• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.193-208
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• 2020

In this study, we investigate the effects of technology innovation investments and employment on credit ratings of very small start-up businesses using the data period of 2009 till 2015 test two hypotheses: asymmetric information hypothesis or competence hypothesis. We use financial and non-financial data of 51,903 observations of 12,028 small businesses from a database of a commercial bank and fixed effects panel models and two-stage instrumental variable models. We find that in the short-run small size startups show lower credit ratings than non-startups, and that both technology innovation activities and employment capability improve their credit ratings. In the long-run, technology innovation investments do not improve their credit ratings of later years while employment capability improve their credit ratings of the subsequent year. In addition, the age of startups improves their credit ratings of the current year and until the subsequent two years while employee productivity, fixed ratio and ROA positively affect their credit ratings for up to three years. However, short-term and overall debt ratios, cost of borrowings and firm-size negatively affect their credit ratings for up to three years. The results of the study on credit ratings suggest that credit rating agencies seem to consider both technology innovation activities and employment capability in the credit ratings of small start-ups as 'competence factors' rather than 'asymmetric information factors' with inefficiency and cost burdens. The results also suggest that we must find ways to reflect properly the severe asymmetric information of the early-stage start-ups, and technology innovation activities and employment capability in the credit rating formula.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.14 no.spc
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• pp.1128-1151
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• 2011

With the rapid change in technology, it is important to create business opportunities from technology. Many leading companies have tried to improve their competence from capturing those opportunities, which is called TOD (Technology Opportunity Discovery) activities in this research, by identifying emerging technologies or assessing economic and market potential of technologies. Academics have also been interested in the TOD activities but most of the previous studies have focused on developing methodologies or guidelines for TOD. Little effort was given to understanding the current status of TOD activities, which is indispensible to develop effective methodologies for TOD. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the current states of TOD activities, particularly focusing on SMEs, which are the main actors of national innovation system. For the purpose of investigation, firstly, TOD process was defined, and then, based on the process, three main activities of TOD, which include identifying the motivation of TOD, collecting information for TOD, and analyzing the collected information activities for TOD, were examined using a survey method. Finally, the analysis results were used to understand the SMEs' needs and difficulties on TOD activities. Research findings are expected to provide useful information for the future studies on TOD and also can be used to develop a policy for SMEs.

• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.84-95
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• 2019

The competence of SME's technological innovation is deemed as one of the crucial factors in national and regional economies. Yet, as seen in previous studies, there is a dearth of studies on this subject, and policy and academic circles had been inclined to relatively underestimate the contribution of the SMEs to economies and industries (such as, job creation and GDP contribution). Generally, there is a bias that the innovative activity of the large-sized firm is likely to perform better than that of the small-sized company. According to several case studies, however, SME possesses a more appropriate form for innovative activities, and significantly contributes to creating advanced industrial agglomeration. Hence, this study analyses the contribution of the SME innovation to the national and regional economy along with analysing the extant literature. In doing so, we can reason out theoretical and policy implications.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.133-153
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• 2019

Due to the uncertainty of dynamic business environment, modern organizations have been giving attention to dynamic capabilities beyond traditional notion of core competence. Among them, absorptive capacity and boundary-spanning activity are considered the most important. The former refers to activities regarding acquisition, assimilation, transformation and exploitation of internal and external knowledge. The latter is composed of boundary-loosening and boundary-tightening activities to detect internal or external information and then to preserve, protect, or acquire resources. Thus, both have achieved wide recognition as a potential source of change and innovation. This study investigated the cross-level relation between boundary-spanning leadership at team level and absorptive capacity at individual level. We also explored self-efficacy and extra-role behavior that can affect employees' absorptive capacity. To test multi-level analysis, the survey data were collected from 862 members in 137 teams of different firms. Results revealed that boundary-spanning leadership had the positive cross-level impact on absorptive capacity in the team context. Moreover, absorptive capacity was positively associated with self-efficacy and extra-role behavior at individual level. Based on these findings, we provided theoretical and practical implications to address rapidly changing environments and discussed limitations of this paper for further research.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.33-62
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• 2009

Internet computing is a disruptive IT innovation. Semantic Web can be considered as an IT innovation because the Semantic Web technology possesses the potential to reduce information overload and enable semantic integration, using capabilities such as semantics and machine-processability. How should organizations adopt the Semantic Web? What factors affect the adoption and diffusion of Semantic Web innovation? Most studies on adoption and diffusion of innovation use empirical analysis as a quantitative research methodology in the post-implementation stage. There is criticism that the positivist requiring theoretical rigor can sacrifice relevance to practice. Rapid advances in technology require studies relevant to practice. In particular, it is realistically impossible to conduct quantitative approach for factors affecting adoption of the Semantic Web because the Semantic Web is in its infancy. However, in an early stage of introduction of the Semantic Web, it is necessary to give a model and some guidelines and for adoption and diffusion of the technology innovation to practitioners and researchers. Thus, the purpose of this study is to present a model of adoption and diffusion of the Semantic Web and to offer propositions as guidelines for successful adoption through a qualitative research method including multiple case studies and in-depth interviews. The researcher conducted interviews with 15 people based on face-to face and 2 interviews by telephone and e-mail to collect data to saturate the categories. Nine interviews including 2 telephone interviews were from nine user organizations adopting the technology innovation and the others were from three supply organizations. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The interviews were recorded on digital voice recorder memory and subsequently transcribed verbatim. 196 pages of transcripts were obtained from about 12 hours interviews. Triangulation of evidence was achieved by examining each organization website and various documents, such as brochures and white papers. The researcher read the transcripts several times and underlined core words, phrases, or sentences. Then, data analysis used the procedure of open coding, in which the researcher forms initial categories of information about the phenomenon being studied by segmenting information. QSR NVivo version 8.0 was used to categorize sentences including similar concepts. 47 categories derived from interview data were grouped into 21 categories from which six factors were named. Five factors affecting adoption of the Semantic Web were identified. The first factor is demand pull including requirements for improving search and integration services of the existing systems and for creating new services. Second, environmental conduciveness, reference models, uncertainty, technology maturity, potential business value, government sponsorship programs, promising prospects for technology demand, complexity and trialability affect the adoption of the Semantic Web from the perspective of technology push. Third, absorptive capacity is an important role of the adoption. Fourth, suppler's competence includes communication with and training for users, and absorptive capacity of supply organization. Fifth, over-expectance which results in the gap between user's expectation level and perceived benefits has a negative impact on the adoption of the Semantic Web. Finally, the factor including critical mass of ontology, budget. visible effects is identified as a determinant affecting routinization and infusion. The researcher suggested a model of adoption and diffusion of the Semantic Web, representing relationships between six factors and adoption/diffusion as dependent variables. Six propositions are derived from the adoption/diffusion model to offer some guidelines to practitioners and a research model to further studies. Proposition 1 : Demand pull has an influence on the adoption of the Semantic Web. Proposition 1-1 : The stronger the degree of requirements for improving existing services, the more successfully the Semantic Web is adopted. Proposition 1-2 : The stronger the degree of requirements for new services, the more successfully the Semantic Web is adopted. Proposition 2 : Technology push has an influence on the adoption of the Semantic Web. Proposition 2-1 : From the perceptive of user organizations, the technology push forces such as environmental conduciveness, reference models, potential business value, and government sponsorship programs have a positive impact on the adoption of the Semantic Web while uncertainty and lower technology maturity have a negative impact on its adoption. Proposition 2-2 : From the perceptive of suppliers, the technology push forces such as environmental conduciveness, reference models, potential business value, government sponsorship programs, and promising prospects for technology demand have a positive impact on the adoption of the Semantic Web while uncertainty, lower technology maturity, complexity and lower trialability have a negative impact on its adoption. Proposition 3 : The absorptive capacities such as organizational formal support systems, officer's or manager's competency analyzing technology characteristics, their passion or willingness, and top management support are positively associated with successful adoption of the Semantic Web innovation from the perceptive of user organizations. Proposition 4 : Supplier's competence has a positive impact on the absorptive capacities of user organizations and technology push forces. Proposition 5 : The greater the gap of expectation between users and suppliers, the later the Semantic Web is adopted. Proposition 6 : The post-adoption activities such as budget allocation, reaching critical mass, and sharing ontology to offer sustainable services are positively associated with successful routinization and infusion of the Semantic Web innovation from the perceptive of user organizations.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.480-497
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• 2002

This paper is concerned with unveiling the responsiveness of large Korean firms to external shock by examining corporate restructuring in terms of production and organization. Throughout empirical research, I speculate on how corporate restructuring influences and relates to corporate teaming and adaptation. The main findings of this research are as follows. First, the restructuring of business structure was expected to strengthen core competencies and improve profitability and the restructuring of organizational structure to make it possible for responding more quickly to radical changes in its business environment. Second, both downsizing and employment adjustment have assisted the firm with unlearning obsolete practices, preconditions necessary for effectively accomplishing new teaming practices. Third, both the spatial reorganization of production activities and process innovation require and involve learning processes. In conclusion, it claims that corporate restructuring can be seen as a powerful loaming tool, particularly in the context of radical economic change.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-32
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• 2018

This study has been motivated by the awareness that studies on science and technology policy do not have an independent academic identity in Korea as of 2017. This research has been analyzed 19 books that have covered science and technology policy published in Korea and explored whether those have a definition of discipline and core research scope which are the key elements forming academic paradigm. As a result, this study concludes provisionally that studies on science and technology policy in Korea are still at a stage that has not yet formed a paradigm. Therefore, this work newly proposes the definition of discipline and research scope necessary to complete the paradigm of studies on science and technology policy based on this conclusion. This paper has firstly defined that studies on science and technology policy are the policy-oriented discipline. It is (1) promoting the development of science and technology itself by studying and analyzing the various phenomena of politics, economy, society, and culture related to science and technology activities as well as science and technology and (2) makes the national and public sector improve problem-solving competence using science and technology. This work also proposes a research scope consisting of four research areas such as (1) policy process of science and technology, (2) public management of science and technology, (3) R&D management and (4) technology innovation. 'Policy process of science and technology' and 'public management of science and technology' among four research areas are the new research ones reflecting the definition of studies on science and technology policy proposed in this paper. Additionally 'R&D management' and 'technology innovation' are the traditional research areas which have also included existing researches regarding science and technology policy.

• Proceedings of the Technology Innovation Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.131-163
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• 1998

The interest in the evaluation of government-sponsored research institutes (GRIs) has increased markedly in Korea in 1990s; this is mainly because of the increasing needs 1) to improve the quality of R&D at GRIs, and 2) to reorient the GRIs' strategic position in Korean national innovation systems due to the enhancement of R&D capabilities of private companies and universities during last decade. As a first attempt to diagnose the managerial and strategic issues of GRIs, a Multi-Ministerial Evaluation Committee was established as an ad hoc task force under the Prime Minister's Office in 1991. According to the recommendations of the committee, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) to which most of GRIs were affiliated, made it a rule to evaluate the annual performance of GRIs since 1992. This paper examines the recent experience of MOST's evaluation of Government-sponsored Research Institute in Korea. After several years'efforts of Science & Technology Policy Institute(STEPI) to build prospective evaluation systenL MOST decided to apply two supplementary approaches for the evaluation of GRIs; one is summative annual evaluation and the other is formative 3-year evaluation. The annual evaluation system that is designed as a temporary measure is to monitor and to guide the self-evaluation activities of GRIs. In the process of annual evaluation, MOST tries to minimize its direct involvement, and allows each GRI to develop self-evaluation system that is most appropriate for the unique characteristics of the institute. If there exist urgent issues under scrutiny, however, it can be incorporated and examined by a group of external experts as special issues in the annual evaluation system. The aim of 3-year evaluation is both to examine the past performance of each GRI and to investigate whether the strategic role of each GRI is viable in the future. Its major focus, however, lies not on auditing past performance but on strengthening future strategic position of each GRI. The MOST designates a group of evaluation experts with appropriate knowledge and competence as members of the General Evaluation Committee for one year. With the help of STEPI, a specialized research institute for R&D evaluation, the General Evaluation Committee develops methodology and procedures for the actual evaluation of GRIs. Based on the evaluation reports and recommendations from the General Evaluation Committee, the MOST develops various policy measures for strengthening GRIs.

• Journal of The Korean Association of Information Education
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.279-289
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to apply the training program for teachers to strengthen the competence of artificial intelligence education in primary and secondary school teachers and to analyze its effectiveness and analyze teachers' demands for artificial intelligence education to provide basic research data. The referenced training program was designed based on the ADDIE model by selecting the educational contents based on the five core elements of AI, and teachers from the G Metropolitan Office of Education and the AI Education Research Association collaborated to develop the program. The effectiveness of the developed program and questionnaire of teacher needs analysis for AI teaching were examined for content validity. As a result of the training conducted by applying the developed program, satisfaction with each curriculum of the training and the possibility of application to the field were highly evaluated. It was found that teachers consider the need of teaching unplugged activities for AI education and basic AI experiences in elementary school level, and AI education contents including block programming languages and physical computing activities are needed to teach in middle school level.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.81-101
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• 2011

In today's rapidly changing and increasingly competitive business environment, new product development in tune with market trends in a timely manner has been a matter of the utmost concern for all enterprises. Indeed, developing a sustainable new business has been a top priority for not only business enterprises, but also for the government policy makers accountable for the health of Its national economy as well as for decision makers in what type of organizations. Further, for a soft landing of new businesses, building a government-initiated industry base has been claimed to be necessary as a way to effectively boost corporate activities. However, the existing methodology in new service and new product development is not suitable for nurturing industry, because it is mainly focused on the research and development of corporate business activities instead of new product development. The approach for developing new business is based on 'innovation' and 'convergence.' Yet, the convergence among technologies, supplies, businesses and industries is believed to be more effective than innovation alone as a way to gain momentum. Therefore, it has become more important than ever to study a new methodology based on convergence in industrial quality new product development (NPD) and new service development (NDS). In this research, therefore, we reviewed any restrictions in the existing new product and new service development methodology and the existing business model development methodology. In doing so, we conducted industry standard collaboration analysis on a new service model development methodology in the private sector and the public sector. This approach is fundamentally different from the existing one in that ours focuses on new business development under private management. The suggested framework can be categorized into industry level and service level. First, in the industry level, we define new business opportunities In occurrence of convergence between businesses. For this, we analyze the existing industry at the industry level to identify the opportunities in a market and its business attractiveness, based on which the convergence industry is formulated. Also, through the analysis of environment and market opportunity at the industry level. we can trace how different industries are lined to one another so as to extend the result of the study to develop better insights into industry expansion and new industry emergence. After then, in the service level, we elicit the service for the defined new business, which is composed of private service and supporting service for nurturing industry. Private service includes 3steps: plan-design-do; supporting service for nurturing industry has 4 steps: selection-make environment- business preparation-do and see. The existing methodology focuses on mainly securing business competitiveness, building a business model for success, and offering new services based on the core competence of companies. This suggested methodology, on other hand, suggests the necessity of service development, when new business opportunities arise, in relation to the opportunity analysis of supporting service based on the clear understanding of new business supporting infrastructure optimization. Meanwhile, we have performed case studies on the printing and publishing field with the restrict procedure and development system to assure the feasibility and practical application. Even though the printing and publishing industry is considered a typical knowledge convergence industry, it is also known as a low-demand and low-value industry in Korea. For this reason, we apply the new methodology and suggest the direction and the possibility of how the printing and publishing industry can be transformed as a core dynamic force for new growth. Then, we suggest the base composition service for industry promotion(public) and business opportunities for private's profitability(private).