform satisfaction, and platform satisfaction showed significant effects on continuous shopping intention. A high level of innovation among the consumers showed significant mediating effects on exclusivity, personalization, and continuous shopping intention, as reflected by information on platform satisfaction, and low level of innovation among the consumers showed significant effect on convenience. This study's findings highlight the importance of enhancing exclusivity, convenience, informativeness, and esthetics in fashion vertical platforms, and improving platform satisfaction. These findings will be used to develop marketing strategies that can lead to continuous shopping intentions and provide opportunities for the industry.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.1-30
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• 2011

InnovVizwas designed and developed anew as avisualization and simulationtool to present innovation and strategy information. The InnovViz system employs two key types of technology, namely mixed reality (MR) and neural network (NN). An experiment was conducted to examine the usability, acceptance and possible adoption of this new system. Participants comprised 4 experts from 4 top performing entrepreneurial firms and 161 master degree students from 2 leading universities. The study used a modified UTAUT model and a cognition and perception model. The results revealed that when the InnovViz was introduced, the key drivers to adoption are Facilitating Conditions (FC) and Voluntary to Use (VOL). Adequate knowledge and sufficient resources were found to strongly affect FC construct. The expert's rating of a firm's innovation and performance was more congruent with senior students with a technology-background than with a finance and accounting-background. InnovViz was seen as providing complex information with an ease of use and usefulness for showing data and assessment. Among the three types of visuals depicted by InnovViz, experts rated their usefulness in descending order as follows: Cube, Tetrahedron and Saturn. Finally, experts found backward simulation to be slightly more useful for assessment than forward simulation.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.40-48
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• 2016

The engineering knowledge and technology is core driving forces of continuous growth in knowledge based society. Companies, the government, and universities are the subjects of an innovation and the cooperation between them is very important. Nowadays, the main purpose of industry-university cooperation moves to train experts and develop a new product. A shift of the paradigm came from the change of recognition that the final consumers of the program are companies and the universities are supporters of the program. In this paper, we investigate the purpose, participation and satisfaction of companies to industry-academy technology cooperation through empirical studies. The need to expert training, product development and process development makes companies participate industry-academy technology cooperation and companies have different purpose of participation by the business type. Companies often feel that expert training, subsidiary purpose of industry-academy technology cooperation, is more important than product development or process development. This result is caused by the real world environment of small and mid-size companies, lacking of technology experts. The participation of companies to each technology cooperation program (technology transfer, joint technology development, consigned technology development, technology consulting, co-op. lab.) is also different by business type. The companies' satisfaction with the purpose of process development is relatively higher than that with the purpose of product development and companies show also different satisfaction value by business type and participating program. The results of this study can give a contribution to the design of demand oriented industry-academy technology cooperation model.

• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• 제2권1호
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• pp.63-96
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• 2013

There is the need for performance evaluation and the identification of key success factors for utilizing technology roadmaps (TRM), but relevant research does not yet exists in this field. In Korea, the Small and Medium Business Administration has implemented the "Support Program for the Individual Company Technology Roadmaps" to promote the establishment of technology development strategies by SMEs. This study developed the framework and indices for performance analysis, designed and implemented survey for TRM performance analysis, and analyzed TRM performance of the companies that have participated in the above program from 2008 to 2011. This study compared the supported 97 companies and 102 companies not supported and analyzed quantitative and qualitative performance and satisfaction levels among the supported companies to compare low-performance companies and high-performance companies. This study aims to examine the KSF of TRM in terms of input and process. Also we suggested significant insights into the performance of TRM in terms of output.