• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.95-115
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• 2011

Food service is the major part of franchise business in Korea, accounting for 69.9% of the brands in the market. As the food service industry becomes mature, many franchisees have struggled to survive in the market. In general, consumers have higher levels of expectation toward service quality of franchised outlets compared that of (non-franchised) independent ones. They also tend to believe that franchisees deliver standardized service at the uniform food price, regardless of their locations. Such beliefs seem to be important reasons that consumers prefer franchised outlets to independent ones. Nevertheless, few studies examined the impact of qualify features of franchisees on customer satisfaction so far. To this end, this study examined the characteristics of various quality features of franchisees in the food service industry, regarding their relationship with customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction. The quality perception of heavy-users was also compared with that of light-users in order to find insights for developing differentiated marketing strategy for the two segments. Customer satisfaction has been understood as a one-dimensional construct while there are recent studies that insist two-dimensional nature of the construct. In this regard, Kano et al. (1984) suggested to categorize quality features of a product or service into five types, based on their relation to customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction: Must-be quality, Attractive quality, One-dimensional quality, Indifferent quality, and Reverse quality. According to the Kano model, customers are more dissatisfied when Must-be quality(M) are not fulfilled, but their satisfaction does not arise above neutral no matter how fully the quality fulfilled. In comparison, customers are more satisfied with a full provision of Attactive quality(A) but manage to accept its dysfunction. One-dimensional quality(O) results in satisfaction when fulfilled and dissatisfaction when not fulfilled. For Indifferent quality(I), its presence or absence influences neither customer satisfaction nor dissatisfaction. Lastly, Reverse quality(R) refers to the features whose high degree of achievement results in customer dissatisfaction rather than satisfaction. Meanwhile, the basic guidelines of the Kano model have a limitation in that the quality type of each feature is simply determined by calculating the mode statistics. In order to overcome such limitation, the relative importance of each feature on customer satisfaction (Better value; b) and dissatisfaction (Worse value; w) were calculated following the formulas below (Timko, 1993). The Better value indicates how much customer satisfaction is increased by providing the quality feature in question. In contrast, the Worse value indicates how much customer dissatisfaction is decreased by providing the quality feature. Better = (A + O)/(A+O+M+I) Worse = (O+M)/(A+O+M+I)(-1) An on-line survey was performed in order to understand the nature of quality features of franchisees in the food service industry by applying the Kano Model. A total of twenty quality features (refer to the Table 2) were identified as the result of literature review in franchise business and a pre-test with fifty college students in Seoul. The potential respondents of our main survey was limited to the customers who have visited more than two restaurants/stores of the same franchise brand. Survey invitation e-mails were sent out to the panels of a market research company and a total of 257 responses were used for analysis. Following the guidelines of Kano model, each of the twenty quality features was classified into one of the five types based on customers' responses to a set of questions: "(1) how do you feel if the following quality feature is fulfilled in the franchise restaurant that you visit," and "(2) how do you feel if the following quality feature is not fulfilled in the franchise restaurant that you visit." The analyses revealed that customers' dissatisfaction with franchisees is commonly associated with the poor level of cleanliness of the store (w=-0.872), kindness of the staffs(w=-0.890), conveniences such as parking lot and restroom(w=-0.669), and expertise of the staffs(w=-0.492). Such quality features were categorized as Must-be quality in this study. While standardization or uniformity across franchisees has been emphasized in franchise business, this study found that consumers are interested only in uniformity of price across franchisees(w=-0.608), but not interested in standardizations of menu items, interior designs, customer service procedures, and food tastes. Customers appeared to be more satisfied when the franchise brand has promotional events such as giveaways(b=0.767), good accessibility(b=0.699), customer loyalty programs(b=0.659), award winning history(b=0.641), and outlets in the overseas market(b=0.506). The results are summarized in a matrix form in Table 1. Better(b) and Worse(w) index indicate relative importance of each quality feature on customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction, respectively. Meanwhile, there were differences in perceiving the quality features between light users and heavy users of any specific franchise brand in the food service industry. Expertise of the staffs was labeled as Must-be quality for heavy users but Indifferent quality for light users. Light users seemed indifferent to overseas expansion of the brand and offering new menu items on a regular basis, while heavy users appeared to perceive them as Attractive quality. Such difference may come from their different levels of involvement when they eat out. The results are shown in Table 2. The findings of this study help practitioners understand the quality features they need to focus on to strengthen the competitive power in the food service market. Above all, removing the factors that cause customer dissatisfaction seems to be the most critical for franchisees. To retain loyal customers of the franchise brand, it is also recommended for franchisor to invest resources in the development of new menu items as well as training programs for the staffs. Lastly, if resources allow, promotional events, loyalty programs, overseas expansion, award-winning history can be considered as tools for attracting more customers to the business.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.10 no.7
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• pp.33-41
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to analyse the state of the energy industry and to determine the efficiency of its functioning on the basis of energy conservation principle and application of innovative technologies aimed at improving the ecological modernisation of agricultural sectors of Kazakhstan. The research methodology is based on an integrated approach of financial and economic evaluation of the effectiveness of the investment project, based on calculation of elasticity, total costs and profitability, as well as on comparative, graphical and system analysis. The current stage is characterised by widely spread restructuring processes of electric power industry in many countries through introduction of new technical installations of energy facilities and increased government regulation in order to enhance the competitive advantage of electricity market. Electric power industry features a considerable value of creating areas. For example, by providing scientific and technical progress, it crucially affects not only the development but also the territorial organisation of productive forces, first of all the industry. In modern life, more than 90% of electricity and heat is obtained by Kazakhstan's economy by consuming non-renewable energy resources: different types of coal, oil shale, oil, natural gas and peat. Therefore, it is significant to ensure energy security, as the country faces a rapid fall back to mono-gas structure of fuel and energy balance. However, energy resources in Kazakhstan are spread very unevenly. Its main supplies are concentrated in northern and central parts of the republic, and the majority of consumers of electrical power live in the southern and western areas of the country. However, energy plays an important role in the economy of industrial production and to a large extent determines the level of competitive advantage, which is a promising condition for implementation of energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies. In these circumstances, issues of modernisation and reforms of this sector in Kazakhstan gain more and more importance, which can be seen in the example of economically sustainable solutions of a large local monopoly company, significant savings in capital investment and efficiency of implementation of an investment project. A major disadvantage of development of electricity distribution companies is the prevalence of very high moral and physical amortisation of equipment, reaching almost 70-80%, which significantly increases the operating costs. For example, while an investment of 12 billion tenge was planned in 2009 in this branch, in 2012 it is planned to invest more than 17 billion. Obviously, despite the absolute increase, the rate of investment is still quite low, as the total demand in this area is at least more than 250 billion tenge. In addition, industrial infrastructure, including the objects of Kazakhstan electric power industry, have a tangible adverse impact on the environment. Thus, since there is a large number of various power projects that are sources of electromagnetic radiation, the environment is deteriorated. Hence, there is a need to optimise the efficiency of the organisation and management of production activities of energy companies, to create and implement new technologies, to ensure safe production and provide solutions to various environmental aspects. These are key strategic factors to ensure success of the modern energy sector of Kazakhstan. The contribution of authors in developing the scope of this subject is explained by the fact that there was not enough research in the energy sector, especially in the view of ecological modernisation. This work differs from similar works in Kazakhstan in the way that the proposed method of investment project calculation takes into account the time factor, which compares the current and future value of profit from the implementation of innovative equipment that helps to bring it to actual practise. The feasibility of writing this article lies in the need of forming a public policy in the industrial sector, including optimising the structure of energy disbursing rate, which complies with the terms of future modernised development of the domestic energy sector.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.133-142
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• 2012

In this paper, animal welfare egg was focused in Korea. This study was built to establish marketing strategies for the animal welfare egg. Data were collected by consumer survey on November 4th, 2011 at Chuncheon Hanaromart in Chuncheon. 355 questionnaires were distributed and collected. SAS 9.1 and Excel 2007 were used as statistical packages and ranked logit model was used to analyze. From the results of the study the following improving plans were suggested for the consideration factors affecting to purchase for animal welfare egg. First, strategies using public relations are needed only for package design. The package design will be able to complements gaps for low advertisement. Moreover, when consumer will be provided information on packaging for consumers, the consumer will be able to reduce anxiety. Second, package design of identity strategies are needed. There are so many package designs in market. The package design of identity may give competition power to the animal welfare egg.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.3425-3430
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• 2013

The fast-growing market in wireless communications has led to the development of multi-standard mobile terminals. In this paper, a frequency-tunable active RC bandpass filter for multi-standards wireless communication system is designed using an active inductor. The conventional bandpass filter design methods employ the high order filter or high quality factor Q to improve the stopband attenuation characteristics and frequency selectivity of the passband. The proposed bandpass filter based on the high Q active inductor has an improved frequency characteristics. The center frequency and gain of the designed bandpass filter is tuned by employing the tuning circuit. We have performed the simulation using TSMC $0.18{\mu}m$ process parameter to analyze the characteristics of the designed active RC bandpass filter. The bandpass filter with Q=20.5 has 90MHz half power bandwidth at the center frequency of 1.86GHz. Moreover, the center frequency of the proposed bandpass filter can be tuned between 1.86~2.38GHz for the multi-standards wireless communication system using the capacitor of the tuning circuit.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.23-35
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze the demand and supply of advanced practice nurses and suggest alternative benefit strategies in the Korean national health insurance. Methods: A revised demand & supply model was used to estimate the excess supply of APNs, and policy making process and key actors in the Korean health insurance were considered to develop a political approach to the APN issue. Results: The social demand for APNs is currently estimated to be less than 50% of its supply and the APN education program fell into difficulties in recruits. No reimbursement mechanism for APN's services in the national health insurance has given no economic incentive to hospital managers who have monopsony power in nursing labor market, which has caused the demand shortage of APNs in hospital industry. Payment for APN's services recognized as one of the most significant strategies to booster the social demand for APN's services should be carefully designed and implemented in the national health insurance. In line with this, key actors in health insurance policy decision-making include government, national assembly, labor unions, NGOs, civic groups, medical associations, and academia. Conclusion: The basic researches for APN's activities and cost-effectiveness analysis in clinical settings are required to support the strategies aforementioned. Constructing a policy network among key actors is able to make the payment strategy feasible, which will increase the socal demand for APNs.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.16
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• pp.139-159
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• 2005

In many countries the demographics clearly informs us that an aging population represent a serious problem. To this extent senior citizens welfare does matter it has developed into a public debate and genuine concern. it seems that the social issues are focused on how the socity views the social welfare policies. In a modern welfare state where the emphasis lies in pursing a high standard of living and thereby high quality of life. This does not cover the very well the old people in society, but the government clearly carries an obligation to look after and care for the retired & old people in the society. This obligation the social and economic impact that an old person faces as he/she grows old. it is important ensure that their lives carries a meaning and that they as a group will not be estranged from the mainstream of society just because they are considered to be part of the aging population. The key issues that must be addressed are 1) The impact of reduced spending power from less income. a lower income stream; 2) increasing health problems and costs; 3) the natural degradation of ones physical & mental powers; 4) and thereby an isolation from the public in general. So clearly the social policy related to the old people in society should be developed with the consent of what they believe is important to them. To ensure their minimum income level that a beneficiary of an old person's pension will receive, the monthly pension should be reflected by the official price index and be adjusted accordingly. by making the job market open for the senior citizens, expending the mandatory retirement age, give companiesincentives to hire senior citizens, there maybe an opportunity to extend to the aging population the possibility to continue to participate in the society at large.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.323-328
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• 2007

Communication systems beyond 3G should provide more than 100 Mbps for wireless access. In addition to smart antennas, wireless multi-hop networks are proposed to increase the cell size and throughput. For example, Zigbee technology is expected to provide low cost and low power connectivity and can be implemented in wireless mesh networks larger than is possible with Bluetooth. Also, home embedded system using wireless mesh network is one of the key market areas for Zigbee applications. If the line-of-sight path is shadowed by home obstacles, a direct connection between the access point (AP) and the node is not possible at high frequencies. Therefore, by using multi-hop relay scheme the end node can be reached to AP. In this paper, the relaying of data between the AP and the end node is investigated and the throughput and PER(Packet Error Rate) are evaluated in multi-hop wireless mesh networks by using DSSS/BPSK system.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.207-213
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• 2012

ICT industry in Korea was constituted an industry in early 1980's and has been growing more and more since then. In the process of this growth, most of the large ICT companies in Chaebeols has been absorbing in undemocratic economic behaviors. As a result, the sales and the profit of Cheabeols and large companies has been increasing by geometrical progression, but most of small and medium cooperative companies of these big corporations have been eking a scanty existence. And many of them had gone belly up. This article will propose the digital economic democratization as an alternative to overcome the present undemocratic economic situation in the digital economic field and to develop the healthy ICT industry, and to preliminarily study the concept, elements and meaning of the digital economic democratization.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2018

The purpose of this research is to study the semantic characteristics of men's cosmetics brand names by analyzing 51 brand names in the domestic market, so as to find ways to develop strategic brand names. In order to investigate this area, the study looked at the Interbrand Company's Name Spectrum, and the results are as follows. The men's cosmetics brand names turned out to be freestanding brand names, descriptive brand names, and associative brand names, in that order. The freestanding brand names were found to be the initial combinations of the words that have the desired benefits in the concepts of the pertinent brands; in other words, coined brand names that were made by synthesizing words such as nice men, naturalism, eco-friendly plant-derived materials and ideal skin. Associative brand names are generally used to express the effect of enhancing brand awareness by considering the phonetic image of the word or prompting a masculine and favorable image. Descriptive brand names use language symbols such as men, homme, man, monsieur and gentle to represent specific business and product categories for men, and also use stem, plant, flower, skin, beauty, moisturizing, tosowoong and so on to provide the properties and beneficial information related to the products. In conclusion, the men's cosmetics brand names embody an important factor that symbolizes the concepts, functions or features of the brand, and there is a need for men's cosmetic brands to develop more unique and distinctive brand names to promote their brand names as constitutional factors that can build brand power and strengthen brand image.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1109-1118
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• 2017

With mobile payment always at the center of the fintech craze all over the world, many countries led by China, India, England and Brazil are dedicated to activating and supplying online and offline mobile payment services, securing competitive advantage in the global mobile payment market. However, Korea that had proudly considered itself as an IT power was crowded out of the top 10 ranking, falling behind even Australia, Mexico and Germany. Therefore, this study conducted an empirical research to measure the word-of-mouth intention of general consumers using offline mobile payment service in Korea. Furthermore, it comparatively analyzed the world's most powerful country, China, in mobile payment services, and analyzed the difference in consumer perception between Korea and China.