• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.10
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• pp.67-74
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• 2014

Purpose - This study analyzed how image affects customer trust and satisfaction in the online shopping mall market, which is becoming more competitive; future implications for customer management in online shopping malls were presented. Consumers visit and prefer a few shopping mall sites instead of many sites. Consumers do not visit sites that cannot provide trust and satisfaction. Therefore, establishing trust and satisfaction with differentiated image is essential for survival and growth. Specifically analyzing company image, shop image, and brand image, I studied how symbolic image, functional image, and empirical image affect satisfaction mediated by trust in the online shopping malls of hypermarket retailers. Research design, data, and methodology - To investigate the relationship between image and satisfaction of big box retailers' shopping malls in the online market, the study is based on analyzed data from questionnaires involving advanced research. From May 1st to 20th in the year 2014, a questionnaire survey targeting university students using big box retailers' shopping malls in Seoul was conducted. A total of 282 questionnaires were conducted, and 276 questionnaires were used for empirical analysis, excluding invalid data. Using the SPSS 21.0 statistics package, factor analysis and regression analysis were implemented, and effects of image on trust and satisfaction were presented. Results - First, symbolic image can affect satisfaction with only trust. Among 3 image factors, symbolic image exerts the most influence on trust; trust is important in coupling the medium to satisfaction. Second, functional image and empirical image affect satisfaction directly and indirectly with trust. Conclusions - As I classified the image of hyper market retailers' online shopping malls into symbolic, functional, and empirical image, I analyzed the effects of image on trust and satisfaction empirically. The results of the study and strategic implications are as follows. First, symbolic image can affect satisfaction with only trust. Among 3 image factors, symbolic image exerts the most influence on trust; trust is important in coupling the medium to satisfaction. The establishment of a distinctive symbolic image, such as the online shopping mall's loyalty, level of awareness, and special service, is needed. With the establishment of symbolic image, trust and satisfaction could be improved. Second, functional image and empirical image affect satisfaction directly and indirectly with trust. Especially, as functional image affects trust more than empirical image, setting and implementing a strategy for empirical image based on the right price, service, and convenience could raise trust and satisfaction. Empirical image affects trust and satisfaction substantially. Even though empirical image's influence on trust is lower than that of other three image factors, empirical image's influence on satisfaction is higher than symbolic image. Therefore, it requires a strategy for providing joyful use, and information research functions and distinctive use experience are important to improve satisfaction. This study analyzed image characteristics of hyper-market retailers' online shopping malls in the fast-growing online market; future strategic implications were presented.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.8 no.7
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• pp.39-49
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• 2017

Purpose - There are common factors both in Technology Readiness and Acceptance Model and Technology Paradox Theory which can be put together and made in one unified model. The unified model can provide the following merits. First, the unified model is simple but contains factors of the models. Second, the unified model can clarify the process of technology acceptance of common consumers. Third, the unified model can provide the opportunities to analyze the negative sides of new technology, thus find ways to improve the level of acceptance by general consumers. Research design, data, and methodology - The 450 questionnaires were handed out to people around Seoul and 421 were collected. Except insincere and wrong-marked ones, 402 were used to analyze. SPSS program was used to analyze. Factor analysis, regression analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses. Results - By analyzing sub-factors of both models and binding the common factors in one category, we accomplish one model. And we tested the model by empirical method. The results show that the results from the unified model are almost same as the results from the two models. In other words, the unified model works. Conclusions - Explaining one state of affair by two different method is in some sense distracting attention. By devising a new model including factors of both models, we can explain the affair more straightforward and efficiently. At first the technology acceptance model was devised to explain the technology users in an organization and the following tests and revised models were for the similar purposes. However, as on-lone activities including contracts have been expanded and become important, consumers as the technology uses have emerged as first factor to consider. In accordance models to explain this situation has been suggested. The model suggested in this research is one of the models but it has the following merits. That is, it is simple but has strong explanation power, it can clarify the process of technology acceptance of common consumers by containing negative sides of consumer conception, and thus, it can provide the opportunities to analyze the negative sides of new technology, also find ways to improve the level of acceptance by general consumers.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.9 no.9
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• pp.63-74
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• 2018

Purpose - The current study is to compare the cognition of stakeholders on hosting a mega sports event between Korea and the United States. In particular, to understand their cognition and perceptual conflict towards hosting a mega sports event, the study employed conflict theory. Furthermore, the study reviewed the role of social capital in the process of managing the mega sports events. Research Design, Data, and Methodology - Of homogeneous sampling, purposeful sampling method and criterion-based selection approach were used to collect interview data from key stakeholders who have been involved in hosting a mega sports events in Korea and the United States. In-depth interview transcripts were reviewed multiple tiems after transcription to extract concepts and meanings that were pertinenet to the experience involving hosting a mega sports event. Further member checks was conducted to increase the credibility of the results. Results - Results can be summarized as followed: First, stakeholders of Korea have a strong desire for positive economic effects of a mega sports event, compared to those in the United States who are more concerned in enhancing the public interests and concerns. Second, in Korea, various socio-political issues emerged at the same time and conflicts among multiple stakeholders have aggravated the situations to coordinate the issues. This was because legal system supporting socio-trust has not been established. On the other hand, major stakeholders of the United States consisted of community members who have socio-trust and networks. Thereby these social resources have been found playing a key role in building social capital that assists the stakeholders to coordinate the current issues and to solve them. Conclusions - The current study analyzed the cognition and perceptual conflict of stakehoders in a mega sports event. Social capital has beend found as a key catalyst to increase a network and cooperation among stakeholders. In order to enhance social capital in managing a mega sports event hosted in Korea, legal systems that establish networks and relationships among the related stakeholders need to be developed. Furthermore, the systematic guideline needs to be developed, organizing the sub-committees according to the types of stakeholders and the categorized common needs.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.69-77
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• 2018

Purpose - As more low cost carriers are introduced, the competition between the low cost carriers to become the nation's leading low cost carrier is also being intensified. The purpose of this study is to select various choice attributes for low cost carrier and figure out important factors that customers take into account for low cost carrier selection. The study also involves in establishing the relationship between perceived value, customer satisfaction, and customer behavior Intention, in an effort to identify choice attributes that are important to customers' low cost carrier. Research design, data, and methodology - To examine these research models, samples were collected from 247 peoples who visited In-Cheon international Airport during June, 2017. Results - The results of the study showed that, 'reservation service', 'airport service', 'in-flight service', and 'price' services have a significant effect on the perceived value of the choice attributes. While 'reservation service', 'airport service', 'in-flight service', and 'flight operation service' have a significant effect on the customer satisfaction of the choice attributes, perceived value has a significant effect on customer satisfaction. Perceived value has a significant effect on customer behavior intention. Finally, customer satisfaction has a significant effect on customer behavior intention. Conclusions - Flight operation service has no significant effect on perceived value of the choice attributes of low cost carriers, which indicates that the low cost carriers have not yet been well-established in the flight operation service sector. It seems likely that low cost carrier will be able to gain a competitive advantage over other companies if they expand their routes and improve the convenience of flight connections. In addition, the results show that the price service does not have a significant effect on customer satisfaction of the choice attributes of low cost carriers. From this, we may assume that the airline ticket prices of low cost carriers are already low, and the price cannot be a deciding factor in the competitive advantage of low cost carriers. To achieve higher customer satisfaction of the choice attributes, companies should strengthen the competitiveness of 'reservation service', 'airport service', 'in-flight service', and 'flight operation service'.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.61-71
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• 2017

Purpose - This study empirically analyzed the effect of the customer orientation in Insurance Salespersons on the perceived referral risk and referral intention. In the empirical study, we try to provide suggestions for reducing the perceived referral risk of customer oriented selling activities and improving the referral intentions according to customers' tendencies. Research design, data, and methodology - Data collection was conducted through the convenience sampling method for customers who had insurance coverage for about two months from March to May 2015. A total of 700 copies were distributed and 670 copies (95.7% recovery) were collected. Finally, 661 copies were used for final analysis. With the IBM PASW 22.0 statistical program. The interaction effect for the hypothesis test was generated by multiplying the average centralized independent variable and the control variable, and the average centralization variable was used to minimize the multi-collinearity problem of the interaction effect between the independent variable and the control variables. Results - Hypothesis 1 was adopted because the effect of customer-oriented selling activities on perceived referral risk were significantly negative. The effect of customer orientation on perceived referral risk is affected by innovative tendency, risk-taking tendency, and interpersonal tendency Interaction effect was observed. Therefore, Hypothesis 2-2, Hypothesis 2-3, Hypothesis 2-4 were adopted. The effect of customer-oriented selling activities on referral intention was significantly positive, and Hypothesis 3 was adopted. The effect of customer orientation was influenced by the interaction effect of innovative tendency. Therefore, only Hypothesis 4-2 was adopted. Finally, the effect of perceived referral risk on referral intention was significantly negative and hypothesis 5 was adopted. Conclusions - This study suggests that it is important for the salespeople to grasp the customers' propensity in consideration of the perceived referral risk and referral intention according to the moderating effect of customer orientation. In this study, we showed that customer-oriented selling activities positively influence referral intention by inducing perceived referral risk in customers with stronger risk-taking tendencies. It is thought that it will be an important basic data in designing a customer's selling strategy or conducting selling activities.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.125-137
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• 2013

Seoul city provided u-tourism services for inbound tourists' convenience. These services began in April, 2010 and were completed in advanced way by the end of 2011. Seoul city developed a brand fit to the new services simultaneously for communicating it. Recently, there are so many cities in the world that steadily try to give favorable impression and images to people. In the study, we analyze the process of brand building to present a guideline for city brand and tourism service brand building. The study includes a series of brand making process such as environment of brand, customer analysis, design of brand platform, brand hierarchy, visualization of various brand factors, strategies of operation and performances of brand awareness and draw a conclusion and suggest an advice. As for implication, the study shows the necessity of service brand launching plus Seoul official brand(Hi, Seoul), the service brand including ubiquitous concept, development of brand factors with complementarity and observation of systematical methodology.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.469-475
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• 2014

This study analyzed the studies and their trends, specifically 124 master's and doctoral theses, as well as research papers on the topic of education on death published from 1990 to 2014. The study's findings are as follows. First, in terms of trends by year, there were only 8papers in the 1990s but this figure saw a dramatic jump from 2005 to 2009 to a total of 50papers(40.3%). The majority of them, 59papers in total, were master's theses(47.6%). Second, in terms of the study field, theological studies took the lead and studies on social welfare accounted for 29papers(28.4%) which was the largest share. Third, in terms of study subjects, senior citizens were used in the majority of papers or 35papers(40.7%) in total. Fourth, in terms of methodology, literature studies accounted for 61papers(49.2%) which was the largest share. Fifth, for mediation programs education on death, the preferred method of study was to have a before-after design using a control group and experiment group. The most common number of total sessions was 5-8sessions with one session per week and each session lasting for about 100-120minutes. Sixth, as for the effect variable of mediation programs for education on death, death anxiety was the most frequently studied variable at 23 papers(31.5%).

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.247-284
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• 2017

Purpose The first purpose of this study is to investigate factors that are likely to influence user's intention to adopt third-party mobile payment platform. A comprehensive study about mobile payment services have used various variables to explain user's use intention based on the theory of reasoned action (TRA) or the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Variables such as simplicity, security, costs, relative advantage, individual mobility, subjective norm, trust, satisfaction, attitude towards use, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and so on. Among these factors, we expect to find out the most influential factors effecting user's use intention of the third-party mobile payment services. Second, we also examine whether the most influential factors have the same influence to different third-party mobile payment services by conducting comparative study of Alipay and WeChat Pay. Design/methodology/approach Empirical data for this study were collected from Chinese who has the experience using or have used Alipay or WeChat Pay. Participants needed to be familiar with Alipay or WeChat Pay because such users may be more aware of both the advantages and disadvantages of Alipay and WeChat Pay. We conduct a pilot test using Smart PLS 2.0, which includes 50 Alipay users and 82 WeChat Pay users. The result indicates that all the measurement fit for the context. And then 980 questionnaires were mainly sent out to the college students and the e-mails users randomly. To encourage participation, we give the participants a small gift as a present. Finally, we received a total of 683 replied. Data from respondents who gave incomplete or invalid answers were excluded to assure the validity of the constructs. 79 questionnaires were rejected, finally the valid data are 604 (with 372 Alipay users and 232 WeChat Pay users). Findings The results suggest that users' intention is determined by their trust on third-party mobile payment service and perceived usefulness of use. Comparative study results also indicated that the factors have different influence on Alipay group and WeChat Pay group, which offers a new aspect for academic field, and provides useful information to mobile payment service providers in China.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.101-114
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• 2016

Purpose - The aim of this study is to investigate the benefit-sharing activities. They affect contract renewal intention between franchisers and franchisees that are linked through a contract with the intention of building their relationship from the level based on dynamic trust. This study will show a new approach on qualitative growth and consolidation of competitive power and may well be able to suggest practical ways to strengthen directions in the field of franchise industries. Research design, data, and methodology - In this study, based on literature review, we separated logistical-supporting activities and non-logistical-supporting activities from benefit-sharing activities. We modeled how benefit-sharing activities influence contract renewal intention of franchisees by dynamic trust. In particular, considering the possibility of trading concepts and characteristics of trust between providers opportunistic behaviors was defined as variables, depending on the situation and dynamic characters reveal their relationship trust concept. That is, dynamic trust having the possibility of changing depending on opportunistic risks and interdependencies by Lewis & Weigert(1985, 2012) was classified into transitional-based trust, calculated based trust, relational-based trust and balance-based on trust. The total of 104 samples from domestic franchisees being with franchisees were collected by using a structural composed questionnaire. Results - The results are as following. Benefit-sharing activities in logistical supporting activities appeared to affect the multidimensional concept of transitional trust, calculated based on trust, relationship-based trust and balance based on trust dynamic trust with all-defined impact. Non-logistical supporting activities appeared to affect significantly the positive (+) to the dynamic trust concept except transitional trust. Lewis & Weigert(1985; 2012) have proposed a dynamic confidence calculated from relations within-based trust relationship based on trust appears to affect the significant positive (+) to the balance-based confidence transactions confidence mechanism of the system side in the verified relationship. Finally, a relationship based on trust and confidence in the balance based on the Influence of dynamic renewed confidence showed significantly affect the positive(+). In particular, the balance based trust showed the acts as a mediating factors between relational trust and confidence and renew calculated. Conclusion - From the above these results, the significance from this study is as following. First, the proposed activity is to share and validate the approach by identifying the potential in the relationship from the contract with building dynamic trust, and one of the ways from the franchise headquarters and affiliated merchants mutual growth through win-win cooperation in sharing activities. Next, the dynamic segmentation confidence to suggest the possibility can be broken down over the validity and reliability test for each concept. In addition, by identifying the relationship between the dynamic level of confidence granular multi-dimensional concept, to determine the level of trust with a dynamic relationship between risk and interdependencies can be possible in franchise industries. In order to maintain and develop their mutual relationship, franchise industries should propose confidence-building steps to promote their quality improvement.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.45-54
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• 2016

Purpose - There have been numerous studies investigating the effects of corporate social responsibility initiatives on corporate associations or corporate images. In line of this research stream, current research examined the potential impact of customer participation in the process of corporate social responsibility initiatives on attitude toward the company. This research differentiates from previous studies that it is the first to connect corporate social responsibility and customer participation. Specifically, we suggest a structural model on corporate associations which was classified into corporate ability associations and corporate social responsibility associations that the more the customers participate in initiating corporate social responsibility, corporate associations were formed more positively. And this leads to the increase of revisit intentions through customer satisfaction. Research design, data, and methodology - To test our research model, we collected data of real consumers of a large discount store in Korea. At the large discount store, customers were given an opportunity to participate the discount store's CSR activity program. We performed field survey and collected data of 146 respondents. We analyzed the data using PASW statistics 21.0 and AMOS 16.0 in order to test our structural model. Results - The results showed that consumers who participated more in initiating corporate social responsibility revealed higher score for corporate ability associations and corporate social responsibility associations. These corporate associations had a positive effect on customer satisfaction, which leads to higher attitude toward revisit intentions. Specifically, hypothesis 1.1 "As Customer participation in CSR process increases, the evaluation of CA associations will be positive,"was supported. Hypothesis 1.2 "As Customer participation in CSR process increases, the evaluation of CSR associations will be positive," was supported. Hypothesis 2.1 "As the evaluation of CA associations is positive, satisfaction with the firm will increase," was supported. Hypothesis 2.1 "As the evaluation of CSR associations is positive, satisfaction with the firm will increase," was supported. Hypothesis 3 "As satisfaction with the firm increases, revisit intentions with the firm will increase," was supported. Conclusions - This research is the first to study the relationship between customer participation in CSR process, CSR, and consumer reactions. This research also contributes to customer participation and corporate social responsibility literature by suggesting customer participation as an antecedent and empirically demonstrating the positive relationships between the constructs. The findings of this research may offer managerial implications for marketing practitioners. When performing corporate social initiatives, it is better to let the customer participate in the process which leads to higher corporate ability associations and corporate social responsibility associations, also higher satisfaction and revisit intentions. Our results provide useful information to practioners that spontaneous participation of consumers makes CSR initiatives effective and successful. Limitations and ideas for further research remain in this research. For example, our focus on the logic was cognitive evaluations(e.g. corporate associations) but affective dimensions might be considered since recent researches are investigating the relationship between customer participation and affective reaction as a response. Despite the limitations, this research have unique and applicable implications for academics and practitioners.