• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.475-491
• /
• 2022

Purpose - This study analyzed the correlation and effect of FTA environmental factors (company internal environmental factors, corporate external environmental factors) between FTA utilization and performance of Shandong companies in China. Design/methodology/approach - To test the hypothesis, SPSS 24.0 statistical packages were used based on the collected data. Findings - First, it was confirmed that internal environmental factors (international marketing orientation, corporate competitiveness, and corporate awareness of FTA) of companies had a positive(+) effect on FTA utilization. Second, The government's support for FTA utilization will have a significant positive (+) effect on companies' FTA utilization.Non-tariff barriers will have a negative (-) effect on companies' use of FTA. Third, A company's FTA utilization will have a significant positive effect on FTA performance. Research implications or Originality - If Shandong companies want to increase the utilization of FTAs, they should strengthen international marketing, such as collecting information on competitors and improving product quality and price competitiveness, and increase corporate competitiveness through active export activities to the global market.In order to increase the awareness of FTA among enterprises in Shandong Province, the government should strengthen the relevant education of enterprises about FTA.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.39-48
• /
• 2011

One of the major reasons for fierce competition among firms is that they strive to increase their own market shares in the same market with similar and apparently undifferentiated products in terms of quality and perceived benefit. Due to such changes in the marketing environment, differentiated after-sales service and diversified promotion strategies have become more important in the race to gain a competitive advantage. Price discount is one of the popular promotion strategies that most retailers use, especially to increase sales, but offering a price discount does not always lead to the expected result. If marketers apply an identical price-promotion strategy without considering the characteristic differences in products and consumer preferences, the discounted price itself may make people skeptical about the quality of the product. Moreover, the changes in perceived value may appear differently depending on factors such as consumer involvement. This implies that variables such as the level of consumer involvement, brand loyalty, and external reference prices, in reality, would have different effects on how consumers perceive the value of price discounts. The variables that affect consumers' perceived values and buying decisions are diverse and complicated. Several studies have examined the effects of such variables as external reference price, selling price, and brand on consumers' perceived value of products. Results have not shown consistent patterns. Therefore, we must note that the factors affecting consumers' value perceptions and buying behaviors are diverse and that the results of studies on the same dependent variable come out differently depending on what that variable is. This study focused on the level of consumer involvement as a salient variable that supposedly affects the perceived value of a product, willingness to buy, and search intentions. We tried to examine whether a price discount affects the perceived value-such as perceived acquisition value and perceived transaction value-in different ways depending on the level of consumer involvement. In addition, we proposed managerial implications that marketers need to consider as a whole, for instance, product attributes, brand loyalty, and involvement and then established a differentiated pricing strategy, case by case, in order to effectively enhance consumers' perceived values. As a result, we found that perceived transaction value positively affects perceived acquisition value and when discounting the price of a high-involvement product enhances the consumer's willingness to buy, but perceived acquisition value does not affect the search intentions significantly. In the case of discounting prices of low-involvement products, on the other hand, the perceived transaction value has a positive effect on the willingness to buy, but the negative effect of perceived acquisition value on the search intentions was not significant. We suppose that people doubt a product's quality because of a declined perceived quality derived from a price discount. Even though the price discount enhanced the transaction value, people eventually increased their level of searching for additional product information. From the results of this study, we suggest that marketers ought to establish an appropriate value-enhancing strategy based on the understanding of which perceived value consumers rely on more when they conduct purchasing behavior because consumers perceive the degree of importance of acquisition value or transaction value differently, depending on their level of involvement.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.25-53
• /
• 2013

This study analyzes the effect of Computer Aided Innovation (CAI) to improve R&D Capabilities empirically. Survey was distributed by e-mail and Google Docs, targeting CTO of 235 SMEs. 142 surveys were returned back (rate of return 60.4%) from companies. Survey results from 119 companies (83.8%) which are effective samples except no-response, insincere response, estimated value, etc. were used for statistics analysis. Companies with less than 50billion KRW sales of entire researched companies occupy 76.5% in terms of sample traits. Companies with less than 300 employees occupy 83.2%. In terms of the type of company business Partners (called 'partners with big companies' hereunder) who work with big companies for business occupy 68.1%. SMEs based on their own business (called 'independent small companies') appear to occupy 31.9%. The present status of holding IT system according to traits of company business was classified into partners with big companies versus independent SMEs. The present status of ERP is 18.5% to 34.5%. QMS is 11.8% to 9.2%. And PLM (Product Life-cycle Management) is 6.7% to 2.5%. The holding of 3D CAD is 47.1% to 21%. IT system-holding and its application of independent SMEs seemed very vulnerable, compared with partner companies of big companies. This study is comprised of IT infra and IT Utilization as CAI capacity factors which are independent variables. factors of R&D capabilities which are independent variables are organization capability, process capability, HR capability, technology-accumulating capability, and internal/external collaboration capability. The highest average value of variables was 4.24 in organization capability 2. The lowest average value was 3.01 in IT infra which makes users access to data and information in other areas and use them with ease when required during new product development. It seems that the inferior environment of IT infra of general SMEs is reflected in CAI itself. In order to review the validity used to measure variables, Factors have been analyzed. 7 factors which have over 1.0 pure value of their dependent and independent variables were extracted. These factors appear to explain 71.167% in total of total variances. From the result of factor analysis about measurable variables in this study, reliability of each item was checked by Cronbach's Alpha coefficient. All measurable factors at least over 0.611 seemed to acquire reliability. Next, correlation has been done to explain certain phenomenon by correlation analysis between variables. As R&D capabilities factors which are arranged as dependent variables, organization capability, process capability, HR capability, technology-accumulating capability, and internal/external collaboration capability turned out that they acquire significant correlation at 99% reliability level in all variables of IT infra and IT Utilization which are independent variables. In addition, correlation coefficient between each factor is less than 0.8, which proves that the validity of this study judgement has been acquired. The pair with the highest coefficient had 0.628 for IT utilization and technology-accumulating capability. Regression model which can estimate independent variables was used in this study under the hypothesis that there is linear relation between independent variables and dependent variables so as to identify CAI capability's impact factors on R&D. The total explanations of IT infra among CAI capability for independent variables such as organization capability, process capability, human resources capability, technology-accumulating capability, and collaboration capability are 10.3%, 7%, 11.9%, 30.9%, and 10.5% respectively. IT Utilization exposes comprehensively low explanatory capability with 12.4%, 5.9%, 11.1%, 38.9%, and 13.4% for organization capability, process capability, human resources capability, technology-accumulating capability, and collaboration capability respectively. However, both factors of independent variables expose very high explanatory capability relatively for technology-accumulating capability among independent variable. Regression formula which is comprised of independent variables and dependent variables are all significant (P<0.005). The suitability of regression model seems high. When the results of test for dependent variables and independent variables are estimated, the hypothesis of 10 different factors appeared all significant in regression analysis model coefficient (P<0.01) which is estimated to affect in the hypothesis. As a result of liner regression analysis between two independent variables drawn by influence factor analysis for R&D capability and R&D capability. IT infra and IT Utilization which are CAI capability factors has positive correlation to organization capability, process capability, human resources capability, technology-accumulating capability, and collaboration capability with inside and outside which are dependent variables, R&D capability factors. It was identified as a significant factor which affects R&D capability. However, considering adjustable variables, a big gap is found, compared to entire company. First of all, in case of partner companies with big companies, in IT infra as CAI capability, organization capability, process capability, human resources capability, and technology capability out of R&D capacities seems to have positive correlation. However, collaboration capability appeared insignificance. IT utilization which is a CAI capability factor seemed to have positive relation to organization capability, process capability, human resources capability, and internal/external collaboration capability just as those of entire companies. Next, by analyzing independent types of SMEs as an adjustable variable, very different results were found from those of entire companies or partner companies with big companies. First of all, all factors in IT infra except technology-accumulating capability were rejected. IT utilization was rejected except technology-accumulating capability and collaboration capability. Comprehending the above adjustable variables, the following results were drawn in this study. First, in case of big companies or partner companies with big companies, IT infra and IT utilization affect improving R&D Capabilities positively. It was because most of big companies encourage innovation by using IT utilization and IT infra building over certain level to their partner companies. Second, in all companies, IT infra and IT utilization as CAI capability affect improving technology-accumulating capability positively at least as R&D capability factor. The most of factor explanation is low at around 10%. However, technology-accumulating capability is rather high around 25.6% to 38.4%. It was found that CAI capability contributes to technology-accumulating capability highly. Companies shouldn't consider IT infra and IT utilization as a simple product developing tool in R&D section. However, they have to consider to use them as a management innovating strategy tool which proceeds entire-company management innovation centered in new product development. Not only the improvement of technology-accumulating capability in department of R&D. Centered in new product development, it has to be used as original management innovative strategy which proceeds entire company management innovation. It suggests that it can be a method to improve technology-accumulating capability in R&D section and Dynamic capability to acquire sustainable competitive advantage.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.28-49
• /
• 2019

This paper explores the characteristics of innovation activities in high growth firms that contribute to national and regional economic growth and job creation. The analysis is based on the 2016 KIS data to analyze the difference in innovation activities between high growth firms and general firms. The main results are as follows: First, high growth firms have a higher proportion of R&D personnel than general firms. Second, high growth firms are actively introducing product innovation, process innovation, and organizational innovation as compared to general firms. In the innovation activities related to product innovation and process innovation, there is no statistically significant difference between high growth companies and general companies except for external R&D. Third, High growth firms are more likely to cooperate with other technology partners than general firms. But, there is no statistically significant difference between high growth firms and general firms in the external knowledge search and the diversity of cooperating partners. Fourth, in terms of protecting innovation, high growth firms are more likely to use all kinds of innovation protection method, such as 'utilizing intellectual property rights', 'maintaining confidentiality', 'adopting complex design methods', 'market preemption ahead of competitors', and the most important means is the intellectual property rights. Fifth, government innovation policies that high growth firms chose as important are 'innovation subsidies and loans', 'acquirement, utilization and protection of intellectual property rights' and 'human resource support'.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2013

This study aims to determine factors related for manufacturers to use distributors storehouse and its cost efficiency in Supply Chain. When manufacturers which have relationships with Big distributors determine the way of their logistics, they can use their own warehouse, or the distributors', or outsource its function. In which case the manufacturers face the cost efficiency of using warehouse will be different, therefore, the driven factors will exist internally or externally. The findings of this study are that internal factors(brand value, product portfolio, and technological capabilities), external factors(technological characteristics, demands fluctuations, and munificence), and transaction characteristics(transaction experiences, dependency) would be driven factor between manufacturer and distributors in supply chain. These driven factors effects manufacturers transactions power on their distributors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
• /
• 2001.06a
• /
• pp.3104-3104
• /
• 2001

The research described here was undertaken with the aim of monitoring, optimizing and ultimately controlling the production of heterofermentative microbes used as starters in the salami industry. The use of starter cultures in the fermented meats industry is a well-established technique used to shorten and standardize the ripening process, and to improve and control the organoleptic quality of the final product. Starter cultures are obtained by the submerged cultivation of suitable microorganisms in stirred, and sometimes aerated, fermenters where monitoring of key physiological parameters such as the concentration of biomass, substrates and metabolites suffers from the general lack of real-time measurement techniques applicable to aseptic processes. In this respect, the results of the present work are relevant to all submerged fermentation processes. Previous work on the application of on-line NIR spectroscopy to the lactic acid fermentation (Dosi et al. - Monreal NIR1995) had successfully used a system based on a measuring cell included in a circulation loop external to the fermenter. The fluid handling and sterility problems inherent in an external circulation system prompted us to explore the use of an in-line system where the NIR probe is immersed in the culture and is thus exposed to the hydrodynamic conditions of the stirred and aerated fluid. Aeration was expected to be a potential source of problems in view of the possible interference of air bubbles with the measurement device. The experimental set-up was based on an in-situ sterilizable NIR probe connected to the instrument by means of an optical fiber bundle. Preliminary work was carried out to identify and control potential interferences with the measurement, in particular the varying hydrodynamic conditions prevailing at the probe tip. We were successful in defining the operating conditions of the fermenter and the geometrical parameters of the probe (flow path, positioning, etc.) were the NIR readings were reliable and reproducible. The system thus defined was then used to construct and validate calibration curves for tile concentration of biomass, carbon source and major metabolites of two different microorganisms used as salami starters. Real-time measurement of such parameters coupled with the direct interfacing of the NIR instrument with the PC-based measurement and control system of the fermenter enabled the development of automated strategies for the interactive optimization of the starter production process.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.1-32
• /
• 2008

Brown and Dacin (1997) have investigated the relationship between corporate associations and product evaluations. Their study focused on the effects of associations with a company's corporate ability (CA) and its corporate social responsibility (CSR) on consumers' product evaluations. Their study has found that both of CA and CSR influenced product evaluation but CA association has a stronger effect than CSR associations. Brown and Dacin (1997) have, however, claimed that there are few researches on how corporate association impacts product responses. Accordingly, some of researchers have found the variables to moderate or to mediate the relationship between the corporate association and the product responses. In particular, there has been existed a few of studies that tested the influence of the reputation on the product-relevant perceived risk, but the effects of two types of the corporate association on the product-relevant perceived risk were not identified so far. The primary goal of this article is to identify and empirically examine some variables to moderate the effects of CA association and CSR association on the perceived risk of the product. In this articles, we take the concept of the corporate associations that Brown and Dacin (1997) had proposed. CA association is those association related to the company's expertise in producing and delivering its outputs and CSR association reflected the organization's status and activities with respect to its perceived societal obligations. Also, this study defines the risk, which is the uncertainty or loss of the product and corporate that consumers have taken in a particular purchase decision or after having purchased. The risk is classified into product-relevant performance risk and financial risk. Performance risk is the possibility or the consequence of a product not functioning at some expected level and financial risk is the monetary loss one perceives to be incurring if a product does not function at some expected level. In relation to consumer's knowledge, expert consumers have much of the experiences or knowledge of the product in consumer position and novice consumers does not. The model tested in this article are shown in Figure 1. The model indicates that both of CA association and CSR association influence on performance risk and financial risk. In addition, the effects of CA and CSR are moderated by product category knowledge (product knowledge) and product category involvement (product involvement). In this study, the relationships between the corporate association and product-relevant perceived risk are hypothesized as the following form. For example, Hypothesis 1a($H_{1a}$) is represented that CA association has a positive influence on the performance risk of consumer. Also, the hypotheses that identified some variables to moderate the effects of two types of corporate association on the perceived risk of the product are laid down. One of the hypotheses of the interaction effect is Hypothesis 3a($H_{3a}$), it is described that consumer's knowledges of the product moderates the negative relationship between CA association and product-relevant performance risk. A field experiment was conducted in order to examine our model. The company tested was not real but imagined to meet the internal validity. Water purifiers were used for our study. Four scenarios have been developed and described as the imaginary company: Type A with both of superior CA and CSR, Type B with superior CSR and inferior CA, Type C with superior CA and inferior CSR, and Type D with both inferior of CA and CSR. The respondents of this study were classified into four groups. One type of four scenarios (Type A, B, C, or D) in its questionnaire was given to the respondent who filled out questions. Data were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire to the respondents, chosen in convenience. A total of 300 respondents filled out the questionnaire but 207 were used for further analysis. Table 1 indicates that the scales in this study are reliable because the range of coefficients of Cronbach's $\alpha$ are from 0.85 to 0.92. The composite reliability is in the range of 0,85 to 0,92 and average variance extracted is in 0.72-0.98 range that is higher than the base level of 0.6. As shown in Table 2, the values for CFI, NNFI, root-mean-square error approximation (RMSEA), and standardized root-mean-square residual (SRMR) are acceptably close to the standards suggested by Hu and Bentler (1999):.95 for CFI and NNFI,.06 for RMSEA, and.08 for SRMR. We also tested discriminant validity provided by Fornell and Larcker (1981). As shown in Table 2, we found strong evidence for discriminant validity between each possible pair of latent constructs in all samples. Given that these batteries of overall goodness-of-fit indices were accurate and that the model was developed on theoretical bases, and given the high level of consistency across samples, this enables us to proceed the previously defined scales. We used the moderated hierarchical regression analysis to test the influence of the corporate association(CA and CSR associations) on product-relevant perceived risk(performance and financial risks) and to identify the variables moderating the relationship between the corporate association and product-relevant performance risk. In this study, dependent variables are performance and financial risk. CA and CSR associations are described the independent variables. The moderating variables are product category knowledge and product category involvement. The results are, as expected, found that CA association has statistically a significant influence on the perceived risk of the product, but CSR association does not. Product category knowledge and involvement moderate the relationship between the CA association and the perceived risk of the product. However, the effect of CSR association on the perceived risk of the product is not moderated by the consumers' knowledge and involvement. For this result, it is necessary for a corporate to inform its customers CA association more than CSR association so that they could be felt to be the reduction of the perceived risk. The important theoretical contribution of this research is the meanings that two types of corporate association that Brown and Dacin(1997), and Brown(1998) have proposed replicated the difference of the effects on product evaluation. According to Hunter(2001), it was an important affair to accomplish the validity of a particular study and we had to take about ten studies to deduce a strict study. Next, there is the contribution of the this study to find that the effects of corporate association on the perceived risk of the product are varied by the moderator variables. In particular, the moderating effect of knowledge on the relationship between corporate association and product-relevant perceived risk has not been tested in Korea. In the managerial implications of this research, we suggest the necessity to stress the ability that corporate manufactures the product well(CA association) than the accomplishment of corporate's social obligation(CSR association). This study suffers from various limitations that imply future research directions. The moderating effects of product category knowledge and involvement on the relationship between corporate association and perceived risk need to be replicated. Next, future research could explore whether the mediated effects of the perceived risk has the relationship between corporate association and consumer's product purchase. In addition, to ensure the external validity of the study will be needed to use realistic company, not artificial.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
• /
• v.39 no.12
• /
• pp.698-705
• /
• 2017

Environmental impact of a mobile phone charger containing recycled plastic was quantified using LCA and the environmental benefits from the use of recycled and virgin plastic were compared. The assessment considers potential environmental impacts across the whole life cycle of the charger including; pre-manufacturing; manufacturing; distribution; product use; and end-of-life stages and quantified six environmental impact categories; Abiotic depletion; Acidification; Eutrophication; Global warming; Ozone layer depletion; and Photochemical oxidants creation. The study showed that the environmental impacts of the use stage accounted for 94.4% and 70% in the resource depletion and global warming impact categories, respectively, and the environmental impacts of the pre - manufacturing stage accounted for more than 98% in the other impact categories. The main cause of the environmental impacts in the use stage was electricity consumed by the charger. The main cause in the pre-manufacturing stage was PBA (Printed Board Assembly) and external case manufacturing. In order to quantify the environmental benefits of recycled PC (Polycarbonate) in the exterior case, the environmental impacts of 1 kg production of recycled PC and virgin PC were evaluated. The environmental impact on the abiotic depletion of the recycled PC is estimated to be 30% compared to the virgin PC, and the impacts on the other impact categories of the recycled PC were less than 5% of the virgin plastic. Sensitivity analysis was performed for 12 items including site data and assumptions made. The sensitivity of each item was less than 10%. The results of this study confirm that designing compact and light PBA, improving charging efficiency, and use of recycled plastic are important design factors to reduce the environmental impact of a charger.

• Journal of Applied Tourism Food and Beverage Management and Research
• /
• v.7
• /
• pp.231-266
• /
• 1997

TQM is a whole process of systemizing, documenting and measuring of service quality scientifically to achieve zero defects in product quality and to continue to improve the body of the product quality by itself. To have this process be improved continuously, first of all it needs to prepare an ideal environment to understand and to conform to its internal and external customers', that is every guests' and employees' expectations and demands. Then it has to be followed by the next step removing some negative aspects that could be derived from the first mentioned process The third step is to cut the cost be suitable compensation rather than an attitude trying to solve the problems in an easy way. The last essential factor for setting up TQM system is to make good use of the outstanding feature or process as it is reviewed against the superior benchmark. The purpose of this study is meet the customers' expectations and to maximize the hotel's profits by searching TQM(total quality management) strategy in hotels. To attain this research's objective, it follows these three details. Firstly, it defines TQM and its contents. Secondly, it provides the standard of hotel TQM throughout some case studies. Thirdly, it suggests TQM strategic plan in tourism hotel as one of professional management strategies. Two useful methods are used together to achieve the goal of this study. To confirm its theoretical consideration, descriptive studies by the research documents its theoretical consideration, descriptive studies by the research documents published in and out of the country is used. The other is case studies of TQM execution in real hospitality industry, which present the cases of the airline, Jefferson Memorial and the hotel. This research is targeting to demonstrate the successful TQM's exercise in a hotel industry by completing the theoretical studies and case studies on service product quality with an understanding of its importance. As it is said earlier, to lead to the successful TQM's practice, it is necessary to maintain a constant training of the employees. Secondly, it also must identify where it has to focus on to deliver a professional quality management. Thirdly, effective quality management organization needs to be build up. The manager's strong will to accomplish and the employee' active participations are the last condition to be succeed. Once again this study places an emphasis on the fact that TQM is critical to maximize the customers' satisfaction and the hotel's profitability. It is also very worthwhile to have every people working on front line recognize why the TQM is important and further more how they can contribute to improve their service quality by a positive participation and a careful observation of TQM's operating in their property.

• 한국HCI학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2009.02a
• /
• pp.944-948
• /
• 2009

The mobile phone is the most private device for mobile communication. The goal of this paper is to present function relation model of the individualization and to analyze the task in the model by function pattern and function relation model in mobile phone. Function, activity, activity flow, intent of the activity, function group and influence between function and function group are used to present the function relation model which illustrates the relationship of the function in product. And this model drew up the function relation model for mobile phone. The function relation model for mobile phone based on the function pattern by the newest 3 phone's over 320 functions and 21 function groups. Last, to rearrange the function relation model to center on the individualization, the internal/ external memory to save and use the information for individualization function is placed to middle of the model. The main tasks of the model are storing, inquiry and interlock. The important methods to reinforce the individualization function are to develop the tasks which are the relations between the functions.