• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.105-127
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• 2016

There is a growing awareness about the role of the board of directors in decision making, which is crucial to vitalize board activities in Korean firms. Given the academic and social needs, the current study is designed to identify the relationship between board independence and the board involvement of directors, highlighting the important aspects of information provision from diverse channels and information sharing among external directors. In this study, I include not only traditional variables to address the structural independence of the board but also the information provision and information sharing variables to explain how external directors, on average, are involved in board decisions. The research results from 136 Korean business samples show positive relationships between board independence and board involvement, but the influence of information provision and sharing proves to be significant in increasing the level of the board involvement of external directors. These findings suggest that active communication and information sharing among external directors, as well as an independent structural design for the board of directors, are important factors to improve the level of board involvement. Based on these results, the current paper provides theoretical and practical implications for corporate governance and knowledge management. Future research directions and limitations are also discussed.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.5-21
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• 2018

Purpose - This case study reviews the development history of Lotte Shopping, which has played a key role in modernizing Korea's retail industry. Research design, data, and methodology - Lotte Shopping's expansion to various channel types has been reviewed from the perspective of the resource-based view of strategy. The opening of Lotte Department Store in 1979 signaled the beginning of the modernized distribution system in Korea. Lotte Shopping expanded its business domains to various types of retail channels, such as discount stores, online shopping malls, TV home shopping, convenience stores, supermarkets, home appliances specialty stores and health & beauty stores. Results - Lotte Shopping has been able to maintain high level of customer satisfaction with leading merchandising skills. It has developed mutually beneficial relationship with the partner firms. It has also been a leading firm in implementing corporate social responsibility activities and environment-friendly management. Lotte Shopping has applied advanced information and communication technology to provide customized goods/services. Conclusions - This study summarizes the business environment and new challenges Lotte Shopping faces currently. Lotte Shopping is trying to reinforce the omni-channel strategy, which can create synergy among various distribution channels based on its core competences.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.53-58
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• 2008

This paper presents the findings obtained from the investigation of fatal disasters occurred by small-sized construction firms which have been accepted as to provide lower safety performance other than large-sized construction enterprises and cause more than half of the safety accidents in average. The study identifies the current status of safety performance provided by the small-sized construction contractors in details, find the issues involved with lack of safety performance, and suggest the improvement measures derived from the findings. A survey questionnaire was administered to the construction contractors, which are listed in the database of Construction Association of Korea as to fall into rank between 501st and 1000th in construction capacity. Safety issues such as the performance of safety management system, safety control structure, safety cost relative to safety control, education devoted to safety improvement, usage of safety garments or individual protective tools, and activities to maintain safety performance on site, etc were investigated from the study.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.55-73
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• 1998

In this paper we analyze the technological accumulation processes in the Korean semiconductor industry from the institutional approach. Institutional approach, which is closely connected with Neo-Schumpeterian tradition, has emerged as an alternative theoretical framework to neoclassical approach to understand the process of producing technological knowledge. Traditional wisdom of neoclassical approach revealed the limitation to explain the complex nature of knowledge creation and diffusion. US patent data are analyzed in terms of the increasing trend of numbers and its content to measure the rate and direction of technological capability accumulation. This analysis shows that semiconductor technologies are one of the fastest growing fields among Korean technological activities. Moreover, the analysis of patent content suggests that fabrication technologies are the most important area within the technological development of semiconductors, whilst circuit design and testing technologies are beginning to increase in significance. In addition, it is examined how private sectors and public institutions have contributed to generate technological capabilities, and the relationship between them has been changed during the development processes. It is found that Korean firms enhanced their technological capabilities from the learning and assimilation of imported technology to enhanced in-house R&D capabilities in the later stage. The support of public institution and government policy also played significant role to this successful transformation in conjunction with vigorous R&D investment of public sector.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.227-235
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• 2014

Interest has been growing worldwide in unconventional natural gas that has become an increasingly important source of energy in the world. Unconventional gas development, including shale gas, generally involves a larger environmental impact, compared to conventional gas development, due to its intensity and scale of the operation. There are a growing number of studies on identifying and minimizing the environmental impacts of unconventional gas development. This study aims to examines the current environmental policies and regulatory systems related to the unconventional gas development. The study shows that few environmental regulation exists concerning unconventional gas development, even in the USA where unconventional gas development is most actively pursued. Regulations, however, are being developed based on studies currently underway on health and environmental risks of unconventional gas development and on guidelines designed to reduce the risks. In a world where environmental regulations are ever strengthening, review the environmental regulatory systems and guidelines about unconventional gas need to be established for Korean firms to understand environmental impacts of unconventional gas development they invest or take part in, enabling them to manage and operate gas activities in a way that minimizes environmental damages.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.83-108
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• 2008

A analytical framework is suggested to explain how different standardization each country makes with incorporation of institutional elements such as the state's intervention and inter-firm relations which are considered to have a significant effect on it. Application to mobile telecommunication industry of the framework shows that different innovation system has its own technological standardization. In isolated inter-firm relation system, standardization is achieved through market but in cooperative one, through coordinating activities between participant firms. The state, however, intervenes more deeply in standardization and inter-firm relations are shorter in state-led and isolated firm relation system than in state-led and cooperative firm relation system.

• Korean Management Science Review
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.75-88
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• 2002

In recent years, it Is necessary to develop an alternative measure, the time efficiency of management activities, as a more measurable and operational tool Instead of traditional accounting measures such as inventories turnover. Therefore the concept of throughput time has got much attention as useful tool for controlling time based management. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the usefulness and adaptability of throughput time. The sample consists of 212 non-banking firms listed on the Korean Stock Exchange. The test Period were 10 years(1989-1998). The regression analysis for this study was performed using the cross-sectional data for the sample, and it was also performed for each Industry. The results show that net Income to tonal assets and labor productivity (value added Per employee) variables in the model was signiflcantly associated with throughput time. On the other hand, the relationship between throughput time and logistics cost to sales do largely not have statistical significance. Especially, it is found that the relationship do not have significance or negative response in food & beverage industry and wholesale & retail industry. In summary, the results show that the measure of throughput time can be an effective managerial Indicator for time based competition and management.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.49-72
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• 2016

Extant research on firm innovation productivity is limited in measuring the innovation productivity, in which they measured firm innovation productivity by using either inputs or outputs of innovation. The present study complemented the extant research by employing Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach to measure firm innovation productivity. Furthermore, this paper examined the effects of firms' external knowledge search, as one of open innovation practices, on firm innovation productivity, for open innovation activities are regarded as an influencing factor on firm innovation productivity in the previous literatures. Using the data of the Korean Innovation Survey (KIS) of manufacturing industries conducted in 2008, this study developed hypotheses in which we considered not only two dimensions of external knowledge search (breadth and depth) but also two subtypes of external knowledge search (market-driven and science-driven). The results found that searching deeply and market-driven search are positively related to firm innovation productivity, but science-driven search is somewhat negatively related to firm innovation productivity. Furthermore, market-driven search can mitigate the negative effect of science-driven search on innovation productivity.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.1-11
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• 2010

The importance of intangible assets have increased unprecedentedly with the advent of the knowledge-based society. Investment in R&D has contributed to the rise of productivity and firm-value in the capital markets. but it is very difficult to determine the economic benefits of R&D investment, due to elusive link between time requirements and the realization of firm value from R&D investment. This study examines the differential effects of R&D expenditure and patents on firm-value by industry. Patents are intangible, proprietary rights that develops new products, plays a crucial role in market competition and results in research and development activities. If firms get patents, their R&D expenditure is assumed to be successful. The study analyzes whether successful R&D expenditure has a significant effect on the firm-value. The study considers two industries : high-tech industries and low-tech industries. These industries are expected to have different effect on R&D expenditure and firm-vale. The results of the study indicate that the successful R&D expenditure increased the firm-value. Successful R&D expenditure in high-tech industries more increased the firm-value more than that in low-tech industries.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.79-86
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• 2017

With the increasing trend of popularity of websites and social networking sites, it is quite evident that companies need to take cautionary measures in protecting the reputations with respect to company and brands. In this process, every company should indulge in enhancing their company and brand image through websites and social networking sites that fortify the bonding nature among them. The always-on nature of websites and social networking sites has contributed to their phenomenal marketing power and altered the balance of power between consumers and firms. Websites and social networks are used by hundreds of millions of people to communicate about a huge range of topics, including personal interests, activities, social events and even public issues. The paper explores a case study of the Ritz-Carlton hotel for their marketing strategy and organizational use of their website and social media in communicating with their customers. Even for the normal luxury traveler who would not have previously used the Internet to research a hotel or make a reservation, ritzcarlton.com is making it possible for them to do so in a sense of the luxury and typical Ritz-Carlton style. It seems to be a staple of the company for years to come.