• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.63-73
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• 2011

The relationship between buyers and sellers is changing into a long-term relationship. A number of distribution channel researchers have determined that the behavior of distribution channel members can be characterized by relational exchanges. The members of relational distribution channels may be perceived as strategic partners; however, even within these arrangements, member asymmetries may exist, which can create unequal distributions of power and dependence. Thus, as all distribution channel members may not be equal in power, it is possible that a less-dependent channel leader may emerge. Therefore, leadership in distribution channels is a very important variable. Distribution channel leadership can be defined as the activities undertaken by the distribution channel leader to influence the marketing programs and strategies of channel members. A distribution channel's performance is influenced by the leadership style of the channel leader. Although research on channel leadership styles can be broadly categorized, many researchers have dealt with analyzing distribution channel leadership by using the power-influence approach, which includes looking at variables, such as power, power base, and influence strategies. Moreover, they have examined the direct relationship between leadership styles and performance. Many distribution channel scholars have attempted to justify the application of leadership styles identified in alternative leadership theories to the inter-organizational context of distribution channels. They have made suggestions regarding how great the usefulness of leadership style as a strategy is to secure the compliance of distribution channel members and have conceptually and empirically linked it to channel-related phenomena, such as manifest conflict, cooperation, channel efficiency, and effectiveness. However, as few empirical studies have examined the antecedents and consequences of leadership styles, research on leadership style can be considered nascent. Thus, it is required to investigate the antecedents and consequences of the leadership style of a distribution channel leader. This study aims to empirically identify whether there are influences of the antecedents of leadership on two different leadership styles, and to reveal whether these leadership styles induce any consequences. The research subjects were 220 franchisees. Research findings are as follows: First, the results show a positive effect of technological capability on transformational relationships. However, it does not have a significant effect on transactional leadership. Second, innovation-oriented organizational culture has negatively influenced both leaderships. However, task-oriented organizational culture positively and significantly influenced both forms of leadership. Third, the ethics of leaders has influenced both leadership styles positively and significantly. Fourth, regarding consequences, transformational leadership strengthens financial performances, whereas it weakens relational citizenship behaviors. However, transactional leadership positively influences relational citizenship behavior whilst negatively affecting financial performance.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.119-134
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• 2018

Today, many firms face the environment of high uncertainty and severe competition due to the rapid technology development and the diverse needs of customers. In the business environment, one of the most important ways to gain sustainable competitive advantage and future growth engine is related to NPD (New Product Development), which is a very important issue for practice and academia. Thus, this study intends to provide new values to practitioners and researchers related to NPD by analyzing current research trends and future trends in NPD field. For this, we bibliometrically analyzed keyword networks which consist of keywords that were already published in the eminent journals from Scopus database to generate insights that have not been captured in the previous reviews on the topic. As a result, we could understand the extant research streams in NPD field, and suggest the changes of specific research topics based on the connected relationships among keywords over the time. In addition, we also foresaw the general future research trends in NPD field based on the keywords according to preferential attachment processes. Through this study, it was confirmed that NPD keyword network is a small world network that follows the distribution of power law and the growth of network is formed by link formation by keyword preferential attachment. In addition, through component analysis and centrality analysis, keywords such as Innovation, New product innovation, Risk management, Concurrent engineering, Research and development, and Product life cycle management are highly centralized in NPD keyword network. On the other hand, as a result of examining the change of preferential attachment of keywords over the time, we suggested the required new research direction including i) NPD collaboration with suppliers, ii) NPD considering market uncertainty, iii) NPD considering convergence with the other academic areas like technology management and knowledge management, iv) NPD from SME(Small and medium enterprises) perspective. The results of this study can be used to determine the research trends of NPD and the new research themes for interdisciplinary studies with other disciplines.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.75-89
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• 2021

Currently, small business owners are facing a situation where it is difficult to run their business in the existing way due to the spread of digital technology and the prolonged COVID-19. As a necessary competency for them, this study focused on digital literacy and examined the relationship between digital literacy and individual and market characteristics, business performance of small business owners. The specific research purpose is to examine the effect of entrepreneurial characteristics, which are individual factors, and market characteristics, which are environmental factors, on business performance and the mediating effect of digital literacy. In previous studies, various factors explaining the business performance of small business owners were reviewed, and innovation and self-determination, which are entrepreneurial characteristics of small business owners, and market competition and growth were derived as independent variables, and financial and non-financial performance were set as dependent variables. The hypothesis was established as digital literacy was expected to play a role in mediating the relationship between independent and dependent variables. For empirical research, a survey was conducted on small business owners across the country, and the analysis results are summarized as follows. It was found that the innovation and self-determination of small business owners had a positive (+) significant effect on financial and non-financial performance. In addition, it was confirmed that the degree of competition in the market had no significant effect on financial and non-financial performance, and that the growth of the market had a significant positive (+) effect on financial and non-financial performance. In the case of the mediating effect of digital literacy, it was confirmed that innovation had a partial mediating effect on non-financial performance, and digital literacy had a complete mediating effect on the effect of market competition on financial and non-financial performance. Finally, it was confirmed that digital literacy has a partial mediating effect on the effect of market growth on non-financial performance. Looking at the results, it can be seen that the entrepreneurial characteristics of small business owners, which correspond to innovation and self-determination, directly act as a factor to increase business performance, and market characteristics indirectly increase digital literacy to achieve results. Based on the above research results, the implications and limitations of the study and future research directions were presented together.

• Journal of Venture Innovation
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.77-99
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• 2024

Small and medium-sized venture companies and small business owners play an important role in the Korean economy. According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' statistics survey in 2019, the proportion of all employees of small and medium-sized venture companies in Korea was 89.8%, which is overwhelmingly higher than that of Japan's 77.8% and Taiwan's 76.6%, so job creation for small and medium-sized venture companies in Korea is absolute. Compared to large companies, it is known that it is difficult for small and medium-sized venture companies in Korea to secure a competitive advantage due to low cost competitiveness, difficulties in R&D/marketing due to lack of capital, difficulties in securing networks, and lack of management know-how. Many scholars, including Kerr and Schumpeter, have studied entrepreneurship since the mid-1950s. Recently, research has been conducted in various fields such as business administration, psychology, and economics. However, research on the personal characteristics of CEOs of small and medium-sized venture companies such as entrepreneurial passion and corporate reputation, which is the overall image of companies, is still insufficient, and comparisons of effects between variables between groups (by industry, by pressure, etc.) have not yet been presented. Entrepreneurial passion plays an important role in promoting new business creation, job creation, and economic growth. Therefore, entrepreneurial Cultivating and promoting passion will also contribute to socioeconomic development. These are government policies, educational programs, and social awareness It can be achieved through improvement, etc., and is especially important in the current market conditions where innovation and growth are important. In conclusion Entrepreneurial passion is an important factor that has a positive effect on all individuals, businesses, and society. Therefore, research on entrepreneurial passion is It is an essential task to maximize these positive effects. In this study, in order to overcome the limitations of existing studies, entrepreneurs' Whether entrepreneurial passion, which is a personal characteristic, affects competitive advantage, absorption capacity and product and process innovation capabilities are Whether there is a mediating effect between entrepreneurial passion and competitive advantage. Finally, in the relationship between entrepreneurial passion and absorption capacity. The corporate reputation verifies whether it has a moderating effect, etc., and compares the influencing factors between variables by industry and pressure. It is intended to be verified empirically. In this study, 2023 conducted by the Small and Medium Business Distribution Center under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups for 312 CEOs of small and medium-sized venture companies and small business owners who participated in the online market support project for small and medium-sized venture companies and small business owners, December 2023 Survey and analysis were conducted from 1st to 20th, and the analysis used Smart PLS 4.0 to determine the impact on the relationship between variables. It was empirically verified. As a result of the study, it was found that entrepreneurial passion had a positive effect on absorption capacity, and the product was found And it was found to have a positive effect on process innovation capability and competitive advantage. In addition, the higher the corporate reputation, the more entrepreneurial it is. It was confirmed that passion had a greater effect on absorption capacity.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.55-64
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• 2017

Purpose - PB products at convenience stores take up about 20% of all products, and strategies for differentiation from other companies and brand image building are very important. This study would investigate the strategy for differentiating PB products and successful brand building strategy, focusing on BGF Retail that is operating 'CU', the leader in the convenience store industry in Korea. Research design, data, and methodology - This study would attempt to make an exploratory approach to PB products limited to those in convenience stores. As a research subject, this study chose BGF Retail, the operator of CU, which is the leader in the convenience store industry in Korea and chose the case study method in order to examine the strategy for differentiating PB products in convenience stores more in depth. For this purpose, this study collected materials such as papers, newspaper articles and various reports on convenience store-related PB products and conducted an in-depth study including more practical contents through an interview with CU workers. Results - CU pursued the diversity of PB products and has had the diversity of products, more than 120 kinds. It founded a product research institute and has been in charge of the differentiation strategy from planning products to launching them. Changing the target layer of consumers to those in middle age of the 40s-50s, it succeeded in the strategy expanding the consumer class. In the long run, despite it changed the name of the company, it has built a successful image, and both revenue and operating profit have continuously grown up. Conclusions - In results, CU has reset the changing main target population, and the product research institute succeeded in the innovation of products, reflecting new trends the customers want. Through this study, the practical implications could be provided for competitors.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.30 no.5 s.81
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• pp.432-439
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• 2004

Korean certification regulation for particulate filtering respirators requires inward leakage (IL) test as European Standards (EN) and the standard levels of regulation are the same as those of EN. This study was conducted to evaluate particulate filtering respirators being commercially used in the market by using IL and assess the characteristics of IL. The study began with discussing the concept of IL, comparison of IL with fit test, and IL measurement method. Three brands of half masks and 10 brands of filtering facepieces (two top class, four 1st class and four 2nd class), total 13 brands respirators, and 10 test panels (subjects) who were classified in 9 facial grids in accordance with face length and lip length, were selected for IL test. IL tests were conducted in the laboratory of 3M Innovation Center which was established by EN standard. As expected ILs of half masks were lower than those of filtering facepiece mask. ILs of half masks and some filtering facepieces were significantly different in manufacturers. ILs of 1st class filtering facepieces were found to be much more than those of 2nd class and thus the result would cause wearers to get confused to select a mask. Four of six brands being no compliance with standards were thought that they should be tested again for certification because of a lot of differences from standards. There were no significant differences among ILs of five exercises. In 6 out of 13 brands lognormal distribution of ILs may be a better fit distribution and in 7 brands both lognormal and normal distributions were rejected. The result indicates that geometric mean may be better than arithmetic mean to establish standard.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.141-149
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• 2010

Aerosol size and number concentration were observed in the atmospheric boundary layer over Beijing (from near the ground to 1,200 m) on March 15 (a clear day) and 16 (a dusty day), 2005. The results were further compared with lidar measurements in order to understand the dependency of extinction on the particle size distribution and their vertical changes. The boundary layer atmosphere was composed of several sub-layers, and a dry air layer appeared between 400 and 1,000 m under the influence of dust event. In this dry air layer, the concentration of the fine-mode particles (diameter smaller than $1.0\;{\mu}m$) was slightly lower than the value on the clear day, while the concentration of coarse-mode particles (diameter larger than $1.0\;{\mu}m$) was remarkably higher than that on the clear day. This situation was attributed to the inflow of an air mass containing large amounts of Asian dust particles and a smaller amount of fine-mode particles. The results strongly suggest that the fine-mode particles affect light extinction even in the dusty atmosphere. However, quantitatively the relation between extinction and particle concentration is not satisfied under the dusty atmospheric conditions since laser beam attenuates in the atmosphere with high concentration of particles. Laser beam attenuation effect becomes larger in the relation between extinction and coarse particle content comparing the relation between extinction and fine particle content. To clarify this problem technically, future in situ measurements such as balloon-borne lidar are suggested. Here extinction was measured at 532 nm wavelength. Measurements of extinction at other wavelengths are desired in the future.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.47-55
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• 2018

Purpose - To meet the needs of various customers in an uncertain market environment, many companies use product modularization strategies. Modularization of a product means that one product consists of several components and that the type of product can be changed according to the combination of components. The greatest feature of modularity is that changes in one component do not significantly affect the physical changes in the other component to which they are connected. Modularization of products is recognized as a very important strategy to reflect increasingly complicated customer requirements to products and respond to the needs of various markets. Many studies have been made in connection with the concept of mass customer satisfaction. There are many prior studies that modularization of such products positively affects the operational performance (manufacturing cost, fast delivery, etc.) and innovation of the product. However, excessive modularization has been found to have a negative effect on this performance. However, there are very few studies on the nonlinear relationship between product modularization and customer satisfaction. Supplementing these academically insufficient parts is very necessary when considering the current market environment. Research design, data, and methodology - In order to make up for the shortcomings of academic research in Korea, this study collects data through questionnaires in electronic, auto, and defense industry. This is because these industries are using modularity of products. based on lots of previous studies and information overload theory, we made two hypothesis and verify with empirical analysis. All 108 data were used. We used the R program and SPSS program for statistical verification. Results - As a result of the study, modularization of products showed positive relationship with customer satisfaction to a certain level. However, it has been found that when the modularization is over and beyond a certain level, there is a negative relationship with customer satisfaction. Conclusions - Excessive modularization of products can have a negative impact on customer satisfaction. This result can be understood as a result of human limited rationality due to information overload. Therefore, it is important for companies to apply appropriate modularity to product design.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.75-86
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• 2017

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to grasp the concept, characteristics and application status of sharing economy, and to derive a research model based on sharing economic service, and to analyze factors and influences of consumers' intention to reuse of sharing economy. Research design, data, and methodology - The questionnaires were created to examine variables for practical and theoretical implications. After pilot survey, conducted for 24 days from March 10th to April 2st in 2017, total numbers were 377. But 330 copies were used for the analysis with IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0 and IBM SPSS AMOS 23.0. The structural equation model was applied for this. Results - First, sharing economic services remain at an early stage, but it is meaningful to identify the revenue mechanism of the business model of the sharing economic platform. Second, in this study, it is meaningful that we systematized the theoretical structure by examining existing studies on the characteristics of the sharing economic service and consumer characteristics, and by examining empirically. Third, Satisfaction and Reliability are related to the characteristics of Sharing Economic Service (Security, Convenience, Discount, Sharing, Social Interaction), Consumer Characteristics (Personal Innovation, Word-of-Mouth) It is meaningful to broaden the understanding of the factors by verifying the mediating effect. Fourth, the sharing economy business is meaningful in that it is a new consumption trend that changes the meaning of consumption to consumers. Gradually, more and more people are recalling that purchasing something is not consumption, but sharing and borrowing is also consumption. In other words, through the sharing economy, consumers can experience more products and services, have more choices, and are expected to have a positive impact on economic growth by increasing the utilization of idle resources. Conclusions - Currently, the sharing economy is growing rapidly all over the world. Therefore, in the subsequent study, it is necessary to compare Korea and China's sharing economy and study the cultural and social characteristics of Korea and China. In particular, I think that steady research is necessary for more precise and specific direction on the influence of the shared economy.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.639-645
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• 2008

The objectives of this research are to (1) observe changes in particle size distribution due to formation of microflocs during coagulation process (2) identify the membrane fouling potential on cross flow system (3) investigate the mechanism of membrane fouling. The rate of flux decline for the hydrophobic membrane was significantly greater than for the hydrophilic membrane, regardless of pretreatment conditions. The pretreatment of the raw water significantly reduced the fouling of the UF membrane. Also, the rate of flux decline for the hydrophobic membrane was considerably greater than for the hydrophilic membrane. Applying coagulation process before membrane filtration showed not only reducing membrane fouling, but also improving the removal of dissolved organic materials that might otherwise not be removed by the membrane. That is, during the mixing period, substantial changes in particle size distribution occurred under rapid and slow mixing condition due to the simultaneous formation of microflocs and NOM precipitates. Therefore, combined pretreatment using coagulation not only improved dissolved organics removal efficiency but also flux recovery efficiency.