• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.11
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• pp.45-53
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• 2014

Purpose - Goal setting is effective in any domain in which an individual or group has some control over the outcomes. It applies not only to work tasks but also to sports and health, and in various other settings. Its success depends on considering the mediators and moderators determining its efficacy and applicability. This study investigates the individual factors influencing academic goal attainability. Unlike previous studies, we focused on the effect of the relationships between individual traits (passion, tenacity, self-control) and specific motivation (vision, self-efficacy, implementation intentions) with academic goal attainability, rather than the effects of the relationship between commitment and the goal shielding mechanism with goal attainability. Research design, data, and methodology - Data collected through questionnaires were analyzed by the SPSS program. A total of 293 school students, who participated in the TOEIC program, participated in the survey. Slightly more than half were female (male: n=145 vs. female: n=148). We verified nine hypotheses through various statistical methods (reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation model for the hypothesis test, bootstrapping test for the mediation test). Results - Data was analyzed in three phases. The first phase involved measurement analysis (i.e., item purification and factor structure confirmation), involving the scales of the three variables of individual traits, three mechanism variables, and goal attainability. The second phase involved estimating the proposed structural relationships among the key constructs (see Figure 1), using the results to test H1 to H9. The final phase involved examining the mediating effects of the three variables (vision, implementation intention, and self-efficacy). The research model shows that the independent variable passion has a significant result with both the mediators-vision and self-efficacy. Further, vision and self-efficacy significantly affect goal attainability. The second variable, self-control, shows a significant effect when mediated by implementation intentions, but the direct relationship between implementation intension and goal attainability shows an insignificant result. However, when further mediated by self-efficacy, it showed a significant effect between self-efficacy and goal attainability. Similarly, the third variable, tenacity, shows an insignificant result when mediated by vision. In contrast, the mediator self-efficacy shows a positive effect between tenacity and goal attainability. Conclusions - This study shows how these individual traits, when mediated with the appropriate motivational factors, resulted significantly in the attainability of academic goals. We may identify several theoretical and practical contributions. Theoretically, we developed a step further in the research into consumer goals and related studies. Future research could examine the effects of different learning goal types and their combinations with performance goals (e.g., learning goals first, then performance goals), different types of goal framing (approach success vs. avoid failure), the relation between goals and cognition (which, by implication, entails all of cognitive psychology), goal hierarchies, and macro goal studies with organizations of different sizes. More studies on the relationship between conscious and subconscious goals would also be valuable.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.47-58
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• 2015

Purpose - This study aims to seek determinants of department store sales commission rates under consignment contracts based on transaction cost theory, the power-dependence view, and the resource-based view. A consignment contract is a unique contract where the retailer, over a given period, takes possession of goods owned by a supplier, promotes the sales of these goods, and receives a profit share from their sales. Under this contract, the supplier owns the goods until they are sold. In department stores in South Korea, over 70% of overall sales comes through consignment contracts. In other words, this is the most popular contract agreement between large retailers and vendors in South Korea. Consignment contracts yield high profits to department stores with minimal sales uncertainty, stock cost, and marketing investment. Many suppliers believe the consignment contract commission rates are too high. However, department stores disagree. They state that the commissions are not high as they generate new value for the suppliers by accumulating up-to-date merchandise and supporting various marketing programs on their behalf. Recently, consignment contracts have been critically examined and scrutinized by politicians, mass media, and the public of Korea. This study further intends to derive implications reflecting both buyer and seller perspectives as well as offer insights to policy makers in making appropriate decisions. Research design, data, and methodology - To verify the proposed research model and test hypotheses, the authors selected 164 suppliers, which currently have relationships with department stores. This study carefully investigated the reliability, content validity, convergent validity, and discriminant validity of the proposed model. The data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 and AMOS structural equation modeling program Results - For the transaction cost theory and the power-dependence view, the results indicated that product diversity and demand volatility had a positive impact on the sales dependence on a department store. Dependence in turn had a positive effect on the sales commission under the consignment contract. Based on the resource-based view, the department store's marketing capability, the supplier's perception toward merchandising, and supporting activities could enhance the department store's channel leadership in the buyer-seller relationship. Subsequently, the channel leadership had a positive effect on the sales commission. However, product complexity had no relationship with department store dependence. Conclusions - This is the first empirical research that investigates the determinants of sales commissions under consignment contracts in the domestic retail industry. This study reveals several theoretical and practical implications for both marketing scholars and marketers. In terms of theoretical implication, this study integrated and enlarged certain theoretical background, such as transaction cost theory, the power-dependence view, and the resource-based view, to explain the determinants of sales commissions under consignment contracts that include sales revenue. From a business management viewpoint, this research offers useful insights for policy makers by applying two different perspectives, both the manufacturer and the retailer, in terms of the sales commission issue under a consignment contract.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.65-73
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• 2017

Purpose - The Service Level Agreement which has been used in the IT information communication industry to maintain the level of service supplied by a vendor has been adopted in the service industry surrounding the airliners and airports. Considering that service quality is dependent on attitude of employees who are responsible to provide service, it is very important to understand what kinds of effects SLA(service level agreement) has on the attitude when SLA is applied to the service industry. SLA is an agreement between management authority and service providing contractor to make sure that certain level of service quality should be provided. For employees whose responsibilities are providing the service, SLA has both positive effects and negative effects. Negative side is that employees have to follow many irrigating complicated rules. On the other hand, the attribute of rules is that once one is become accustomed to them one may feel comfortable doing repeated same kinds of works, which is positive side for the workers. Research design, data, and methodology - We analyzed whether the SLA has moderating effects while service providers' job environment of outsourcing companies affects job satisfaction. Especially in the service industry, job satisfaction has great effects on productivity and efficiency. Results - The study results show the following. First, SLA has moderating effects while task performance environment affects treatment satisfaction. Second, SLA has moderating effects while task motivation environment affects treatment satisfaction. Third, SLA has moderating effects while physical work environment satisfaction affects treatment satisfaction. Fourth, on the other hand, the difficulties caused by SLA have moderating effects while the relationship among employees affects job dissatisfaction, which is negative side of SLA. From these results, we can tell that SLA has more positive moderating effects on treatment satisfaction on the whole. which results can be used to justify applying SLA to the service industry. Conclusions - In this study we analyzed the effects of SLA which have become more important in service industry nowadays on service providing employees. For managing side, the positive effects of SLA have to be emphasized while the negative effects should be avoided or minimized.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.955-967
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• 2016

As transportation systems for connecting lands and islands, oversea long-span bridges, underwater tunnels, and immersed tunnels have been mainly used so far. Submerged floating tunnels (SFTs) moored under specific water depth are one of the newest oversea transportation system. Compared to other existing systems, the new system requires relatively less construction cost and time. But, there is still no construction example. For reasonable design of the tunnel and mooring lines the rational structural analysis should be firstly performed. Unlike common transportation structures, the submerged tunnels are mainly affected by the wave, vary irregular excitation component. So, the analysis scheme might be difficult because of the characteristics of the submerged structures. This study aims to suggest the rational global performance analysis methodology for the submerged tunnels. Using ABAQUS the dynamic response of the experimental models studied by KIOST (2013) was investigated considering regular waves. By comparing the simulation results with the experimental results, the feasibility of the numerical simulation was verified. Using the suggested method, the effects of initial inclination of the tethers and draft of the tunnel on the dynamic behavior were studied. In addition, dynamic response of a SFT under the irregular wave was examined.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.87-96
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• 2015

Purpose - Several domestic telecommunication companies have made a considerable effort to continuously grow and survive, and they have strived to thrive in the midst of mature market competition. To overcome this challenging situation and to grow continuously, while still meeting customer needs that are becoming more diverse and complicated with the passage of time, extensive support for internal marketing is essential. Without such internal support, companies face serious limitations and market roadblocks. The communication industry is a high-level service industry and a basic communications industry characteristic is its significant dependence on the employees delivering the services. Therefore, entrepreneurs in the information/communications industry, as well as existing competitors, should look to satisfy external customers through critical investment in internal customers (employees). Therefore, it is important for research to examine how internal factors influence technology innovation and service quality, which are the key drivers for companies that are seeking leading market positions. Research design, data, and methodology - The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship of technology innovation and perceived service quality with the internal marketing factors in the communication industry and to offer suitable and effective internal marketing suggestions. The independent variables of this study are internal communication, education and training, the support of the executives, reward systems, and empowerment. The dependent variables are technology innovation and perceived service quality. Utilizing these, this paper studies the influence of internal marketing factors on technology innovation and perceived service quality. Results - The study results revealed the following. First, the identified internal marketing factors have a positive effect on technology innovation. Among the five internal marketing factors, three had a significant effect on product innovation, empowerment, the support of executives, and education and training, in this order. Second, the internal marketing factors also had a positive effect on the process innovation of technology innovation. The marketing factors, the support of executives, empowerment, internal communication, and education and training, in this order, significantly affect process innovation. Third, technology innovation had a positive effect on perceived service quality. All of the five service quality factors, namely, tangibles, reliability, assurance, responsibility, and empathy, in this order, significantly affect product innovation. Additionally, tangibles, reliability, responsibility, empathy, and assurance, in this order, significantly affect process innovation. Fourth, product and process innovation significantly affect tangibles and reliability in technology innovation. To enhance tangibles and reliability, process innovation should first be enhanced. Fifth, product and process innovation significantly affect responsibility and empathy in technology innovation. To enhance the responsibility and empathy, process innovation should first be enhanced. Sixth, product and process innovation significantly affect assurance in technology innovation. To enhance the assurance, product innovation should first be enhanced. Conclusions - According to the results, a company's internal marketing factors have a positive and significant effect on technology innovation and, further, product and process innovation have a positive and significant effect on the perceived serviced quality.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.73-79
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• 2013

Purpose - This study examines the impact of oil price volatility on economic activities in Korea. The new millennium has seen a deregulation in the crude oil market, which invited immense capital inflow into Korea. It has also raised oil price levels and volatility. Drawing on the recent theoretical literature that emphasizes the role of volatility, this paper attends to the asymmetric changes in economic growth in response to the oil price movement. This study further examines several key macroeconomic variables, such as interest rate, production, and inflation. We come to the conclusion that oil price volatility can, in some part, explain the structural changes. Research design, data, and methodology - We use two methodological frameworks in this study. First, in regards to the oil price uncertainty, we use an Exponential-GARCH (Exponential Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity: EGARCH) model estimate to elucidate the asymmetric effect of oil price shock on the conditional oil price volatility. Second, along with the estimation of the conditional volatility by the EGARCH model, we use the estimates in a VECM (Vector Error Correction Model). The study thus examines the dynamic impacts of oil price volatility on industrial production, price levels, and monetary policy responses. We also approximate the monetary policy function by the yield of monetary stabilization bond. The data collected for the study ranges from 1990: M1 to 2013: M7. In the VECM analysis section, the time span is split into two sub-periods; one from 1990 to 1999, and another from 2000 to 2013, due to the U.S. CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) deregulation on the crude oil futures that became effective in 2000. This paper intends to probe the relationship between oil price uncertainty and macroeconomic variables since the structural change in the oil market became effective. Results and Conclusions - The dynamic impulse response functions obtained from the VECM show a prolonged dampening effect of oil price volatility shock on the industrial production across all sub-periods. We also find that inflation measured by CPI rises by one standard deviation shock in response to oil price uncertainty, and lasts for the ensuing period. In addition, the impulse response functions allude that South Korea practices an expansionary monetary policy in response to oil price shocks, which stems from oil price uncertainty. Moreover, a comparison of the results of the dynamic impulse response functions from the two sub-periods suggests that the dynamic relationships have strengthened since 2000. Specifically, the results are most drastic in terms of industrial production; the impact of oil price volatility shocks has more than doubled from the year 2000 onwards. These results again indicate that the relationships between crude oil price uncertainty and Korean macroeconomic activities have been strengthened since the year2000, which resulted in a structural change in the crude oil market due to the deregulation of the crude oil futures.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.63-72
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• 2018

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of online game properties, social interaction, and player satisfaction on intention to online games in Chinese gamers. Research design, data, and methodology - This study is an empirical analysis assuming that properties of online games, social interaction and satisfaction will induce Chinese gamers' intention to play online games. We set the relationship between the six variables as follows. First, the properties of online games, exogenous variables, were identified by three factors: entertainment, security, participation and challenge. Second, we had input social interaction among gamers as another exogenous variables. Third, the gamer's satisfaction of online games was added to the research model as a mediating variable between exogenous variables and endogenous variables. Finally, gamer's intention to play influenced by satisfaction and social interaction was used as final endogenous variable. The data used for the empirical analysis were collected through questionnaires for Chinese under age 35 who enjoy the online games. The data used in the research were finally extracted from 195 questionnaires. The collected data were tested through the analysis of the measurement model (Step 1) and the analysis of the structural model (Step 2). The covariance structure equation model (SEM) was used for the analysis. The measurement model and structural model were evaluated by the maximum likelihood method. Results - The results of the empirical analysis are as follows. The satisfaction of online games were entertainment and security had a significant effect to satisfaction; but participation and challenge and social interaction had no significant effect on satisfaction. The social interaction among gamers and the satisfaction with online games have a significant influence on the intention to play online games. As a result, the attributes of the game were affecting the intention to play the game after satisfaction. Social interaction influenced the intention to play online games rather than satisfaction itself. Conclusions - This study provide some practical implications for the new companies who want to enter the online game industry and seek to competitiveness in China, and provide theoretical implications on the role of interaction among gamers in the study of online games.

• Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
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• v.46 no.12
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• pp.1221-1234
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to suggest the methodology for the computation of uplift pressure and discharge of the seepage flow under gravity dam. A 3-dimensional FDM model is developed for this purpose and this model can simulate the saturated Darcian flow in heterogeneous media. For the verification of the numeric model, test simulation has been executed and the mass balance has been checked. The error does not exceed 3%. Using the developed model, The uplift pressure and seepage flow discharge under gravity dam has been calculated. The uplift pressure shows the similar pattern, comparing with the result of flow-net method. As the length of grout curtain increases, the uplift pressure decreases linearly, but the seepage flow discharge shows the non-linear decreasing pattern. The coefficients of the formulas in the dam-design criteria have been analysed, and ${\alpha}=1/3$ corresponds to the value when the length of curtain grout is 70% of the aquifer height. The uplift pressure near the pressure relief drain has the big curvature vertically and horizontally. The developed model in this study can be used for the evaluation of the effects of seepage flow under gravity dam.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.105-111
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• 2015

Purpose - Many global companies across industries are paying significant attention to co-creation activities, which enable consumers to participate in firms' value creation process, as a main model of new product development processes. In this study, we aim to examine different types of co-creation activities and their effects on consumer attitudes. We focus on upstream co-creation, downstream co-creation, autonomous co-creation, and sponsored co-creation. Upstream co-creation includes firms' control and management in the initial stage of new product development and prototype testing. Downstream co-creation indicates that consumers participate in firms-initiative activities at a later stage in new product development, such as public relations and marketing communications. Autonomous co-creation includes consumers' commitment activities in the absence of firms' rewards. However, under the sponsored co-creation, consumers can return monetary and social rewards from firms through their co-creation activities. The hypotheses regarding the effect of co-creation on consumer attitudes are as follows. (H1, H2, H3, H4) Upstream, downward, autonomous, and sponsored co-creation has positive effects on consumer attitude. (H5, H6) As intrinsic motivation increases, the positive effect of upstream and autonomous co-creation increases. (H7, H8) As extrinsic motivation increases, the positive effect of downward and sponsored co-creation increases. Research design, data, and methodology - To achieve our research goals, we analyzed responses from 246 samples from Korean consumers and verified the proposed hypotheses using a linear regression model. The samples include Korean consumers who experienced upstream, downstream, autonomous, and sponsored co-creation by firms. Results - First, both upstream co-creation and downstream co-creation with firms and consumers are found to have positive effects on consumer attitudes. Second, autonomous co-creation and sponsored co-creation are found to positively affect consumer attitudes. Third, consumers' intrinsic motivation has a fit-effect between upstream co-creation and autonomous co-creation, and their extrinsic motivation has a fit-effect between downstream co-creation and sponsored co-creation. Consumers who have strong intrinsic motivation are affected by upstream co-creation and autonomous co-creation. However, consumers who have strong extrinsic motivation are affected by downstream co-creation and sponsored co-creation. Conclusion - These results indicate that the fit between consumers' co-creation participation types and consumers'motivations is a significant factor in determining consumer attitudes. The results of this study imply that various types of consumer participation actually improve consumers' attitudes toward products and brands. In addition, our study also suggests that firms should consider the fit between co-creation types and consumers' motivations when they initiate co-creation activities. In this study, we survey consumers who participated in firms' co-creation activities. Future studies can compare different types of consumers. For instance, we can examine the different in different test by comparing experienced versus inexperienced consumers. Finally, we expand this research to user-generated content topics. This attending issue focuses on the mechanism that breaks down the boundaries and barriers between consumers and producers.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.49-56
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• 2019

Purpose: Corporate social responsibility is a self-regulating business model that helps a firm be socially accountable to the public. By practicing corporate social responsibility, firms can be conscious of the kind of impact they are having on all aspects of society, including economic, social, and environmental. Corporate social responsibility activities are not directly linked to increasing corporate performance and corporate value, but rather involve spending expenses. Based on these facts, this study verifies whether the effects of corporate social responsibility activities differ depending on the firm's situation. Research design, data and methodology: This study analyzed the effect of market competition on corporate social responsibility activities using logistic regression analysis on listed companies in the KOSPI and KOSDAQ for fiscal years 2014 through 2016. In this study, market competition was measured using the Herfindahl-Herschman Index(HHI). Higher HHI value can be interpreted as a lower degree of market competition. We also measured corporate social responsibility activities using the KEJI Index published by the Korea Economic Justice Institute (KEJI). If a firm-year is included in the top 200 companies of the KEJI Index, it is classified as a good corporate social responsibility activity firm. Results: We find that companies in less competitive market were not included in the KEJI Index. This result indicates that firms in the market with lower market competition perform less corporate social responsibility activities that incur costs. An additional analysis showed that there was a significant negative relationship between the market competition and the corporate social responsibility activity scores published by the KEJI Index. These result adds robustness to the result of the hypothesis that firms that have a monopolistic place in the market practice passive corporate social responsibility activities. Conclusions: The results show that managers of a firm in the lower market competition have a lower incentive to use limited resources for projects that are not directly related to revenue. The results of this study imply that corporate social responsibility activities vary according to the position of the business. Therefore, this study suggests that market investors should consider the degree of competition in the market when they evaluate corporate social responsibility activities.