• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.153-168
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• 2021

Purpose - In this study, we aim to explore new distribution strategies for sustainable growth in the era of the 4th industrial revolution, focusing on SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) in Korea, and suggest ways to upgrade the government's official distribution channel to the next level. Design/methodology - First of all, this paper explored the prior research, the current status of sales support for SMEs, and the changes in the distribution industry due to COVID-19 pandemic. Based on Moon (2016)'s ABCD strategic model - Agility, Benchmarking, Convergence, and Dedication, the study then derived directions in which official distribution channels should move and the new distribution strategy for Korean SMEs to secure competitive advantage. Findings - First, in terms of 'Agility', in order to upgrade official distribution channels, which are currently at some competitive disadvantages compared to private distribution companies, we must quickly introduce technologies for the 4th industrial revolution, such as AI, Big Data, etc., and establish precise strategies to strengthen the capabilities of SMEs. Second, in terms of 'Benchmarking', the use of "Chamelezones" has been increasing to enhance the competitiveness of offline stores in line with recent ontact trends. Therefore, official distribution channels should also benchmark such cases, strengthening their competitiveness by utilizing offline spaces more efficiently and effectively. Third, in terms of 'Convergence', in line with the rapidly changing trend of the times, official distribution channels should also promote active partnerships with media commerce, e-commerce and ICT platforms, as well as cooperation with private retailers, and focus on creating synergy effects through them. Finally, from the perspective of 'Dedication', digitalization should be promoted step by step, finding the sector that can accelerate digital among the value chains of official distribution channels, and continuing to discuss how to digitize it realistically. Originality/value - Based on this analysis, we have presented strategies and implications for innovating official distribution channels for SMEs, which will contribute to enhancing the competitive advantage of official distribution channels in the post COVID-19 pandemic era.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.313-323
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• 1998

This study is to develop the model on the joint employment system of occupational health nurse practitioners for medium or small sized enterprises in Korea based on the comparison opinions between employers and occupational health nurses (OHN). The data were collected by questionnaires from Oct. to Nov. in 1997. The number of subjects was 210 OHNs and 176 employers, response rate was 47.1% for OHNs and 23.2% for employers. The SAS PC program was used for the descriptive statistics. The results were as follow: 1. More than three years career was preferred for qualification of OHN by employers and OHNs. OHNs preferred that all instruments and materials should be equipped in each industry, but employers preferred that they should be equipped by OHN. 2. For the limit number of industries and employees per one OHN, employers preferred average 2.25 industries and 307 employees, OHNs preferred average 3.0 industries and 448 employees. Both of them preferred two times visit per week for all day long. 3. OHNs wanted that the local office of Ministry of Labor could act as mediator, but employers preferred direct contact individually. For the average wage, employers preferred 887,000 won per month, but OHNs preferred 1,960,000 won per month. 4. OHNs preferred the Korean Association of Occupational Health Nurse as the recruit agency. Finally, employers and OHNs have the opinions that they can choose this system depending on the condition. There is in need of development of effective strategy for this new system such as manpower development, cost-benefit analysis, establishment of occupational health service standard, advertisement for employers, and government supported project.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.31 no.6 s.119
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• pp.514-523
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• 2006

Production of green pepper has been increased due to customer's preference and a projected ten-year boom in the industry in Korea. This study was carried out to develop an automatic grading and sorting system for green pepper using machine vision. The system consisted of a feeding mechanism, segregation section, an image inspection chamber, image processing section, system control section, grading section, and discharging section. Green peppers were separated and transported using a bowl feeder with a vibrator and a belt conveyor, respectively. Images were taken using color CCD cameras and a color frame grabber. An on-line grading algorithm was developed using Visual C/C++. The green peppers could be graded into four classes by activating air nozzles located at the discharging section. Length and curvature of each green pepper were measured while removing a stem of it. The first derivative of thickness profile was used to remove a stem area of segmented image of the pepper. While pepper is moving at 0.45 m/s, the accuracy of grading sorting for large, medium and small pepper are 86.0%, 81.3% and 90.6% respectively. Sorting performance was 121 kg/hour, and about five times better than manual sorting. The developed system was also economically feasible to grade and sort green peppers showing the cost about 40% lower than that of manual operations.

• Proceedings of the Korean Operations and Management Science Society Conference
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.464-486
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• 2008

Purpose. Electronic intermediaries (e-intermediaries) are gaining significance in international marketing with the rapid development of e-commerce. The goal of this study is to explain empirically what leads to a higher use of this relatively new exportation alternative. Relying on a resource-based view as our research foundation, we focus on information technology (IT) and non-IT factors as possible determinants. Further, this study brings arguments offered by transaction cost theorists to explain the other non-IT determinants. Methodology/Approach. Data are collected from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the electronic industry in Korea and the U.S to ensure generalizability. Ordinary least square (OLS) regression is utilized to analyze the data. Findings. This study raises new issues regarding a relatively new type of exporting channel, e-intermediary. Exporting is regarded as the most appropriate strategy for SMEs in international commerce. A number of SMEs stay away from exporting due to limited resources or lack of knowledge regarding foreign markets. The findings in this study should help SMEs use e-intermediaries more widely by developing appropriate IT-related resources (IT-related human and relationship assets) and dealing with non-IT factors (international competence, environmental uncertainty, and duration of relationship) effectively. Originality/Value/Contribution. This study illustrates the significant role of e-intermediaries, which may help SMEs to penetrate the global market effectively. Finding relevant sources in the global e-marketplace is a challenge for non-experienced users like SMEs. This study proposes e-intermediaries as an effective alternative for them. Another contribution of this study is to show how the use of indirect exporting channels, e-intermediaries, decrease costs in exporting transactions. This study suggests an e-intermediary as a hybrid exporting channel to balance risk and profit.

• 한국데이터정보과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.04a
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• pp.253-265
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• 2006

This study aims to figure out the relation between the demographic characteristics and job satisfaction of those who work at fashion companies. The subject of this study is those who work at fashion companies beyond the small and medium sized businesses and designer brand employees in Busan. We used SPSS/WIN 10.0 to analyze the data for this study. The job satisfaction was found to increase in proportion to the satisfaction with the job itself, the senior of official, wage and colleagues, which increases along with the level of post. The job satisfaction was found to be proportional to the level of work specialization, satisfaction with the company and welfare. The job satisfaction and the performance would improve if the work environment for employees is made better by making their works more diverse and discretionary to ensure a successful growth of fashion companies.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.50-58
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• 2009

A survey was conducted and analyzed for strengthening the employment competitiveness of engineering students. Questionnaires were conducted to students and graduates majoring in mechanical, civil engineering and computer science as well as to small and medium sized industries. It includes the level of satisfaction and requirement to recognize the situation of the students in metropolitan Seoul area. Survey results indicate that for undergraduates and graduates, knowledge of their own majors is most important. However, for industry, the most important factor is the ability of analysis and application, and their personalities. With the results of this survey, it is expected that these discrepancies between industries and students are reduced and the competitiveness of students is strengthened.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-34
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• 1995

Since 1982, the government of Korea has actively promoted vertical cooperative R&D programs between government-sponsored research institutes (GRIs) and private firms. A number of firms participated in the programs because cooperative R&D could lower the risk and could contribute to rapid commercialization of many technologies. This paper examines the effectiveness of vertical cooperative R&D projects by the modes of cooperation between GRIs and industrial firms, and analyzes the performance of participating firms' technology sourcing strategies for commercial utilization of cooperative R&D results at the project performed from 1982 to 1989 under the Government-Industry Cooperative R&D Program sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology(MOST) in Korea. The cooperative R&D projects are classified into 4 groups by two criteria, i.e., the level of participation of firms, and the breadth of cooperation. The findings suggest that firms should actively participate in cooperative R&D projects. In addition, in order to enhance commercial success, cooperation between GRIs and industrial firms should not be limited to R&D stage only. The breadth of cooperation should be extended to commercialization stage. Small- and medium-sized firms participating in vertical cooperative R&D projects in Korea usually lack internal technological capabilities that are needed to commercialize the results of cooperative R&D. Three different technology sourcing strategies - exclusive cooperative R&D strategy, in-house development augmented cooperative R&D strategy, and licensing-in supplemented cooperative R&D strategy - are empirically derived through cluster analysis of the relative usage rates cooperative R&D and of other supplementary technology acquisition methods. The findings suggest that the firms participating in vertical cooperative R&D projects should try to utilize other supplementary technology acquisition methods in order to achieve commercial utilization of the vertical cooperative R&D results.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.451-470
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• 2022

Recently, the environment has been recognized as an important factor in increasing competitiveness in the industry. In agriculture and rural areas, the environment is becoming important in terms of the competitive advantage of agricultural products and continued regional development. This study intended to provide farmers with basic data for the continuous development of local agriculture through exploratory studies of environmental behaviors and regional development. In this study, 107 questionnaires were used for analysis of farmers in Jinan County to analyze the impact of farmers' environmental consciousness on regional development, and the research model was verified using a structural equation model. As a result of the analysis, it was analyzed that among the components of the environmental consciousness of farmers, environmental health has a statistically significant positive effect on environmental behaviors, while environmental interest and soil environment do not have an impact. The environmental behaviors of farmers have not been shown to be statistically significant to regional development. As a result of the analysis of this research, first, it is necessary to foster at the local level by establishing a customized fostering system for each village and region, such as education and technical support to vitalize the participation of young farmers and small and medium-sized farmers through the establishment of an Eco-friendly agricultural organization support system. It is necessary to raise public awareness of the public good function of agriculture and expand opportunities for sharing the value of Eco-friendly agriculture.

• Korea Trade Review
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.51-65
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• 2020

According to an analysis of 560 foreign-invested companies investing in South Korea's manufacturing industry, the following three facts were found. First, the proportion of sales by manufacturing foreign-invested companies is divided into 68.5 percent of domestic sales and 31.5 percent of exports. From 68.5 percent of domestic sales, sales to Korean companies are 60.5 percent, including 37.1 percent for large companies and 23.4 percent for small and medium-sized companies, while only 8.0 percent for domestic consumers. Second, the investment sectors of manufacturing foreign-invested enterprises are 'machine and equipment manufacturing', 'chemical and chemical-chemical material manufacturing-excluding pharmaceuticals', 'electronic components, computers, video, sound and communication equipment manufacturing' and 'vehicle and trailer manufacturing'. It overlaps with electric·electronics, petro-chemicals and automobiles, which are Korea's main industries and areas of Korean global companies. Third, 31.5 percent of the sales of foreign-invested companies in the manufacturing sector are exported. Foreign-invested companies export their products to use them for their parents or affiliates or to the third countries. The analysis shows that foreign-invested companies invested in Korea for B2B transactions with Korean companies. The implications are that Korea can attract foreign investments by utilizing Korean companies' demand for intermediate goods. Foreign-invested companies can invest in Korea in order to use Korea, which has signed free trade agreements with the US, the EU and ASEAN, as an export platform.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.207-215
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• 2016

The objective of this study is to examine the relevance between Job Characteristic and Organizational Effectiveness by Job Stress. The proxy variable of the Job Characteristic are skill variety, task identity, task significance, task autonomy, and task feedback. The proxy variable of Job Stress are role conflict, role ambiguity, and role overload. And the proxy variable of Organizational Effectiveness are job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and turnover intention. The sample consists of 379 data belonging to manufacturing and service industry located on Busan, Ulsan, and Gyungnam in 2015. The result of this study shows that there is difference on the relevance between Job Characteristic and Organizational Effectiveness according to the Job Stress. Therefore, it is more important to reduce the job stress to enhance the Organizational Effectiveness.