• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.49-67
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• 2007

The rapid spread of Internet has significant effects on changes in the distribution channel. The direct transaction between manufacturer and consumer could create the threats of dis-intermediation to existing channel members as middlemen. Air-ticket market also has changed in Internet marketing channel era. This study is mainly concerned with understanding the reaction of travel agency to Internet marketing channel. The objectives of this study is to propose and test the model that the perceived threats of dis-intermediation affect the reactions of travel agency: increasing channel competence, decreasing concentration, and deriving diversification. The model basically adopted the arguments of intertype competition, considering the arguments of re- intermediation in order to explain the reaction of using Internet. The result of survey from 158 travel agencies supported most of hypotheses. All the hypotheses are accepted except the relationship between threats of dis-intermediation and increasing channel competence.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.11-22
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• 2014

Purpose - The domestic franchise industry has made significant contributions to industry such as investment, employment, and community economy development, facilitating growth potential. The franchise industry provides management knowhow transfer between parent companies and franchisees as per contracts addressing use of business signs, franchisees' independent position, franchisor support, and royalties to be paid to the franchisors. However, many franchisors lack management knowhow and provide insufficient support because of poor control of franchisees and not having a systematic approach to support. This results in dissatisfied franchisees and failure to establish long-term relationships. Few studies have examined relational commitment and/or re-contract intention by support resources between franchisors and franchisees, despite a considerable output of theories and studies of the growth of the franchise industry. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine the effects of the ability to provide resources on relational commitments and re-contract intention, and to suggest causal relationships and implications. Research design, data, and methodology - The subject was domestic franchisors registered with the Association of Franchise with more than 50 franchisees. Franchisees under contract for 2 years and considering re-contract of their franchise 2 years later were used. The subjects totaled 300 franchisees in Seoul. A questionnaire survey was used to investigate the subject of franchisees' concessions during the 10 days from November 21, 2013 to November 30, 2013. After excluding 16 surveys with poor answers, 284 responses were finally used. Four areas and 44 questions were used. A nominal scale was used for four common characteristics questions including gender, ages, educational background, and franchise managing time. Questions regarding ability, relational commitment, and re-contract intention made use of a Likert 5-point scale. Data coding and data cleaning were used. SPSS 18.0 was used as follows. First, frequency analysis was done to investigate demographic characteristics. Second, exploratory factor analysis was done to verify validity of testing tools, and Cronbach's α coefficient was used to verify reliability. Third, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were done. An exploratory factor analysis was done to verify validity of concepts. A correlation analysis was done to test relationships between the variables, and multiple regression analysis was done to verify franchisor's ability, franchisees' relational commitment, and re-contract intention. Results - The following were the outcomes. First, store operation management, finance operation management, and human resource management affected the calculated bond. Second, store operation management and finance operation management affected the emotional bond. Third, store operation management, finance operation management, human resource management, and marketing management affected the prescriptive bond. Fourth, calculated bond and prescriptive bond had an effect on re-contract intention. Conclusions - As stated above, in franchise management, parent companies' offer and instruction of core competence to their franchisees as an information resource could improve the relational bond by helping them grow together through the resource sharing. Consequently, core competence factors were promoting factors that could improve franchisees' re-contract intention for a long time.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.103-115
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• 2016

Purpose - Our research started out with an assumption that a further study about the competency of B2B and B2C salespeople is needed, and has thus focused on enhancing their abilities throughout various fields. It seems that the ability of sales representatives has a positive influence on the image and revenue of the company. Since businesses find it apparent that the role of salespeople will become significant in the future, our research aims to provide a foundation for future research on exploring the necessary competencies for salespeople by conducting an in-depth interview as well as survey. Research design, data, and methodology - The methods of our research can be broken down into four steps - an interview on salespeople, eliciting salespeople's potential competency, surveys, and analysis. First, our research team conducted interviews on forty subjects. Second, we strived to elicit potential competency of salespeople based on data gained from previous studies and in-depth interviews. And Third, we came up with our own survey templates. Last but not least, our research team analyzed the results from the surveys to elicit necessary capabilities for the salespeople. Results - The results of our research show a clear distinction between B2B and B2C salespeople on all categories that we measured such as the character fitness, competence of emotion and sales marketing. As for B2B salespeople, the results indicated openness(M: 3.8265) in character fitness, and self-motivation(M: 4.1887), group cognition(M: 3.8735), teamwork(M: 3.9956) in competence of emotion, and previous research(M: 3.8735), proposal of values(M: 4.3873), cooperation with other team(M: 4.0441) in competence of sales marketing. The difference in capability required between B2B salespeople and B2C salespeople was very pronounced. Conclusions - For future studies, enhanced pool of subjects with various backgrounds is needed in order for our research to reach a wide range of population. The results from our research are advised to be used for eliciting the competency required by salespeople and for a practical application to further enhance their competency. Companies need continuous efforts to develop the skills of salespeople based on competence analysis and research of sales representatives.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.59-68
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• 2019

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to examine the differential mediating effects of three dimensions of buyer trust in the influence of supplier characteristics on the relationship performance. In this study, transaction characteristics were classified into competences and assets. The corporate reputation is considered as intangible assets, the customer-linking capability is considered among the competencies and transaction specific asset is selected from tangible assets. This study is also to examine the moderating effect of technical environment uncertainty in the effects of integrity and benevolence on the intention to continue trading. This study aims to provide a guide on which dimension suppliers should manage and how to improve their trust in order to maintain business with companies in technical environment uncertainty. Research design, data, and methodology - The data for the empirical analysis of this study were obtained by interviewing the 274 purchasing managers of Daegu - Gyeongbuk small and medium enterprises. The items used in this survey were partially modified to fit the characteristics of the B2B industry. The reliability and validity of the variables were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0 programs and hypotheses were verified through the structural equation modeling. Results - In this study, reliability was examined by Cronbach 'α test. Composite Reliability and Average Mean Variance extracted value exceeded the baseline values. As a result of hypotheses testing, the hypothesis that the transaction specific asset will improve the benevolence and that benevolence will improve the intention to continue the transaction were rejected and all the other 9 hypotheses were adopted include 2 moderating hypothesis. Conclusions - This study shows which dimension of trust suppliers should appeal to the buyer according to the uncertainty of the technology environment in order to maintain the transaction with the buyer. competence and integrity are important when technology environment uncertainty is low, and competence and benevolence are important when technical environment uncertainty is high. In order to improve competence, corporate reputation and transaction-specific asset are important. To improve integrity, corporate reputation and customer-linking capability are important. In order to improve benevolence, customer-linking capability is important. And various implications were discussed.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.33-45
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• 2018

Purpose - This study analyzes how Hanssem, which ranks first in domestic market in the furniture industry, responds to the expansion of IKEA, a large overseas furniture maker, and investigates the recent strategic changes of Hanssem and IKEA. Research design, data, and methodology - As a research method, a general method of case studies, literature research, is carried out through academic research results, reports, articles, and statistics. In addition, methods such as field observation and interview with stakeholder were performed to collect in-depth understanding and information about the companies. Results - Along with its core competences, Hanssem has pursued strategic changes to compensate for its weaknesses. IKEA has also used a variety of strategies changes to match the situation in Korea. Conclusion - Both companies have properly balanced localization elements and standardization strategies that value the needs of local consumers. In particular, Hanssem has implemented various strategies based on its core competence in response to IKEA's strategy. In addition, Hanssem and IKEA are actively managing and have good performance not only in Korea but also in foreign markets.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.61-67
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• 2015

Purpose - Exports have long been regarded as significant drivers of sustainable competitive advantage and growth among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The export activities of SMEs are particularly important in the context of export-oriented economies such as Korea. Although many studies have examined the determinants of exports, it is difficult to find empirical studies about the determinants of the export performance of regional SMEs. This study investigates the determinants of export performance in the regional SME context based on an integrated approach that combines the environment factor of industrial organization theory, competitive strategy theory, and the competences of the resource-based view. Research design, data, and methodology - To empirically analyze the determinants of export performance in the regional SMEs, data were collected from firms in the Daegu metropolitan area. Data were collected directly through questionnaire surveys; in addition, secondary financial data were also taken from the KIS-VALUE database. Out of the 175 responses that were received, 143 were considered to be worth examining. After testing the reliability and validity of the variables through multiple items such as environmental turbulence and competitive strategy, hypotheses were verified by using five multi-regression models. These models were: a control model with organizational size and age, an environmental model with technology and market turbulence, a competency model with R&D and foreign distribution channels, a strategy model with product and market differentiation, and an integrated model including all of these variables. Results - First, as a control variable, the organization size has significant positive effects on export performance. Second, technology turbulence based on industrial organization theory has significant positive effects on export performance, but market turbulence does not affect export performance. Third, the foreign market distribution competency of the resource-based view has strong positive effects on export performance, but the R&D competency does not affect export performance. Fourth, the product differentiation strategy from competitive strategy theory positively impacts export performance, but market differentiation does not affect export performance. Finally, in the integrated model, only the foreign distribution competency of the resource-based view has a significant effect on export performance. Conclusions - The empirical results of this study verified the usefulness of the rationales behind the three theories to explain the export performance of the regional SMEs, especially the importance of the foreign market distribution competency from the resource-based view. With regard to practical considerations, this study's implications suggest that the use of technological environmental changes by industries is better than the use of market changes. Further, the use of the product differentiation strategy is more effective than the use of the market-driving strategy, and the distribution channel competency plays a stronger role than the technology-oriented competency with regard to the export performance position of regional SMEs. Future studies should examine relational perspectives, such as trust among channel partners. Therefore, the configuration approach is more useful in enhancing pragmatism by comparing high- and low-export companies.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.83-97
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• 2002

With the limited resources the proper distribution of the national R&D investment is very crucial to improving the national competence. This crucial decision should be based on the priorities which are driven with the consideration about the relative importance among the scientific technology fields. Such priorities can be useful in planning the national R&D investment and in determining the direction of the national R&D investment policy. In this paper, we used the AHP in order to drive systematically and scientifically the priorities of the major science and technology areas in the national R&D investment, and also analyzed the evaluation differences among the expert groups.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.57-67
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• 2019

Purpose - This study aims to examine the impact of work values on entrepreneurial attitudes, and test the moderating effect of entrepreneurial opportunity identification on the above mentioned relationship as well. Research design, data, and methodology - A questionnaire survey was conducted to 258 employees who comes from 8 different types of the enterprises in northwestern of China, and the corresponding research model was verified. Results - The results show that "comfort and security" (one dimension of work values) has a significant negative impact on entrepreneurial attitudes. Another two dimensions of work values, such as "competence and growth" and "status and independence" have a significant positive impact on entrepreneurial attitudes. In addition, entrepreneurial opportunity identification has a significant moderating effect on the relations between work values and entrepreneurial attitudes. Specifically, only the entrepreneurship opportunity identification positively moderates the relationship between status & independence and entrepreneurial attitudes. Conclusions - This research further enriches the relevant theories of organizational behavior and entrepreneurships. This study also has guiding significance and value for management practice, especially for this research results implies, that is, individual's ability to entrepreneurial opportunity identification (e.g., identify feasible distribution channel for potential new venture) is important in entrepreneurship.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.101-112
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aims to explain the effect distribution strategy and competitiveness of entrepreneurial personality on marketing capabilities and performance, the effect of marketing capabilities on marketing performance, the role of marketing capabilities as a mediating variable on the effect of entrepreneurial personality on marketing performance, and the role of credit access moderating effect of entrepreneurial personality on marketing capabilities and performance. Research design, data, and methodology: This research was conducted in Bali, on a small clothing industry. The sample size was set at 150 respondents, using a cluster random sampling approach. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis techniques and partial least square. Result: The findings show that; entrepreneurial personality and marketing capabilities have a significant effect on marketing performance, entrepreneurial personality has a significant effect on marketing capabilities. Another result shows that marketing capability mediates the effect of entrepreneurial personality on marketing performance, access to credit acts as a moderating predictor, and as quasi moderating the effect of entrepreneurial personality on marketing performance. Conclusions: Entrepreneurs should try to increase their knowledge and skills in marketing formally or informally. Competence in terms of individual knowledge and skills can indicate social capital investment, which indirectly contributes to one's mindset and insight.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.59-79
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to verify the relationship between consumer 's self - determination psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relevance) related to fair trade and brand equity related to fair trade products through empirical analysis. It is meaningful that it is linked to strategic brand management based on consumer need satisfaction. As a result of empirical analysis of this study, Fair Trade attitude plays an important role in the relationship between self - determination psychological desire and brand equity. Especially, Consumer need Satisfaction with competence was found to be a strategically important construct. Based on the results of this study, it is expected to provide important implications for future strategic management of brand equity related to Fair Trade products.