• Title/Summary/Keyword: Characteristics of brands

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A Study on the Color coordination System to fashion (섬유.패션디자인을 위한 컬러코디네이션 지원모델 개발)

  • Jung, Jae-Woo;Lee, Jae-Jung
    • Archives of design research
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    • v.18 no.1 s.59
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    • pp.167-174
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    • 2005
  • This study is to objectively support the emotional and intuitional decision making of the designer by means of developing the supporting models and tools of color coordination. Based on the color grouping system and representative vocabularies suggested in the precedent 'Study on the Grouping System of Fabric Color,' this study suggested the manufacture of the supporting model of color coordination that could be used practically through the design of coloring group. The results of this study can be summarized as below. Firstly, 687 colors in total have been collected from the four world famous collections, the street fashion of 2002 F/W 2003 S/S Season and the representative brands in each group for five years from 1999 to 2003 in order to single out the basic colors for the purpose of composing the color groups. Secondly, 687 collected colors have been grouped into 144 colors in total through the three-step process for the extraction of coloring groups. Thirdly, the final extracted colors have been divided into , , , group by the grouping system specified in the precedent study and the said four large groups have been again subdivided into 12 small groups. Fourthly, the suggested colors in each group have established a color coordination system by introducing the concept of the crossover coordination that could be matched with other groups as well as the coordination within the group. Fifthly, we have dyed 144 colors in total that have consisted of the coloring system of four representative groups (twelve subgroups) in each methodical tone as in the above in cotton yarn, one of the representative materials in fabric fashion design industry. Besides, we have specified the symbol of the Pantone Color Book and CMYK values in each color that has consisted of the system considering the industrial characteristics of fashion as a global business and the compatibility with the related design industry. Sixthly, we have packed the completed yam made of fabrics in the designed container for the easy use of cross-coordination and have completed a color coordination system that could be easily utilized for the fashion-related working-level staffs.

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ABRASION AND CHEMICAL DEGRADATION OF LIGHT-CURED COMPOSITE RESIN FOR UPDATED RESIN DEVELOPMENT (차세대 레진개발을 위한 광중합형 복합레진의 마모와 화학적 분해)

  • Yang, Kyu-Ho;Choi, Nam-Ki;Yook, Geun-Young
    • Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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    • v.31 no.4
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    • pp.685-695
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    • 2004
  • The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance to degradation and to compare the wear resistance characteristics of four composite resins in an alkaline solution. The resistance to degradation was evaluated on the basis of mass loss(%), degradation depth(${\mu}m$), Si loss(ppm) and wear depth. The brands studied were Heliomolar flow, Filtek supreme, Point4, Tetric flow. The results were as follows: 1. The sequence of the mass loss was in descending order by Heliomolar flow, Filtek supreme, Point4, Tetric flow. There was significant differences among the materials except Heliomolar flow and Filtek supreme. 2. The sequence of the degree of degradation layer depth was in descending order by Filtek supreme, Heliomolar flow, Tetric flow, Point4. There were significant differences among the materials except Heliomolar flow and Tetric flow. 3. The sequence of Si loss was in descending order by Filtek supreme, Heliomolar flow, Point4, Tetric flow. There were significant differences among the materials except Point 4 and Tetric flow. 4. The sequence of maximum wear depth was in descending order by Heliomolar flow, Point4, Fillet supreme, Tetric flow and there was increasing wear depth on soaking in 0.1N NaOH solution. 5. When observed with SEM, destruction of bonding between matrix and filler was observed and when observed with CLSM, the depth of degradation layer of specimen surface was observed. There results indicate that wear and hydrolytic degradation could be considered to be evaluation factors of composite resins.

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WEAR AND CHEMICAL DEGRADATION OF ESTHETIC RESTORATIVE MATERIALS (심미수복 재료의 마모와 화학적 분해)

  • Yang, Kyu-Ho;Choi, Nam-Ki;Kim, Hun-Ju;Kim, Seon-Mi
    • Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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    • v.31 no.2
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    • pp.190-201
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    • 2004
  • The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance to degradation and to compare the wear resistance characteristics of four esthetic restorative materials in an alkaline solution. The brands studied were Charmfil, Charmfil flow(composite resin), Compoglass F and PrimaFlow(compomer). The results were as follows: 1. The mass loss were not significantly different among the materials(p>0.05). 2. The sequence of the degree of degradation layer depth was in descending order by Compoglass F, PrimaFlow, Charmfil, and Charmfil flow. There were significant differences between Compoglass F and the others(p<0.05). 3. The sequence of the Si loss was in descending order by Charmfil flow, Charmfil, PrimaFlow, and Compoglass F. There were significant differences among these materials(p<0.05). 4. When observed with SEM, destruction of bonding between matrix and filler was observed and when observed with CLSM, the depth of degradation layer of specimen surface was observed. 5. The sequence of maximum wear depth was in descending order by Comfoglass, PrimaFlow Charmal, and Charmfil flow. There were significant differences among these materials(p<0.05). 6. The correlation coefficient between Si loss and degradation layer depth (r=0.602, p<0.05) Vicker's hardness number and maximum wear depth (r=0.501, p<0.05) were relatively high. These results indicate that wear and hydrolytic degradation may be considered to be evaluation factors of composite resins and compomers.

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An Influence of Distributor's Corporate Image on Consumer Behavior Towards PB Products (유통업체의 기업이미지가 PB제품에 대한 소비자태도에 미치는 영향)

  • Kim, Moon-Jung;Oh, Young-Ye;Kim, Ki-Soo
    • Journal of Distribution Science
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    • v.9 no.4
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    • pp.83-91
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    • 2011
  • In addition to the globalization of the distribution industry and intensified competition, the importance of Private Brands has been emphasized, and thus, many studies that clarify the various preceding factors that affect PB purchase intent are being conducted. Following this trend, the purpose of this study is the following. First, the effect of distributor's corporate image on consumer behavior was verified. Second, the perceived quality difference on PB products according to consumers' job was verified. Third, satisfaction difference for PB products according to consumers' job was examined. Research results were shown as the following. First, factorial analysis, conducted to verify distributor's corporate image, gave out the result of ethicality, reliability, stability factors. Among those factors, ethicality and stability were shown to have an effect on brand attitude. However, reliability was not shown to influence PB brand attitude. Second, through the analysis to see the effect of distributor's corporate image on PB product attitude, it was verified that stability has an effect on PB product attitude but ethicality and reliability do not. Third, the analysis to verify the effect of distributor's corporate image on PB product purchase intent showed that ethicality has an effect on purchase intent, but reliability and stability do not. Fourth, housewives, the most active users of distributors, were shown the highest in the research on whether there is perceived quality difference according to consumers' job. Following the group were college students, and then office workers. Fifth, research on the level of satisfaction according to consumers' job showed that there was not a significant difference. The limitations and suggestions of this research were as the following. First, this study could go over each corporate image according to distributor type and characteristics. Due to the vast development of distribution industry, the companies can be classified according to the various types. Therefore, we propose the corporate image of each distributors to be checked, and furthermore, to verify which image of the different types of distributors has positive influence on consumer attitude. Second, PB products should have various perceived quality. However, in this research, it has not been verified which specific factors among the various perceived quality of PB products has a more meaningful influence on consumer attitude. Therefore, we also would like to propose a need for closer research on the specific factors and on which factor has a more positive influence on consumer attitude.

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Quantitative Descriptive Analysis and Principal Component Analysis for Sensory Attributes of Commercial Milk Preserved at Different Temperature (보존온도를 달리한 상업적 우유제품의 묘사적 관능분석 및 PCA 분석)

  • Chung, Seo-Jin;Noh, Bong-Soo;Ju, Jong-Cheol;Lee, Min-Hyang;Park, Seung-Yong
    • Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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    • v.29 no.2
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    • pp.25-35
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    • 2011
  • The objectives of this study were to evaluate the sensory characteristic quality of commercial milk brands selling in the market under the preservation at the temperature of $7^{\circ}C$ and $10^{\circ}C$ stored during the period of shelf-life. Quantitative descriptive analysis after developing of descriptive terms and cluster characterization by PCA analysis over a total of 128 LTLT, HTST, UHT and UHT-ESL milks, were conducted by 8 trained panelists. A total of fourteen attributes; three aroma attributes (grassy, milky, cultured milk aroma) and seven flavor/taste attributes (sweet, salty, sour, milk, cooked, cheesy, paper board) and one aftertaste attributes (rancid flavor) and one texture attributes (viscous), were developed as descriptive terms. Significant differences (P<0.01) in the sensory attributes; sweet, milky, cheesy etc. in UHT milk and sour, cheesy, paper board, rancid etc. in UHT-ESL milk were also found between the two different temperatures within the shelf life, but both type of pasteurized milk samples (LTLT and HTST) showed significant differences (P<0.01) in the attributes, such as cultured milk aroma, salty, sour, cheesy, rancid in LTLT milk and grassy, milky, salty in HTST milk and difference (P<0.05) in cultured milk aroma for HTST milk. Therefore, from the viewpoint of not only hygienic quality but also sensory characteristics, it is required for the better acceptance of milk consumers to amendment on the regulation in relation to the preservation standard of pasteurized milk as well as UHT milk to lower than $7^{\circ}C$.

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Comparison of Physicochemical Properties of Local Commercial Rice Brands (지역 브랜드 쌀의 이화학적 특성 비교)

  • Choi, Ok Ja;Jang, Won Yong;Song, Chi Young;Lee, Mi Young;Shim, Ki Hoon
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.46 no.11
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    • pp.1336-1342
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    • 2017
  • The study examined and compared the physicochemical and characteristics of various rice brand varieties and private brand products on the market. The moisture content in the proximate composition of rice was 15.67~17.03%, crude protein content was 5.73~6.30%, crude lipid content was 0.38~0.95%, and crude ash content was 0.23~0.56 %. Ilmi and Ilpum had high moisture content, whereas Gosihikkari and Hopyeong had high crude protein content. In the Hunter's color value of rice flour, L value was 96.76~97.27, a value was -1.63~-0.63, and b value was 2.00~2.60. The WAI was 1.21~1.39, WSI was 0.63~0.93%, and amylose content was 14.63~20.86%, respectively; Gosihikkari and Ilmi showed the lowest values. The X-ray diffraction patterns of rice flours of all varieties showed an A shape. For the amylogram properties of rice flour, initial pasting temperature was $59.57{\sim}63.23^{\circ}C$, maximum viscosity was 569.00~718.67 B.U. (Brabender Units), breakdown was 303.00~423.67 B.U., and setback was 212.67~265.33 B.U.. For differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) of rice flour, onset temperature was $54.66{\sim}58.63^{\circ}C$, peak temperature was $65.87{\sim}68.14^{\circ}C$, end temperature was $73.37{\sim}75.54^{\circ}C$, and enthalpy was 1.98~2.95 cal/g. The rice varieties with high internal density and initial pasting temperature as well as low crude protein content, WAI, amylose content, and setback can be classified as good. Gosihikkari in Gyeonggi Province, Ilmi and Hopyeong in Jeollanam-do, and Samgwang in Chungcheongnam-do are among them.

The Mediating Effect of Experiential Value on Customers' Perceived Value of Digital Content: China's Anti-virus Program Market (경험개치대소비자대전자내용적인지개치적중개영향(经验价值对消费者对电子内容的认知价值的中介影响): 중국살독연건시장(中国杀毒软件市场))

  • Jia, Weiwei;Kim, Sae-Bum
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.20 no.2
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    • pp.219-230
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    • 2010
  • Digital content makes big changes to our daily lives while bringing opportunities and challenges for companies. Creative firms integrate pictures, texts, videos, audios, and data by digitalization to develop new products or services and create digital experiences to promote their brands. Most articles on digital content contribute to the basic concept or development of marketing it in literature. Actually, compared with traditional value chains for common products or services, the digital content industry seems to have more potential value. Because quite a bit of digital content is free to the consumer, price is not necessarily perceived as an indicator of the quality or value of information (Rowley 2008). It becomes evident that a current theme in digital content is the issue of "value," and research on customers' perceived value of digital content is a necessity. This article argues that experiential value has an advantage in customers' evaluations of digital content. Two different but related contributions to the understanding of "value" of digital content are made here. First, based on the comparison of digital content with products and services, the article proposes two key characteristics that make experiential strategy available for digital content: intangibility and near-zero reproduction cost. On top of that, based on the discussion of the gap between company's idealized value and customer's perceived value, this article emphasizes that digital content prices and pricing of digital content is different from products and services. As a result of intangibility, prices may not reflect customer value. Moreover, the cost of digital content in the development stage may be very high while reproduction costs shrink dramatically. Moreover, because of the value gap mentioned before, the pricing polices vary for different digital contents. For example, flat price policy is generally used for movies and music (Magiera 2001; Netherby 2002), while for continuous demand, digital content such as online games and anti-virus programs involves a more complicated matter of utility and competitive price levels. Digital content companies have to explore various kinds of strategies to overcome this gap. Rethinking marketing solutions such as advertisements, images, and word-of-mouth and their effect on customers' perceived value becomes essential. China's digital content industry is becoming more and more globalized and drawing special attention from different countries and regions that have respective competitive advantages. The 2008-2009 Annual Report on the Development of China's Digital Content Industry (CCIDConsulting 2009) indicates that, with the driven power of domestic demand and governmental policy support, the country's digital content industry maintained a fast growth of some 30 percent in 2008, obviously indicating the initial stage of industry expansion. In China, anti-virus programs and other software programs which need to be updated use a quarter-based pricing policy. Customers can download a trial version for free and use it for six months or a year. If they want to use it longer, continuous payment is needed. They examine the excellence of the digital content during this trial period and decide whether to pay for continued usage. For China’s music and movie industries, as a result of initial development, experiential strategy has not been much applied, even though firms in other countries find the trial experience and explore important strategies(such as customers listening to music for several seconds for free before downloading it). For the above reasons, anti-virus program may be a representative for digital content industry in China and an exploratory study of the advantage of experiential value in customer's perceived value of digital content is done in the anti-virus market of China. In order to enhance the reliability of the survey data, this study focused on people who were experienced users of anti-virus programs. The empirical results revealed that experiential value has a positive effect on customers' perceived value of digital content. In other words, because digital content is intangible and the reproduction costs are nearly zero, customers' evaluations are based heavily on their experience. Moreover, image and word-of-mouth do not have a positive effect on perceived value, only on experiential value. That is to say, a digital content value chain is different from that of a general product or service. Experiential value has a notable advantage and mediates the effect of image and word-of-mouth on perceived value. The results of this study help provide an understanding of why free digital content downloads exist in developing countries. Customers can perceive the value of digital content only by using and experiencing it. This is also why such governments support the development of digital content. Other developing countries whose digital content business is also in the beginning stage can make use of the suggestions here. Moreover, based on the advantage of experiential strategy, companies should make more of an effort to invest in customers' experience. As a result of the characteristics and value gap of digital content, customers perceive more value in the intangible digital content only by experiencing what they really want. Moreover, because of the near-zero reproduction costs, companies can perhaps use experiential strategy to enhance customer understanding of digital content.

The Factors Affecting on the Franchisor's Performance and Its Intention of Recontracting with Franchisees : Focused on the Chinese Franchise Market (프랜차이즈 본부의 성과 및 재계약의도에 영향을 미치는 요인들에 관한 연구 : 중국프랜차이즈 시장을 중심으로)

  • Shuai, Su;Seo, Sang-Yun;Lee, Hoon-Yong
    • Journal of Distribution Research
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    • v.17 no.3
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    • pp.1-24
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    • 2012
  • Franchises have recently emerged as the most rapidly expanding industry positioned to create a large impact in the domestic economic. The Chinese franchise industry developed rapidly in the period prior and subsequent to WTO accession with more than 50% of new franchises brands emerging since 2000. M&A transactions in the Chinese franchise industry have progressed actively. In the period from 2005-2007, due to the wholesale and retail market opening in accordance with the guidelines laid forth within the MOU by the WTO the Chinese franchise market is now the largest market in the world all despite a short history of only 20 years. The amount of franchise market research on China is disproportional to its current size and development potential. Beginning in the 1990s, market research conducted by the International Franchise Association focused on emerging markets in Eastern Europe and China. While the research dealt with the Chinese investment environment, it insufficiently explained the market region and cultural environment. The purpose of this research is (i) to investigate the determinants of the performance of franchise systems in China and (ii) new contract renewals based on performance factors. This study will complement existing research in terms of the franchisee perspective. This study may also prove of the benefit to the franchise companies entering the Chinese franchise market enabling them to develop an effective strategy. This study shows that support, incentives, and system standardization by franchisor yielded a positive effect on management performance. This is consistent with previous studies by Shin (2000) and Kim (2008) targeting Korean franchises. Therefore, in the Chinese market, the franchisor must focus on support, incentives, and system standardization rather than concentrate only on the recruitment of franchisees in order to improve revenue. Hypotheses regarding franchisor control have been dismissed in existing research, in the opinion of this study, due to their complexity and inability to control the merchant as a one-kind-assessment-standard. Our findings show that the franchisees' financial condition, management ability and entrepreneurial spirit, among franchisee's characteristics, have a positive effect on franchisor's business performance and satisfaction for the franchisee. This is consistent with previous studies on headquarters' management performance of Lussier (1996), Heo and Jang (2008), and franchisees' financial condition, management ability and entrepreneurial spirit effect on franchisor's satisfaction of Weaven and Franzer (2007), Kim (2009), Han (2009), and Yoon etc. (2008). Therefore, when permitting a franchisee, financial condition, management ability, entrepreneurship of the franchisee should be carefully considered. Among relational factors between franchisor and franchisee, trust has the positive influence on the management performance of the franchisor while conflict has a negative effect. However, trust, commitment and conflict factors have been shown not to have any impact on the satisfaction of the franchise headquarters. This result is consistent with the previous studies of Pavlou and Ba (2000), Morrison (1999), Weaven and Frazer (2007), Kim and Park (1994), Sohn (2007) which show that trust between franchisor and the franchisees have a positive effect and that conflict has a negative impact on franchisor's management performance. Other factors causing a negative effective on the franchisor's management performance are a rapid environmental changes and uncertainty in the business. This is consistent with Campbell et al (2007), Kim and Kim (2009), Han and Baek (2008). Finally, the high management performance and satisfaction of the franchise headquarters has a positive effect on the intention of franchise renewal. In the case of large markets such as China, the franchisor's strategy and the role is very important. In this study, we also investigated the characteristics of franchisor and franchisee, relationship, and environmental uncertainty affecting on the management performance and satisfaction of franchisor. Recently, Korean franchises are attempting to enter foreign markets through the rise in popularity of Korean culture and entertainment commonly referred to as the Korean wave. This study provides recommendations for Korean franchises intending on entering the Chinese market. First, in order to achieve stable profits, the franchise corporation needs to support the operation of the individual franchisee through incentives and standardization of services. Second, because trust between the franchisor and franchisee has a positive effect on management performance, on-going discussion and cooperation is necessary to reduce the level of conflict.

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The Effect of Corporate SNS Marketing on User Behavior: Focusing on Facebook Fan Page Analytics (기업의 SNS 마케팅 활동이 이용자 행동에 미치는 영향: 페이스북 팬페이지 애널리틱스를 중심으로)

  • Jeon, Hyeong-Jun;Seo, Bong-Goon;Park, Do-Hyung
    • Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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    • v.26 no.1
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    • pp.75-95
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    • 2020
  • With the growth of social networks, various forms of SNS have emerged. Based on various motivations for use such as interactivity, information exchange, and entertainment, SNS users are also on the fast-growing trend. Facebook is the main SNS channel, and companies have started using Facebook pages as a public relations channel. To this end, in the early stages of operation, companies began to secure a number of fans, and as a result, the number of corporate Facebook fans has recently increased to as many as millions. from a corporate perspective, Facebook is attracting attention because it makes it easier for you to meet the customers you want. Facebook provides an efficient advertising platform based on the numerous data it has. Advertising targeting can be conducted using their demographic characteristics, behavior, or contact information. It is optimized for advertisements that can expose information to a desired target, so that results can be obtained more effectively. it rethink and communicate corporate brand image to customers through contents. The study was conducted through Facebook advertising data, and could be of great help to business people working in the online advertising industry. For this reason, the independent variables used in the research were selected based on the characteristics of the content that the actual business is concerned with. Recently, the company's Facebook page operation goal is to go beyond securing the number of fan pages, branding to promote its brand, and further aiming to communicate with major customers. the main figures for this assessment are Facebook's 'OK', 'Attachment', 'Share', and 'Number of Click' which are the dependent variables of this study. in order to measure the outcome of the target, the consumer's response is set as a key measurable key performance indicator (KPI), and a strategy is set and executed to achieve this. Here, KPI uses Facebook's ad numbers 'reach', 'exposure', 'like', 'share', 'comment', 'clicks', and 'CPC' depending on the situation. in order to achieve the corresponding figures, the consideration of content production must be prior, and in this study, the independent variables were organized by dividing into three considerations for content production into three. The effects of content material, content structure, and message styles on Facebook's user behavior were analyzed using regression analysis. Content materials are related to the content's difficulty, company relevance, and daily involvement. According to existing research, it was very important how the content would attract users' interest. Content could be divided into informative content and interesting content. Informational content is content related to the brand, and information exchange with users is important. Interesting content is defined as posts that are not related to brands related to interesting movies or anecdotes. Based on this, this study started with the assumption that the difficulty, company relevance, and daily involvement have an effect on the dependent variable. In addition, previous studies have found that content types affect Facebook user activity. I think it depends on the combination of photos and text used in the content. Based on this study, the actual photos were used and the hashtag and independent variables were also examined. Finally, we focused on the advertising message. In the previous studies, the effect of advertising messages on users was different depending on whether they were narrative or non-narrative, and furthermore, the influence on message intimacy was different. In this study, we conducted research on the behavior that Facebook users' behavior would be different depending on the language and formality. For dependent variables, 'OK' and 'Full Click Count' are set by every user's action on the content. In this study, we defined each independent variable in the existing study literature and analyzed the effect on the dependent variable, and found that 'good' factors such as 'self association', 'actual use', and 'hidden' are important. Could. Material difficulties', 'actual participation' and 'large scale * difficulties'. In addition, variables such as 'Self Connect', 'Actual Engagement' and 'Sexual Sexual Attention' have been shown to have a significant impact on 'Full Click'. It is expected that through research results, it is possible to contribute to the operation and production strategy of company Facebook operators and content creators by presenting a content strategy optimized for the purpose of the content. In this study, we defined each independent variable in the existing research literature and analyzed its effect on the dependent variable, and we could see that factors on 'good' were significant such as 'self-association', 'reality use', 'concernal material difficulty', 'real-life involvement' and 'massive*difficulty'. In addition, variables such as 'self-connection', 'real-life involvement' and 'formative*attention' were shown to have significant effects for 'full-click'. Through the research results, it is expected that by presenting an optimized content strategy for content purposes, it can contribute to the operation and production strategy of corporate Facebook operators and content producers.

Categorizing Quality Features of Franchisees: In the case of Korean Food Service Industry (프랜차이즈 매장 품질요인의 속성분류: 국내 외식업을 중심으로)

  • Byun, Sook-Eun;Cho, Eun-Seong
    • Journal of Distribution Research
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.95-115
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    • 2011
  • Food service is the major part of franchise business in Korea, accounting for 69.9% of the brands in the market. As the food service industry becomes mature, many franchisees have struggled to survive in the market. In general, consumers have higher levels of expectation toward service quality of franchised outlets compared that of (non-franchised) independent ones. They also tend to believe that franchisees deliver standardized service at the uniform food price, regardless of their locations. Such beliefs seem to be important reasons that consumers prefer franchised outlets to independent ones. Nevertheless, few studies examined the impact of qualify features of franchisees on customer satisfaction so far. To this end, this study examined the characteristics of various quality features of franchisees in the food service industry, regarding their relationship with customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction. The quality perception of heavy-users was also compared with that of light-users in order to find insights for developing differentiated marketing strategy for the two segments. Customer satisfaction has been understood as a one-dimensional construct while there are recent studies that insist two-dimensional nature of the construct. In this regard, Kano et al. (1984) suggested to categorize quality features of a product or service into five types, based on their relation to customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction: Must-be quality, Attractive quality, One-dimensional quality, Indifferent quality, and Reverse quality. According to the Kano model, customers are more dissatisfied when Must-be quality(M) are not fulfilled, but their satisfaction does not arise above neutral no matter how fully the quality fulfilled. In comparison, customers are more satisfied with a full provision of Attactive quality(A) but manage to accept its dysfunction. One-dimensional quality(O) results in satisfaction when fulfilled and dissatisfaction when not fulfilled. For Indifferent quality(I), its presence or absence influences neither customer satisfaction nor dissatisfaction. Lastly, Reverse quality(R) refers to the features whose high degree of achievement results in customer dissatisfaction rather than satisfaction. Meanwhile, the basic guidelines of the Kano model have a limitation in that the quality type of each feature is simply determined by calculating the mode statistics. In order to overcome such limitation, the relative importance of each feature on customer satisfaction (Better value; b) and dissatisfaction (Worse value; w) were calculated following the formulas below (Timko, 1993). The Better value indicates how much customer satisfaction is increased by providing the quality feature in question. In contrast, the Worse value indicates how much customer dissatisfaction is decreased by providing the quality feature. Better = (A + O)/(A+O+M+I) Worse = (O+M)/(A+O+M+I)(-1) An on-line survey was performed in order to understand the nature of quality features of franchisees in the food service industry by applying the Kano Model. A total of twenty quality features (refer to the Table 2) were identified as the result of literature review in franchise business and a pre-test with fifty college students in Seoul. The potential respondents of our main survey was limited to the customers who have visited more than two restaurants/stores of the same franchise brand. Survey invitation e-mails were sent out to the panels of a market research company and a total of 257 responses were used for analysis. Following the guidelines of Kano model, each of the twenty quality features was classified into one of the five types based on customers' responses to a set of questions: "(1) how do you feel if the following quality feature is fulfilled in the franchise restaurant that you visit," and "(2) how do you feel if the following quality feature is not fulfilled in the franchise restaurant that you visit." The analyses revealed that customers' dissatisfaction with franchisees is commonly associated with the poor level of cleanliness of the store (w=-0.872), kindness of the staffs(w=-0.890), conveniences such as parking lot and restroom(w=-0.669), and expertise of the staffs(w=-0.492). Such quality features were categorized as Must-be quality in this study. While standardization or uniformity across franchisees has been emphasized in franchise business, this study found that consumers are interested only in uniformity of price across franchisees(w=-0.608), but not interested in standardizations of menu items, interior designs, customer service procedures, and food tastes. Customers appeared to be more satisfied when the franchise brand has promotional events such as giveaways(b=0.767), good accessibility(b=0.699), customer loyalty programs(b=0.659), award winning history(b=0.641), and outlets in the overseas market(b=0.506). The results are summarized in a matrix form in Table 1. Better(b) and Worse(w) index indicate relative importance of each quality feature on customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction, respectively. Meanwhile, there were differences in perceiving the quality features between light users and heavy users of any specific franchise brand in the food service industry. Expertise of the staffs was labeled as Must-be quality for heavy users but Indifferent quality for light users. Light users seemed indifferent to overseas expansion of the brand and offering new menu items on a regular basis, while heavy users appeared to perceive them as Attractive quality. Such difference may come from their different levels of involvement when they eat out. The results are shown in Table 2. The findings of this study help practitioners understand the quality features they need to focus on to strengthen the competitive power in the food service market. Above all, removing the factors that cause customer dissatisfaction seems to be the most critical for franchisees. To retain loyal customers of the franchise brand, it is also recommended for franchisor to invest resources in the development of new menu items as well as training programs for the staffs. Lastly, if resources allow, promotional events, loyalty programs, overseas expansion, award-winning history can be considered as tools for attracting more customers to the business.

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