• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.631-640
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• 2012

Purpose: This empirical study is focused on the relationship between innovation capability (R&D and Human Resource innovation) and performance in knowledge-based service firms. Methods: We build research model to test how each of innovation capability on technology and human resource is influenced on their financial and non-financial performance in the knowledge-based service industries. Based on the previous research, we hypothesized the factors are regarded innovation capabilities of the firms as the scale of R&D and human resources. Because this study is especially targeted to the performance of knowledge-based service firms. With the survey on 424 main knowledge-based service firms, the multi-regression analysis was performed. Results: The result showed that the scale of R&D and human resources capabilities are main factors for knowledge-based service firms' performance, which reflects the current industrial structure. Conclusion: This study empirically demonstrated that human resources are most important to the growth of knowledge-based service firms.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.155-168
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• 2014

This paper discussed about business ethics and innovation management performance of IT service firms in Korea. To prove empirically the research hypothesis, the statistical analysis was based on the response from the 92 IT Service firms in Korean. As analysis results, it was found that the business ethics of organizations were the effect factors of the innovation management performance. And the knowledge competency and creativity are confirmed as a mediator between the business ethics and innovation management performance. So this paper suggests that business ethics in organizations are the important factor for enhancement of IT service firm's innovation performance. Specially the mediation effects of knowledge competency and creativity variables were proved empirically for the relation between the business ethics and innovation management performance. So it is desirable that knowledge-based service firms, for example IT service firms, have to strive to upgrade their level of business ethics and to link with their creativity and knowledge competency.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.55-69
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• 2014

As Korea's global IT sourcing is sluggish and supply of qualified IT personnel does not meet the demand, IT developers currently do not worry about their job security. The sluggish global sourcing is attributed to the lack of system design and analysis skills as well as lack of communication skills of IT personnel. Most of big Korean IT service firms operate in captive market. This is also attributed to the cause of the sluggish global sourcing. Some IT managers, especially in global IT service firms, concerned about the negative long term effect of the sluggish global sourcing on competitiveness and human infra capability of Korea's IT service industry. Managers in IT service firms expect skill requirement changes in the future when global sourcing becomes active. The skills and knowledge that they wish to retain in-house is business knowledge, system analysis and design knowledge, customer relation management skills, project management skills and industry knowledge. The jobs with the above knowledge usually involve customers.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.145-166
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• 2010

As the service industry is advancing, the meaning of service innovation has been evolved. Recently, service innovation embraces all creative activities about service offering or relevant to service offerings and emphasizes the importance of customers in innovation process as a key driver. The innovation in services is often the result from a collaborative process between KIBS firms and client firms. Many researchers have pointed out about how the KIBS firms drive the innovation through service. In spite of the importance of service innovation, previous studies did not address the questions about what kinds of factors affect service innovation in KIBS firms still remain, or what are the effects of different knowledge on the innovation process. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the interactivity that KIBS firms have with their customers on various types of innovations in KIBS firms. Interactivity has been touted to be the most important starting point for and the basis of service innovations. This study also examines the effect of knowledge types (tacit or explicit) on the relationship between interactivity and service innovation. To test the proposed hypotheses, we developed measurement items and distributed survey questionnaires to domestic companies. 230 survey questionnaires were distributed and 81 were returned among which 76 were usable. The results of this study show that interactivity may be a significant indicator of innovation within KIBS firms. It also represents that the effect of knowledge types on the relationship between interactivity and innovation. These results indicate that KIBS firms need to improve the various activities of interaction with customers for innovation. This study provides a blueprint to further investigation of the critical role of service in service science perspectives.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.95-109
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• 2013

This paper discussed about creativity and knowledge management variables as for effect factors on the management performance of IT service firms. Specially the mediation effects of knowledge management variables between the creativity and management performance were examined. To prove empirically the related hypothesis, the statistical analysis were based on the response from the 160 Korean IT Service firms. As an analysis results, it was found that the creativity of organizations was not the direct effector on the management performance. But the virtue of knowledge which are accumulated from knowledge management activity and shared in organizations was the direct effector. Also, the knowledge management activity is mediator on the in the relationship between the creativity and management performance. So this paper suggests that knowledge management activity and knowledge's virtue in the related the creativity in organizations are the important mediate factors for enhancement of IT service firm's performance.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.79-94
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• 2003

This paper explores the features, patterns and strategies of innovation in knowledge intensive service (KIS) suppliers in Korea. It was found that characteristics of service innovation and manufacturing innovation tend to converge. Also, diverging elements were found particularly in organizational dimension in the innovation of the service sector. Investigation into the case of information and communication technology (ICT) services revealed that KIS suppliers are active in innovation. They obtained ideas required for their innovations from their knowledge activities inside firms and in the process of interaction with user firms. Large KIS suppliers are to a great extent interested in R&D for innovation, while small and medium suppliers are interested in developmental work. Weak knowledge flow was found between KIS suppliers and the public sector like universities and public research institutes.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.91-110
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• 2012

In the modern management literature, knowledge has been recognized as a new strategic resource enabling a firm to create its competitiveness. Shipping companies under fierce competitive structure need to pay attentions to the utility of knowledge management. A shipping firm may develop its unique service capability by classifying, sharing, and transferring the data, information and knowledge obtained from both inside and outside its global service network. The current study attempts to analyze influential relationships between liner shipping firms' knowledge management and service capabilities. In order to achieve this goal, this study designed a knowledge chain model measuring shipping companies' knowledge management levels and tested its validity and reliability based on a total of 80 replied questionnaires from national and foreign liners. The empirical result presents that supportive and primary activities composing a knowledge chain could exert significant positive influences on the enforcement of shipping service capabilities. This research shows that the utility of knowledge management is adoptable in the maritime industry, and recommends that shipping firms should recognize strategic importance of knowledge and actively pursue knowledge management at an entire firm level.

• STI Policy Review
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.35-53
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• 2011

This paper originates from the questions concerning why Korea has had difficulties in boosting R&D service industries regardless of government efforts over a decade. We first review the intrinsic nature of the R&D services and set up four criteria such as establishment type, diversification of business models, coverage of client firms, and role of R&D service firms as innovation drivers and IP strategies, that will be used in interviewing and analyzing R&D service firms. Second, we carry out in-depth interviews of eighteen R&D service firms to understand business behaviors and relevant characteristics. Finally, we identify five groups of R&D service firms and conclude that differentiated polices have to be implemented according to the groups for promoting the industry effectively.

• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.402-417
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• 2001

This study empahsized the nature of spatial patterns, characteristics and embeddeness of foreign business service firms in Korea utilizing questionnaire survey and interview data. Foreign business services firms are active in forming interfirm networks with clients and supply firms in Korea for widening the market share in Korea. But a low proportion of foreign firms is engaged in academies-industry linkages, government organizations, research institutes, and trade associations. Knowledge transfer and interaction also shows low level of network and the regional development of foreign firms is still in the process of developing, not quite embedded yet. Policy guidances and instituional supports are very essential to strenthen interfirm network and collective learning process of foreing firms in Korea lather than mechanical accumulation of investments. Thus, regional foreign direct investment policy should be targeted towards the incrementation of the potential of foreign firms as a knowledge-intensive industry.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.309-333
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• 2012

Recently, emergence of smart-phones and Social Networking Service(SNS) would offer the market environment changes and the opportunities for new business. For the case analysis comprehensive survey were implemented. And those data were analyzed along the research framework. The late-comer firms offered differential services, maintained creative and opened corporate culture, shoed learning capabilities which means absorption and organization of external knowledge, innovative efforts to control the insurgents than early-mover firms. When we analyze these phenomena along the developmental stages of late-comer, we can perceive that the stage of late-comers firms were moving from the "tracing the path" stage to "jumping the path" stage which means the creating capabilities were more or less enhanced and the firms become more stable in terms of business operation. In business model, early-mover firms showed clear definition for each business element, especially the revenue structure, while late-mover firms seemed unstable or unclear revenue structure.