• Journal of The Korean Association For Science Education
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.253-268
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• 2008

This paper has two major purposes. One is to introduce the essentialist methodology as a way to articulate subjective aspects of human beings (e.g. teachers' personal values and concerns, philosophies, subjective experiences, etc.) at a deeper level. And the other is to present two portraits, as examples, of science teachers who actively address socioscientiifc issues (SSI) out of their own motivations. The primary data source was consecutive in-depth interviews with two science teachers, Jenna and Thomas, and the interviews were conducted on the basis of the principle of the "participant as ally" (Witz, 2006). The articulation based on the essentialist methodology shows that teachers' deep-rooted values and convictions often play a significant role as a personal social capital enough to expand their teaching practice (i.e. teaching SSI). Namely, this study confirms that teachers who are motivated out of their own convictions are likely to actively develop their own personal practical knowledge, and to implement particular topics or teaching strategies.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.57-81
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• 2008

Knowledge is an essential strategic weapon for sustaining competitive advantage and is the key determinant for organizational growth. When knowledge is shared and disseminated throughout the organization, it increases an organization's value by providing the ability to respond to new and unusual situations. The growing importance of knowledge as a critical resource has forced executives to pay attention to their organizational knowledge. Organizations are increasingly undertaking knowledge management initiatives and making significant investments. Knowledge sourcing is considered as the first important step in effective knowledge management. Most firms continue to make an effort to realize the benefits of knowledge management by using various knowledge sources effectively. Appropriate knowledge sourcing strategies enable organizations to create, acquire, and access knowledge in a timely manner by reducing search and transfer costs, which result in better firm performance. In response, the knowledge management literature has devoted substantial attention to the analysis of knowledge sourcing strategies. Many studies have categorized knowledge sourcing strategies into intemal- and external-oriented. Internal-oriented sourcing strategy attempts to increase firm performance by integrating knowledge within the boundary of the firm. On the contrary, external-oriented strategy attempts to bring knowledge in from outside sources via either acquisition or imitation, and then to transfer that knowledge across to the organization. However, the extant literature on knowledge sourcing strategies focuses primarily on large organizations. Although many studies have clearly highlighted major differences between large and small firms and the need to adopt different strategies for different firm sizes, scant attention has been given to analyzing how knowledge sourcing strategies affect firm performance in small firms and what are the differences between small and large firms in the patterns of knowledge sourcing strategies adoption. This study attempts to advance the current literature by examining the impact of knowledge sourcing strategies on small firm performance from a holistic perspective. By drawing on knowledge based theory from organization science and complementarity theory from the economics literature, this paper is motivated by the following questions: (1) what are the adoption patterns of different knowledge sourcing strategies in small firms (i,e., what sourcing strategies should be adopted and which sourcing strategies work well together in small firms)?; and (2) what are the performance implications of these adoption patterns? In order to answer the questions, this study developed three hypotheses. First hypothesis based on knowledge based theory is that internal-oriented knowledge sourcing is positively associated with small firm performance. Second hypothesis developed on the basis of knowledge based theory is that external-oriented knowledge sourcing is positively associated with small firm performance. The third one based on complementarity theory is that pursuing both internal- and external-oriented knowledge sourcing simultaneously is negatively or less positively associated with small firm performance. As a sampling frame, 700 firms were identified from the Annual Corporation Report in Korea. Survey questionnaires were mailed to owners or executives who were most erudite about the firm s knowledge sourcing strategies and performance. A total of 188 companies replied, yielding a response rate of 26.8%. Due to incomplete data, 12 responses were eliminated, leaving 176 responses for the final analysis. Since all independent variables were measured using continuous variables, supermodularity function was used to test the hypotheses based on the cross partial derivative of payoff function. The results indicated no significant impact of internal-oriented sourcing strategies while positive impact of external-oriented sourcing strategy on small firm performance. This intriguing result could be explained on the basis of various resource and capital constraints of small firms. Small firms typically have restricted financial and human resources. They do not have enough assets to always develop knowledge internally. Another possible explanation is competency traps or core rigidities. Building up a knowledge base based on internal knowledge creates core competences, but at the same time, excessive internal focused knowledge exploration leads to behaviors blind to other knowledge. Interestingly, this study found that Internal- and external-oriented knowledge sourcing strategies had a substitutive relationship, which was inconsistent with previous studies that suggested complementary relationship between them. This result might be explained using organizational identification theory. Internal organizational members may perceive external knowledge as a threat, and tend to ignore knowledge from external sources because they prefer to maintain their own knowledge, legitimacy, and homogeneous attitudes. Therefore, integrating knowledge from internal and external sources might not be effective, resulting in failure of improvements of firm performance. Another possible explanation is small firms resource and capital constraints and lack of management expertise and absorptive capacity. Although the integration of different knowledge sources is critical, high levels of knowledge sourcing in many areas are quite expensive and so are often unrealistic for small enterprises. This study provides several implications for research as well as practice. First this study extends the existing knowledge by examining the substitutability (and complementarity) of knowledge sourcing strategies. Most prior studies have tended to investigate the independent effects of these strategies on performance without considering their combined impacts. Furthermore, this study tests complementarity based on the productivity approach that has been considered as a definitive test method for complementarity. Second, this study sheds new light on knowledge management research by identifying the relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies and small firm performance. Most current literature has insisted complementary relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies on the basis of data from large firms. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, this study identifies substitutive relationship between knowledge sourcing strategies using data from small firms. Third, implications for practice highlight that managers of small firms should focus on knowledge sourcing from external-oriented strategies. Moreover, adoption of both sourcing strategies simultaneousiy impedes small firm performance.

• Korea and Global Affairs
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.85-108
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• 2017

This study speculated on a continuous issue of North Korean defectors and strategies to improve North Korean human rights. North Korean defectors have immigrated to South Korea continuously since the late 1990s. Their immigration was motivated by low financial status in the harsh marching period of North Korea until the mid-1990s. However, the defection motives changed like this: planned defection, family-based group defection and future-oriented defection. The North Korean defectors had had severe human rights abuses as illegal immigrants in the blind spots of human rights of China and the third nations until they were admitted to South Korea after defection. Although South Korea tried to help them consistently both in public and private ways, it was not satisfactory. Therefore, the government and private sectors should pay more consistent attention to the human rights issue. As the National Assembly passed the North Korean Human Rights Act on March 2016, the government should recognize the issue of North Korean defectors as that of universal value and a national issue, and cooperate each other nationally and internationally in diverse ways.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.30-42
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was intended to check if the "Creating Clean Wards" project, which is an innovative reinforced campaign activity targeting infection control strategies and active surveillance cultures for VRE (vancomycin resistant enterococci) high-risk patients to be admitted in the NS (neuro-surgery) wards, would be reduced the incidence rates of VRE acquisition, transmission rates. Methods: 75 subjects of the VRE high-risk patients were surveyed by carrying out active surveillance cultures of VRE colonization 11 times from January to March, 2012. And the retrospective study was conducted dividing them into two groups. Results: The incidence rates of VRE acquisition was reduced to 3.67 cases per 1,000 patients day in the control group and to 2.88 cases in experimental group, which was not statistically significant (p = .753). VRE transmission rates of 0.0015 per day before the project tended to increase to 0.0019, although not statistically significant (p = .650). As a result of multivariate analysis with regard to using glycopeptide antibiotics in order to find out risk factors of VRE colonization, the patients who had been treated with glycopeptide until VRE colonization showed 274.41 times higher rate. Conclusion : For effective VRE infection control in NS wards, We should carry out active surveillance culture regularly, especially patient of using glycopeptide. And block the spread of VRE by strengthening infection control through the strict isolation and the changed mind-set of members motivated by the "Creating Clean Wards" campaign.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.493-498
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• 2004

A novel approach for path planning of a polygonal robot is presented. Traditional path planners perform extensive geometric searching to find the optimal path or to prove that there is no solution. The computation required to prove that there is no solution is equivalent to exhaustive search of the motion space, which is typically very expensive. Humans seems to use a set of several different path planning strategies to analyse the situation of the obstacles in the environment, and quickly recognize whether the path-planning problem is easy to solve, hard to solve or has no solution. This human path-planning strategies have motivated the development of the presented algorithm that combines qualitative shape reasoning and exhaustive geometric searching to speed up the path planning process. It has three planning stages consisting of identification of no-solution cases based on an enclosure test, a qualitative reasoning stage, and finally a complete search algorithm in case the previous two stages cannot determine of the existence of a solution path.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.46-53
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• 1991

In the past, management had been done over nurses rather than nursing and this brought the existence of general manager and as a result, nurse-manager's position and role are being threatend. For the up-bringing of nursing to firm professional recognition in the 21st century, it is firmly believed that nursing managers are to be in the position to play the role of general manager with professional qualifications; personal qualities and exact understandings on the role and function of each tier group under her/his management. 124 top(3 nursing superintendents), middle-range(23 supervisors) and unit managers(98 head-nurses) from 3 university hospitals in Seoul were interviewed in order to investigate their belief in the role, professional qualifications, personal qualities as well as the strategy for the development of their leadership qualities. The frame of reference for the interview were developed by the researcher in reference to relevant literatures. It was the common belief that qualifications o[ top-managers and mid-managers require an educational background of master's preparation or higher and clinical career for at least 15 years for top-managers and 5 -10 years for mid-managers. The personal qualities required by nurse managers include; leadership, initiative, judgement, self-confidence, flexibility, open-mindedness and strong motivation. Achievment-orientedness would greatly help them become excellent managers. On the other hand, [or more effective management, managers of each teir group are to fully understand their role and perform "their job responsibilities ie. Top managers are supposed to study with emphasis on organization, function and conceptual s~ill while mid-managers concentrate their effort on the development of skills for direction, guidance and human relationship. Unit managers also supposed to have abilities to manage their function with emphasis on development of clinical performance skill, for direction on operative aspects. The strategies for the development of leadership qualities include program-planning at individual instutional level as well as local, national and international level. Nurse-managers are to be motivated and encouraged to participate in the programs in order to effectively communicate within tier groups.oups.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.69-79
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• 2018

This study examines and measures the enhancement of intrinsic motivation in learners who have been part of the e-Learning system (www.englishbuddy.kr) for elementary-level English learning, developed based on the systematic application of the motivation theory as dictated by 'interest' and 'self-determination' and put into practice at 3,100 private tutoring institutions. According to the survey conducted on 328 learners in the e-Learning system inspired by the motivation theory and on 150 learners in other English programs, the former was found to have stimulated 'interest' and satisfied 'psychological desire' in the learners, leading to the development of 'specific strategies to motivate learners.' The study has clearly identified how learners are better motivated in the e-Learning environment, demonstrating its contributions to advancing e-Learning, building a practical e-Learning system based on a systematic motivation theory defined by 'interest' and 'self-determination,' and applying the system to some 16,000 learners at 3,100 private tutoring institutions.

• Journal of National Security and Military Science
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• s.15
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• pp.1-30
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• 2018

This study focused on how to supplement and develop military spiritual education in response to promotion of peace and prosperity and Change of Security Environment on the Korean Peninsula. In order to succeed in the peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula policy, Strengthening the military spiritual education is necessary. This study was analyzed through the survey and the results are as follows: First, the awareness level of military spiritual education is more than 68%. Second, the satisfaction level of education has been quit motivated, but, the respondents demands various methods of eduction. Third, the current mental power scores showed no significant difference for environmental change. In addition, based on the results of the research, the problem of military spiritual education is as follows. It is not enough to secure the identity that can firmly support the era of peace and prosperity on the Korean peninsula. Poor budget support might hinder improving poor education facilities and outdated equipment. Furthermore, there is a lack of research on future-oriented educational system in support of traditional education methods of repetition-type repeated education and unification. Therefore, we deducted the following development strategies for the military spiritual education in this paper. First, it is necessary to strengthen the military spiritual education to support the era of peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. Second, for enhancing educational environments, the educational facilities and equipments should be improved by understanding the characteristics of the education target. Third, the integrated management of military research institutes specialized in military spiritual education should be pursued as a system development for ensuring the continuous effect of education. In conclusion, continuous attention and research are needed to establish national perspective and national security perspective, raise the military spirit and utilize various education development programs in order to develop efficient military spiritual education in the future.

• Child Studies in Asia-Pacific Contexts
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.133-144
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• 2012

Research has shown that mothers' attitudes towards early English language and literacy learning are important for children's English language development. Some researchers have indicated that in Taiwan most parents have a positive attitude towards English instruction and are motivated to teach English at home to their preschoolers. There is, however, little current data available to explain the motivations behind such parents' decisions to teach English to their child in the home before the commencement of formal schooling. We conducted a thematic analysis of the written survey responses of 263 Taiwanese mothers who explained why they taught their preschool children English at home. The findings indicate that English is highly valued for children's school readiness, future career opportunities, and because of its status as a global language. The mothers' motivations for teaching English include the desire to cultivate the child's interest, a belief in 'the earlier the better" for second language learning, and a belief in the need to review and practice English. These findings have the potential to inform educational policies and implementation strategies, as they can reveal whether mothers' motivations align with national priorities for English language education.

• Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.437-451
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• 2013

This study was conducted as a part of the project to establish professional development system(PDS) for teachers in Korea. This study aimed to provide a case of running a professional learning community(PLC) of teachers in science education based on the collaboration of a national university of education and its affiliated elementary school, in search of learning by participants and implications for professional development of teachers as well as for science teaching in elementary schools. Teachers and researchers who participated in the PLC were able to accumulate meaningful experiences through 11 rounds of meetings. It was not easy to secure enough time for meetings, but they were able to boost their self-confidence for science teaching and enhance the quality of lessons through these gatherings. Participating teachers had a chance to share instructional design, planning, strategies and practices, which include cases of guiding free-choice research activities among students, thereby to be motivated for improved science teaching for the future. The researcher participating in this PLC was also able to understand the identity of an elementary school, especially the affiliated school, and identify the reality and difficulties related to science teaching in schools. Experiences of participating in PLC are expected to help improve the quality of science teaching in affiliated elementary school and pre-service teacher education of the university.