• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.23-35
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• 2009

A hypermarket as the one of the most globally standardized retailing format is also the type of store among various types of stores that the most active in expanding into other foreign markets. Recently, as several Korean retailing companies start to penetrate into Chinese market they differentiate themselves with modern facilities and customers service oriented high-end concept. China and Korea as Far East Asian countries share many common values, however precise and careful analysis should be carried out since there may also be critical differences in socio-economic aspects as well as in consumption patterns due to the level of development stages of retail industry among two countries. Even though precise and careful study is crucial on Chinese retailing market and consumers, none of researches and studies on 'how the quality of service dimensional structure is different between Korea and China', and 'what will be the most important and influential service dimensional factors for Chinese consuers compared to the hypermarkets customers in Korea' in order to improve the level of Chinese consumers satisfaction' have been fulfilled At this point of view, this study uses KD-SQS (Rho Eun Jung & Sir Yong Gu, 2008) which is a measure of Korean hypermarkets service quality to set up a hypothesis on Korean and Chinese consumers, and an empirical analysis is conducted. We try to get the answers about how the comparative importance of Service quality dimensions which decides the level of customer satisfaction is different depending on the cultural dimensions and socio-economic factors among two countries, Korea and China. Based upon the results, we try to give a valuable suggestion of what service dimensional factors should be reinforced to improve the level of CS in Chinese retailing market. Hypotheses for this study are as follows : H1. Each dimension of Service Quality significantly affects the level of CS H2. The effect of 'Basic Benefit' in service quality dimensions on the level of CS is greater in China than in Korea H3. The effect of 'Promotion' in service quality dimensions on the level of CS is greater in China than in Korea H4. The effect of 'Physical Aspects'in service quality dimensions on the level of CS is greater in Korea than in China. H5. The effect of 'Personal Interaction' in service quality dimensions on the level of CS is greater in China than in Korea H6. The effect of 'Policy' in service quality dimensions on the level of CS will be greater in Korean than in China H7. The effect of additional convenience in service quality dimensions on the level of CS will be greater in Korean than in China. More than 1,100 data were collected directly from the surveys of Chinese and Korean consumers in order to verify the hypotheses above. In Korea, stores which have floor space of over $9,000m^2$and opened later than year 2000 were selected for the samples, and thus Gayang, Wolgye, Sangbong, Eunpyeong, Suh-Suwon, Gojan stores and their customers were surveyed. In China, notable differences in the income levels and consumer behaviors between cities and regions were considered, and thus the research area was limited to the stores only in Shanghai. 6 stores which have the size of over $6,000m^2$ and opened later than 2000, such as Ruihong, Intu, Mudanjang, Sanrin, Raosimon, and Ranchao stores were selected for the survey. SPSS 12.0 and AMOS 7.0 were used as statistical tools, and exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and multi-group analysis were conducted. In order to carry out a multi group analysis that decides whether the structure variables which shows the different effects of 6 service dimensions in Korean and Chinese groups is statistically valid, configural invariance, metric invariance, and structural invariance are tested in order. At the results of the tests, 3 out of 7 hypotheses were supported and other 4 hypotheses were denied. According to the study, 4 dimensions (Basic Benefit, Physical Environment, Policy, and additional convenience) were positively correlated with CS in Korea, and 3 dimensions (i.e. basic benefit, policy, additional convenience) were significant in China. However, the significance of the service-dimensions was turned out to be partially different in Korea and China. The Basic Benefit is more influential in deciding the level of CS in china than Korea, however Physical Aspect is more important factor in Korea. 'Policy dimension' did not make significant difference between two countries. In the 'additional convenience dimension', the differences in 'socio-economic factors' than in'cultural background' were considered as more important in Chinese consumers than Korean. Overall, the improvement of Service quality will be crucial factors to increase the level of CS in Chinese market same as Korean market. In addition, more emphases need to be placed on the service qualities of 'Basic Benefit' and 'additional convenience' dimensions in China. In particular, 'low price' and 'product diversity' that constitute 'Basic Benefit' are proved to be comparatively disadvantageous and weak points of Korean companies compared to global players, and thus the prompt strengthening those dimensions would be urgent for Korean retailers. Moreover, additional conveniences such as various tenants and complex service and entertaining area will be more important in China than in Korea. Besides, Applying advanced Korean Hypermaret`s customer policy to Chinese consumers will help to get higher reliability and to differentiate themselves to other competitors. However, as personal interaction, physical aspect, promotions were proved as not significant for the level of CS in China, Korean companies need to reconsider the priority order of resource allocations when they tap into Chinese market.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.117-128
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• 2005

Purpose: The study examines the condition of medication counseling to determine the patient customers' demands, with the purpose of providing a basic data to improve the condition of medication counseling for phamacists and clinical nurses. Method: Questionnaire was completed by 150 nursing students. For data analysis, the SPSS win 10.0 program was used. Result: The contents of medication counseling given by the pharmacists in order of frequency were($100\%$ means 'always'): way of use$(78.7\%)$, period of taking medicine $(63.3\%)$, dosage$(46.7\%)$, effect$(27.3\%)$, drug name$(18.7\%)$, diet$(12.7\%)$, question of taking other drug$(12.7\%)$, giving a notice$(12.0\%)$, way of storage$(7.3\%)$, side effects$(6.0\%)$, drug interaction$(3.3\%)$' The needs and demands desired by the patients in order of frequency were('the most important' is given 10 points, followed by the others in numerically decreasing order until 0): effect(8.68), way of use(7.60), side effect(7.20), giving a notice(6.38), dosage (5.95), drug name(5.67), a period of taking medicine(5.60), drug interaction(4.37), diet(3.63), the way of storage(3.03). Most of the respondents were satisfied with the pharmacists' kindness$(62.7\%)$. Some recognized the medication counseling was quite good$(16.7\%)$, but the majority felt it was modest$(50.8\%)$' Nearly half of them felt the medication counseling time was quiet short$(47.3\%)$' The communication was mostly oral$(83.3\%)$, while others used sticker$(6.0\%)$ or leaflet$(6.0\%)$ additionally. There was a significant correlation between pharmacists' kindness and medication counseling content(p<,01), and also recognition(p<.001). The correlation between the number of medication counseling which gave to the patient customer and the recognition was also significant (p<.001). As the number of medication counseling increased, the patient felt the medication counseling time was adequate(p<.05). The correlation between the medication counseling recognition and the adequate time was also very significant(p<.001). Conclusion: These results revealed the situation of medication counseling to be poor and to be differ from the patient customers' demands. Therefore optimal medication counseling, especially regarding possible side effects and drug interaction should be emphasized. Pharmacists and clinical nurses should give qualitative medication counseling which reflects the patients' demands.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.111-120
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• 2016

Unlike the past, brick-and-mortar is no longer on the priority list for the shopping activity. Instead, it is replaced by various non-store shopping alternatives, such as Internet, TV, catalog, mobile, etc. As consumers engage digitally, they made fewer trips to stores. Especially, as mobile shopping made the price comparison possible while shopping in the store, new shopping trend of 'showrooming' came to the fore as the serious issue. In order to cope with the this crisis, many brick-and-mortar retailers utilize omni-channel strategy for their countermeasure. This research paper is to suggest the omni-channel strategy that is applicable for the brick-and-mortar retailers. The results are as follows. First, in order to set up the connected-channel shopping environment, consumers have to be exposed to the environment that can deliver the continuous brand experience under the same price policy, brand and store management, etc, as integrating the various purchasing channels into one. Especially, in-store environment needs to change for the place where consumer experience is stressed for the most as using virtual reality devices with augmented reality technology. Also, the online digital kiosk, and tablet that consumer can order the products through the online channel while shopping in-store Second, the barrier-free in-store environment should be offered in order to increase the consumer convenience. This change will allow consumer communicate with the store environment more effectively. Lastly, brick-and-mortar should extend the physical territory as utilizing the offline's advantage and disadvantage through setting up the digital interactive wall or pop-up store for increasing the opportunity of customer interaction with the store. Moreover, visiting service for the elderly, housewife with the baby, or disabled person will be one of the effective substitute.

• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.31-39
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• 2012

This is the time we need differentiated strategy due to consumer's standard of purchasing is becoming more complicated and corporate marketing war is intensely competitive. For a long-term strategy, making competitive corporate image is important because companies have their own competitiveness. In addition, importance of having a relationship with customer is magnified through consumers'direct and indirect experience. "The corporate complex cultural space is designed place for experiential marketing to convey its meaning to consumers." Under above concept, this study analyzed the theory of experiential marketing and conducted a survey which is based on experiential marketing strategic module (SEMs) using the analyzed theory. This study drew expression characteristics of space through case analysis and conducted a survey to have more effective corporate complex cultural space. As a result, the experience in the space enables people to understand of the space through five senses, not consist of simply chucks of sense-date, and this result emphasizes the importance of 'Event' because people tend to escape from restriction for reality to relive stress and have emotional satisfaction. In addition, it shows expression characteristics which provide sympathy as a flexible interaction through symbolical image. The result of the expression characteristics' survey is showed up to improve effect of corporate complex cultural space. This study is analyzing the corporate complex cultural space through experience marketing for the company which wants provide differentiated experience of various space expression methods and catching current position. Also, this study places its significance to give a way to increase space preference and effect of corporate complex cultural space. Based on the result of this study, I hope the future corporate complex cultural space will develop refreshingly.

• Design Convergence Study
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.69-84
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• 2017

Service blueprint is used to show the interaction between each service element at a glance and to understand the flow of the whole service centering on the customer at the stage of proposing a new service system. It was proposed in the 1980s before online business was developed. However, current services are changing in a way that provides various forms and channels, and the service blueprint seems to be not enough. To reflect this problem consciousness, we selected PSS among diversified service business models and propose a service blueprint type optimized for each business. After collecting 137 PSS cases to be used in the research, we made a business matrix and classified the cases and selected two representative cases to conduct two experiments. As a result, six types of service blueprint corresponding to the matrix could be derived: online service type, online remote support type, self rental type, online order type, traditional type, and offline support type. The validity of the proposed types of service blueprint was verified to confirm the suitability of those types.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.133-141
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• 2012

Service and manufacturing companies' efforts are increasingly focused on utilizing services to satisfy customers' needs and survive in today's competitive market environment. The value of services depends mainly on service reliability that is identified by satisfaction derived from the relationship between customer and service provider. In this paper, we extend concepts from the failure modes and effects analysis of tangible systems to services. We use an event-based process model to facilitate service design and represent the relationships between functions and failures in a service. The objective of this research is to propose a method for evaluating service reliability based on service processes using fuzzy failure mode effects analysis (FMEA) and grey theory. We define the failure mode of service as interaction ways that can be failed in a service delivery process. The fuzzy set theory is used to characterize service reliability based on linguistic terms during FMEA. Grey theory is employed to determine the degree of relation and ranking among risk factors that are represented as potential failure causes. To demonstrate implementation of the proposed method, we use a case study involving a typical automotive service operation.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.1050-1057
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• 2016

SNS (Social network service) characteristics are perceived to simplify use. We carried out empirical studies on these parameters to observe the impact on the image of catering SNS online by word-of-mouth. The subjects of the study were as follows: 32.3% (392 persons) 19 years old, 67.7% (821 persons) over 19 years, 51.0% (619 persons) in their 20s, 22.1% (268 persons) in their 30s, 17.6% in their 50s, and 9.3% (112 persons) over 50 years. After verifying the hypothesis proposed that SNS characteristics perceived the ease of use, the significant factor identified in usability were connectivity Speed (${\beta}=0.213$), playfulness (${\beta}=0.246$), information (${\beta}=0.115$), and reciprocity (${\beta}=0.357$). Dual reciprocity had the most impact. It was observed that a longer impact of these significant factors improved the feel and fun of use. If SNS companies cater to, quick and easy, diverse, reliable and latest information, they can increase the ease of use, and availability, depending on the goals. Also, significant factors in the SNS features and online word of mouth was playfulness (${\beta}=0.312$), information (${\beta}=0.207$), reciprocity (${\beta}=0.066$) and perceived ease of use, and usefulness (${\beta}=0.293$), double playfulness had the maximum impact. These features provided more fun, reliable information, and could quickly deliver the latest information. The more the perceived usefulness, and ease of use, higher was the online word-of-mouth effect. SNS usage characteristics of connectivity Speed did not show any statistical significance in online word-of-mouth. Thus, catering businesses need to find ways to increase the ease of use, make the usefulness multifaceted, constantly checking the catering information on the SNS and ensuring to get the latest information is from diverse and reliable sources. This would increase the fun for the customer making the SNS to actively be utilized as a marketing tool.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.10 no.10
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• pp.23-34
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• 2019

Purpose - Most past studies related to this focused on the physical attractiveness of service employees, but this study emphasizes the social attractiveness and not just the physical attractiveness of employees. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to first categorize attractiveness as physical attractiveness and social attractiveness and to examine the impact of physical attractiveness on social attractiveness for service industry employees. Secondly, this study aimed at verifying the impact of physical attractiveness and social attractiveness on interpersonal trust. Third, it aimed at revealing the impact of interpersonal trust on customer satisfaction, as well as satisfaction on loyalty. Research design, data, and methodology - Questionnaires were distributed to customers that used beauty salon services, among the various service industries, to verify the hypothesis of this study. Also, hypothesis was analyzed with the structural equation method using Amos 20.0. Results - When presenting the results on verifying the research hypothesis, it was found that physical attractiveness had a positive impact on social attractiveness. Second, while physical attractiveness did not have a positive impact on interpersonal trust, social attractiveness was found to have a positive impact on interpersonal trust. Such results show that in forming interpersonal trust, social attractiveness was more important than physical attractiveness for service industry employees. This result is in contrast with the results of past studies, but it is different in that previous studies suggested only physical attractiveness and did not present social attractiveness in the hypothesis. Third, it was found that interpersonal trust had a positive impact on satisfaction, while satisfaction did not have a positive impact on loyalty. Conclusions - The biggest implication of this study is that it presented social attractiveness, which was rarely dealt with in past studies. Also, this study is significant in that it examined the relationship of physical attractiveness and social attractiveness. The results of this study show that in the service industry, the role of human elements such as service employees is important and that in addition to physical attractiveness, social attractiveness in the course of interaction such as communication with customers can also be an important strategic element.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.157-165
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• 2016

To provide the baseline for pricing, this paper proposes pricing-by-rating (PBR) as pricing model at micro-foundations level that can work as the baseline for all pricing models as well as an assessment criterion of business model in all circumstances. It sets up firstly WTP (willingness to pay/purchase) model from explicit needs and develops PBR based on the ordinal scale of the difference between the WTP and the WTS (willingness to supply/sell) by comparing individually the corresponding element/component of a firm's actual marketing mix 4P with that of the best SPEC (solution, price indicator by WTP, encouragement, channel) as an ideal 4P a customer expects and also by comparing the interaction between the 4P and the best SPEC as a whole collectively. And through illustrations it shows its applicability to evaluating business model in practice and finally asserts that PBR works as the baseline for pricing policy and as a criterion of business model evaluation in any circumstances.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.75-84
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• 2006

The internet has the capabilities of supporting and facilitating several forms of consumer interaction including one-to-one, one to many, or many-to-many interactions. Especially, previous studies revealed that the Online Word-of-Mouth communication is widely used as a source of customer's information seeking and purchase decision making. Even with this importance of the Online Word-of-Mouth communication on internet, few research has systematically addressed the issue. This study investigates the effect of interpersonal communication on consumers' information search activities and develops a model that depicts the key antecedents and mediating variables of interpersonal communication in internet shopping environment. The results are as follows: First, choice uncertainty, perceived risk, and knowledge uncertainty play an important role for perceived usefulness. Second, perceived usefulness has directly affected interactive communication of consumers' communication style. Thus, it is essential for internet companies to find ways to encourage their customers to engage in word-of-mouth communication.