• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.21-31
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• 2016

Purpose - With globalization, medical tourism has developed as a new industry, which attracts practitioners and academics to have more interest in researches on customers' behavior. This research was to investigate empirically WOM effects on the intention of Chinese customers when they select an international medical tourism destination. Interestingly, WOM effects on their choice and decision process may vary by the extent of their severity of illness. Research design, data, and methodology - The data was collected from 1,747 potential Chinese residents in main districts of China. Moderated regression analysis was used to estimate WOM effects on Chinese customers' choice intention. Results - Results imply that WOM determinants of tie strength, credibility, and vividness do interact with medical tourism information and affect customers' intention for health care abroad. Results also reveal that the severity of illness plays a critical moderating role in customers' decision process. Conclusions - WOM and the severity of illness are important moderators for Chinese customers to make a decision for medical tourism. It provides some implications for service organizations for developing and implementing marketing strategies in international health care markets.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.23-30
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• 2020

Purpose: Increased awareness of the environment is essential, since the general health of people and the global economy is largely dependent on the health of the environment. The purpose of this study is to increase customer awareness and also to ensure that businesses enlighten their customers on how to act in an environmentally friendly manner, which can be done, for instance, through associations. Research design, data and methodology: Scant research is available regarding what elements of marketing strategy should be applied in an environmental plan to increase customer awareness. For this reason, this study suggests a specific marketing policy that conveys several strategies for practitioners who focus on successful environmental plans for their organizations. Results: The prior literature suggests that public education, mass media, campaign publications, and electronic networking, which are becoming more common today, can be used as platforms for conveying environmental messages that will increase environmental awareness among customers. Conclusions: Organizations can use health and safety training to ensure that customers are aware of the environment. Training programs by companies that point more to the environment can make customers aware of the environment and help them adopt activities that show respect to the environment.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.91-103
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• 2020

The recent Covid-19 outbreak has caused severe disruption of the global supply chain, which tests firms' ability to survive and build resilience. The concept of adaptive supply chain management (A-SCM) has never been tested against a severe supply chain disruption, such as a pandemic. Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine how firms in Indonesia develop resilience through the implementation of components of adaptive supply chain management, namely risk management, resource reconfiguration and supply chain flexibility, in order to survive severe supply chain disruption. Research design, data and methodology: A qualitative method and PLS-SEM were used to analyze 120 data collected from Indonesian manufacturing firms in various industries. Results: The findings show that risk management, resource reconfiguration, and supply chain flexibility are important components that make up A-SCM. However, only risk management contributes to help build firm resilience in the presence of severe supply chain disruption. Conclusions: The components of A-SCM have been empirically tested. The implication is that managers should carefully use RM to prepare firms for different scenarios to develop contingency strategies. This research contributes to the supply chain management body of knowledge in the context of pandemic-level disruption and broadens the dynamic capabilities perspective.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.193-214
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• 2008

This study aims to examine similarities and differences of each e-B/L types as well as identify problems of e-B/L utilization and directions for improvement. Especially, it suggests strategies for the realization of e-B/L through reviewing and analyzing commercial types of e-B/L, which have been developed so far. Although e-B/L succeeded in realizing the function as a certificate of title and its distribution value, it has not been fully implemented due to operational problems. Subsequently, e-B/L was realized in the Bolero project as an attempt of system to make up for shortcomings in the failure of previous e-B/L types, but it has still a number of problems. To solve this problem and make use of e-B/L more efficiently, this study focuses on the specific ways to introduce e-B/L and suggest directions for the development of e-Nego system. Preparation of electronic documents is a prerequisite for the development of the e-Nego system, taking distribution of electronic documents into consideration. Next, compatibility of electronic documentation and paper-based documents should be realized, with the guarantee of authenticity of electronic documents.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.6 no.2 s.24
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• pp.69-79
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• 2005

The Purpose of cost Planning at the early Phase of construction Projects is to provide the clients with the appropriate cost information during the design decision-making process. Therefore, the cost planning process is expected not only to predict projects' cost accurately but also closely to coordinate with the design decision-making activities. This paper proposes a new cost planning method for the effective and efficient directions relating a design decision-making process. Strategies for this method are i ) to utilize elemental cost breakdown system, and ii ) to apply probabilistic distribution theories. Based on these strategic direction, this paper proposed a probabilistic cost planning model for high-rise office building projects. The suggested model provides appropriate cost information to meet clients limited budget and various project' requirements during the design decision-making process. This study is based on probabilistic distribution variables theories and the range estimating technique. This study also develops a web-based software program in order to apply the proposed cost planning model effectively in high-rise of office building construction practices.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.51-56
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• 2015

Purpose - This study examines Chinese P2P investment decision processes from a behavioral economics approach. Research design, data, and methodology - We analyze the online P2P investment product purchase decisions of 241 respondents in China, March 2015 to May 2015. T-tests were conducted to determine whether the framing effect influenced investor investment preferences. The Association Rule was used to identify the framing effect of respondent demographic characteristics on joint decisions regarding stable or risky investment products. Results - There are significant differences between the two groups (positive framing and negative framing) and their product-choosing behavior. In the positive framing group, female investors, young investors, investors with non-financial occupations and with limited or no experience, preferred stable P2P investment products. In contrast, in the negative framing group, investors with extensive investment experience preferred risky investment products. Conclusions - The framing effect influences investor choices in online P2P investment products. It is necessary to implement comprehensive supervision and full information disclosure regarding P2P investment products. P2P investment websites can also adopt different marketing strategies according to investor gender and age.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.57-63
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• 2015

Purpose - This study investigates the effects consumer perceptions of wine attributes have on repurchase intention. It examineshow wine purchase channels (online or offline) influence perceptions about wine attributes and repurchase intention. Research design, data, and methodology - A total of 390 responses from Florida residents over 21 were collected using online surveys. Responses were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis to identify the underlying wine attribute factors. Multiple regression and multi-group analysis were employed to test the hypotheses. Results - Results revealed that consumer perceptions of wine attributes (sensory, origin, reputation, and price point) significantly influence their repurchase intention. Additionally, the effects of wine attributes on repurchase intentions were found to be significantly different based on the channel used. Findings indicated that wine attributes pertaining to reputation and price point strongly influenced repurchase behavior of online consumers, while offline wine consumers were influenced more by sensory and origin attributes. Conclusions - Study findings provide useful information for wine industry sales channels for developing new marketing strategies to effectively attract wine consumers to repurchase wine.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.15-22
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• 2015

Purpose - Transparency, seller reputation, and website security are considered to be important factors that influence online customer purchasing decisions in China. This paper empirically examines the relative influence of Taobao.com on customers' online purchasing decisions. Research design, data, and methodology - We perform structural equation analysis, with a sample of 306 observations. The data comes from consumers' real transaction experiences from a specific website. This gives the results of our study more generalizability than studies using subjects who are not asked to engage in real transactions. Results - The results of this study reveal that perceived security and perceived reputation are critical factors affecting consumer trust and perceived transparency is most closely associated with purchase intention. Conclusions - The findings suggest that perceived transparency plays a significant role in increasing online consumer's purchase intention. The knowledge of the relative impacts of these factors and their roles in the customer transaction experience will be useful in developing customized sales strategies. The results of this study reveal that perceived transparency exerts a stronger effect than perceived reputation on consumer purchase intentions.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.23-31
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• 2015

Purpose - This study investigated competitive counteractions necessary for continuous growth in a rapidly changing logistics environment in Northeast Asia. Research Design, Data, and Methodology - Using a time series analysis, the study first investigated Northeast Asian trade scale and volume by examining online and offline material from the Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries, Busan Port Authority, and other government agencies. A literature survey was done to investigate the state and prospect of the logistics environment in Northeast Asia including changes in freight volume at major ports in the three Northeast Asian countries. Result - The results of the study suggest using the Trans-Korean Railroad (TKR), as well as promoting the North Pole and South Pole routes, to compete against changes in trade volume and the logistics environment in Northeast Asia. A SWOT analysis was done to examine the effectiveness of these strategies. Conclusions - The findings indicate that the TKR impact, using the Busan Port connecting the Trans-China Railway (TCR), the Trans-Siberian (TSR), and the North Pole Route, may be uncertain in practice considering the uncertainty in international politics.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.43-52
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• 2017

Purpose - The domestic liquor market is steadily increasing, but locally made liquor markets remain stagnant. The market opening due to the FTA and westernized eating habits are expanding the consumption of imported liquor by Koreans and the demand for beer and soju is still high. Therefore, we analyzed the scale efficiency of Korean locally made liquor companies. Research design, data, and methodology - Based on a translog-cost function, a scale efficiency analysis was conducted using the government's information survey on the liquor industry. Data from 541 liquor companies analyzed from 2013 to 2014 were used for analysis. Results - As a result of the scale efficiency analysis, the average sales of the mid-sized locally made liquor companies is 171 million won, but the appropriate sales amount is 1 million won. It is estimated that there is a need to increase sales. Conclusions - The gap between the actual sales and the appropriate sales of mid-sized locally made liquor companies with 3~10 employees is larger, so it is necessary to reduce the average cost by increasing the sales of locally made liquor companies. In order to do so, it is necessary to acquire customer strategies such as product differentiation, advertising and publicity.