• Title/Summary/Keyword: Penetration behavior

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Critical Review and Alternatives to the Decriminalization of Tattooing (문신시술의 비범죄화에 대한 비판적 검토와 대안)

  • Shim, YoungJoo;Lee, Sang-Han
    • The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.149-176
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    • 2022
  • South Korean law strictly prohibits engagement in medical activities by non-medical practitioners. In the country, tattooing is classified as a medical practice, and non-medical practitioners who engage in it are penalized because they are unauthorized to carry out this procedure. In reality, however, people rarely seek tattooing services from medical personnel. Arguing that their freedom of job selection is violated, non-medical personnel who make a living as tattoo artists reject the characterization of the procedure as a form of medical treatment and demand the decriminalization of tattooing by non-medical practitioners. Nevertheless, tattooing can cause health- and hygiene-related dangers when it is not performed by medical professionals because it involves penetration into the skin using needles. Hence, stringent management is necessary for infection prevention. The gap between reality and the law gives rise to the need for proactive thinking about the institutionalization of tattoo practice by non-medical personnel. Policymakers should reflect on the fact that only minimal tattooing services are currently performed by medical staff while also accounting for health and safety. On this basis, this study examined tattoo-related legislation in South Korea to determine whether the procedure corresponds to medical practice and identify ways to solve problems that occur from the perspective of health care. As a response that promotes safety and reflects reality, this research proposed a three-phase approach.

Consumer Behavior for Regional Shopping Facilities and its Impact on Small Businesses (광역쇼핑시설의 중소유통 상권잠식 효과: 복합쇼핑몰 등 4개 신유통업태를 중심으로)

  • Shin, Ki Dong;Park, Ju-Young
    • Korean small business review
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    • v.41 no.1
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    • pp.53-73
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    • 2019
  • Recently, as the number of shopping facilities has increased, such as complex shopping malls, warehouse type superstores, large fashion outlets, and so on, the conflicts over the opening of large stores between neighboring municipalities are increasing. However, current regulations on the opening of large-scale stores, such as the impact analysis on commercial area, do not adequately reflect the characteristics of new type shopping facilities. In this study, we tried to suggest a rational policy alternative with more realistic suitability by analyzing the characteristics of 'regional shopping facilities' beyond the scope of the municipalities, and analyzing the impact on the regional merchants. The main results of the study are summarized as follows. First, unlike previous researches, which are limited to small business sector, this study presents the results of comprehensively comparing and analyzing the impact on the detailed sectors of the whole distribution market, including the large distribution sector and online distribution sector. Second, in this study, we calculated the total (average) amount of market penetration rate of existing shopping facilities by the entire regional shopping facilities in the Seoul metropolitan area, and this is considered to be of great value in relation to the recognition of problems at the whole level of the metropolitan area and the search for alternative solutions.

Revision of Repair Materials Performance Requirement for Concrete Structures (콘크리트 구조물 단면복구공사 보수재료 품질기준개선)

  • Lee, Il Keun;Kim, Ki Hwan;Kim, Hong Sam;Yun, Sung Hwan;Kim, Woo Seok
    • KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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    • v.43 no.1
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    • pp.9-20
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    • 2023
  • For highway concrete structures, the deterioration of the structure is accelerated due to the increase in the use of deicing materials, and sectional repair work is being frequently carried out to restore performance. However, after the repair work, re-damage such as cracks, delamination, and poor bond performance is exhibited in the repaired sectional area. In this study, overseas repair material requirements were first analyzed, and present domestic requirements were improved repair material performance through field surveys of common concrete structures, laboratory experiments, and test construction on a disused concrete bridge. In addition, performancebased quality requirements were presented so that all materials that meet the required performance can be applied, and different test methods for each material were unified into concrete test methods for consistent test results analysis. The considered performance requirements were compression strength, bending strength, and bond strength for structural properties, and length change rate, crack resistance, thermal expansion coefficient, and elasticity coefficient were for dimensional behavior. For resistance to chloride penetration resistance and freeze-thaw resistance were presented as durability. The proposed requirements for concrete repair materials are expected to contribute to the improvement of the quality of concrete sectional repair work in Korea.

An Experimental Study on NOx Emissions with Hydrogen and Natural gas Co-firing for EV burner of GT24 (GT24 가스터빈용 EV 버너의 수소혼소에 따른 질소산화물 배출 특성에 대한 실험적 연구)

  • Jeongjae Hwang;Won June Lee;Kyungwook Min;Do Won Kang;Han Seo Kim;Min Kuk Kim
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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    • v.27 no.4
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    • pp.85-91
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    • 2023
  • In this study, an experimental study was conducted on the flame behavior, combustion dynamics, and NOx emission characteristics for hydrogen co-firing with the EV burner which is the first stage combustor of GT24. It was confirmed that as the hydrogen co-firing rate increases, the NOx emission increases. This change was elucidate to be the result of a combination of changes in penetration depth due to changes in fuel density, reduction in fuel mixing due to changes in flame position due to increased flame propagation speed, and oscillation of fuel mixedness due to combustion instability. Through pressurization tests in the range of 1.3 to 3.1 bar, NOx emission characteristics under high-pressure operating conditions were predicted, and based on this, the hydrogen co-firing limits of the EV burner was evaluated.

Comparison of Life Table and Feeding Behavior of Resistance and Susceptible Population of the Green Peach Aphid, Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) against Etofenprox (Etofenprox에 대한 복숭아혹진딧물(Myzus persicae)의 저항성과 감수성 개체군의 생명표와 섭식행동 비교)

  • Jo, Chang-Wook;Park, Cho-Rong;Yoon, Kyu-Sik;Kang, Min-A;Kwon, Hae-Ri;Kang, Eun-Jin;Seo, Mi-Ja;Yu, Yong-Man;Youn, Young-Nam
    • Korean journal of applied entomology
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    • v.48 no.3
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    • pp.301-310
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    • 2009
  • For the comparing of mortality of the resistance and susceptible population of Myzus persicae, etofenprox was treated in the recommended concentration of 200ppm. Mortalities of resistance population were 16.7 and 36.7%, and susceptible population were 86.7 and 86.7% after 24 and 48 hours treatment, respectively. For the detect of cross resistance to other pyrethroids, 6 pyrethroids were examined. Mortalities of susceptible and resistance populations were 90 and 31% to deltamethrin, 92 and 23% to lambda cyhalothrin, 81 and 14% to cypermethrin, 70 and 20% to $\alpha$-cypermethrin, 29 and 28% to fenpropathrin, 84 and 29% to fenvalerate, respectively. It was showed that resistance populations were generally resistive to other pyrethroids. On the other hands, for recognized ecological characteristic of M. persicae susceptible and resistance populations life table was tested on the pepper leaves in the petri dish and on the plant in the pot. This results were showed that intrinsic rate of increase ($r_m$), net reproduction number ($R_0$) and generation time in day ($T_c$) were significantly different between two population in both tested. However, life span and reproduction period were slightly different between them. Otherwise, feeding behaviors were tested using EPG technique with non- and treated etofenprox. First potential drop time of susceptible and resistance population was 73.5 and 257.9 sec with non-treated and 93.3 and 1076.2 sec after treated, respectively. Electrical probing signals were 8.2 and 48.8 times with susceptible and resistance individuals after treated etofenprox, respectively. It was supposed that the resistance is more probings than susceptible population. After treated, total feeding time have more 6,728.9 sec on resistance than 965.5 sec on susceptible population. So, total non penetration time of susceptible population was 3,000 sec longer than resistance population.

Studies on the Processing of Chestnut (Castanea pubinervis Schneid) Part 1. Trials on the Raw Material Adaptability for Processing and Colored Products Development (밤(Castanea pubinervis schneid) 가공(加工)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究) 제1보 밤의 가공(加工) 적성(適性) 및 유색(有色) 가공품(加工品) 개발(開發)을 중심(中心)으로)

  • Suh, K.S.;Han, P.J.;Lee, S.J.
    • Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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    • v.6 no.2
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    • pp.98-108
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    • 1974
  • Fourteen varieties of Korean chestnut were subjected to the test of adaptability for processing and the possibilities of colored products development. The fruit size of Korean chestnut ranged $11{\sim}18g$ and these small fruits could not be expected to be utilized for the processing of Marron glaces which requires larger size as $25{\sim}30g$. As the storge period is extended the discoloration tendency of chestnut flesh was increasingly developed, however, the fresh chestnut has shown layer-separating phenomenon and ragged surface of fruit which delivers disagreeable appearance to the finished product. The principal factors of discoloration occurred during processing were the behavior of tannin and darkening rate shown on flesh differed each other among varieties; the Chukpa and Yuma variety have exhibited the most serious discoloration and the Taab-b variety, the lightest. Taab-b variety in this connection could be expected to be available for Kanroni processing. For the industrialization of chestnut processing the flame-scorched peeling method is advisable. The capacity of this method is proportional to the square of scorching radius and highly flexible in controlling its performance. As for the processing of colored product, the sugar dehydration and coating and the sugar penetration method demand further study in basical views; however, the canned product of chestnut-redbean has shown the possibility of being utilized as a substitute for or paralleled use with the sugar-syruped canned product which so far has been considered as the only item of export to Japan.

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The Effect of Freeze and Thaw for the Stabilized Soil Bottom Liners in the Landfill (폐기물 매립지 바닥층의 고화토 포설시 동결/융해 현상에 관한 연구)

  • Lee, Song;Lee, Jai-Young;Kim, Heung-Suck
    • Journal of the Korean Geotechnical Society
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    • v.16 no.1
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    • pp.179-189
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    • 2000
  • The purpose of this research is to complement the existing researches on landfill bottom liners behavior during the periods of freeze and thaw. Landfill-related researches have been typically focused on small-scale soil samples that are often compacted under conditions different from those used in the field. Although these tests have been invaluable in clarifying the problem of freeze and thaw, extending the results of such experimental studies to prototype landfills are questionable. In this investigation, the author utilized a large scale laboratory simulation allowing inclusion of the field depth of the cover systems, layered soil profiles, rainfall simulation, a cold climate and boundary conditions similar to those encountered in the landfill. The soil materials were stabilized soils (mixed clays, cements, and minerals) instead of clays. The bottom liners are made up of drainage layer (30 cm), stabilized layer (75 cm), and leach collection layer (60 cm). The stabilized layers are made up of supporting layer (45 cm) and low permeable layer (30 cm) - consisting of $P_A\; and\; P_B$ layer. As a results, depths of penetration increased by about 2~5 more centimeters at rainfall simulated designs than those at no rainfall simulated designs (that is design 3, design 5 and design 7) - it increased by about 20mm/day in the bottom liners and frost heaves also increased it by a few millimeters. Also, a few cracks appeared partly. According to these results, we can surmise that the compacted stabilized soil is more reliable than the compacted clay liners for construction of the landfill liners.

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A Simulation-Based Investigation of an Advanced Traveler Information System with V2V in Urban Network (시뮬레이션기법을 통한 차량 간 통신을 이용한 첨단교통정보시스템의 효과 분석 (도시 도로망을 중심으로))

  • Kim, Hoe-Kyoung
    • Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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    • v.29 no.5
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    • pp.121-138
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    • 2011
  • More affordable and available cutting-edge technologies (e.g., wireless vehicle communication) are regarded as a possible alternative to the fixed infrastructure-based traffic information system requiring the expensive infrastructure investments and mostly implemented in the uninterrupted freeway network with limited spatial system expansion. This paper develops an advanced decentralized traveler information System (ATIS) using vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication system whose performance (drivers' travel time savings) are enhanced by three complementary functions (autonomous automatic incident detection algorithm, reliable sample size function, and driver behavior model) and evaluates it in the typical $6{\times}6$ urban grid network with non-recurrent traffic state (traffic incident) with the varying key parameters (traffic flow, communication radio range, and penetration ratio), employing the off-the-shelf microscopic simulation model (VISSIM) under the ideal vehicle communication environment. Simulation outputs indicate that as the three key parameters are increased more participating vehicles are involved for traffic data propagation in the less communication groups at the faster data dissemination speed. Also, participating vehicles saved their travel time by dynamically updating the up-to-date traffic states and searching for the new route. Focusing on the travel time difference of (instant) re-routing vehicles, lower traffic flow cases saved more time than higher traffic flow ones. This is because a relatively small number of vehicles in 300vph case re-route during the most system-efficient time period (the early time of the traffic incident) but more vehicles in 514vph case re-route during less system-efficient time period, even after the incident is resolved. Also, normally re-routings on the network-entering links saved more travel time than any other places inside the network except the case where the direct effect of traffic incident triggers vehicle re-routings during the effective incident time period and the location and direction of the incident link determines the spatial distribution of re-routing vehicles.

Critical Success Factor of Noble Payment System: Multiple Case Studies (새로운 결제서비스의 성공요인: 다중사례연구)

  • Park, Arum;Lee, Kyoung Jun
    • Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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    • v.20 no.4
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    • pp.59-87
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    • 2014
  • In MIS field, the researches on payment services are focused on adoption factors of payment service using behavior theories such as TRA(Theory of Reasoned Action), TAM(Technology Acceptance Model), and TPB (Theory of Planned Behavior). The previous researches presented various adoption factors according to types of payment service, nations, culture and so on even though adoption factors of identical payment service were presented differently by researchers. The payment service industry relatively has strong path dependency to the existing payment methods so that the research results on the identical payment service are different due to payment culture of nation. This paper aims to suggest a successful adoption factor of noble payment service regardless of nation's culture and characteristics of payment and prove it. In previous researches, common adoption factors of payment service are convenience, ease of use, security, convenience, speed etc. But real cases prove the fact that adoption factors that the previous researches present are not always critical to success to penetrate a market. For example, PayByPhone, NFC based parking payment service, successfully has penetrated to early market and grown. In contrast, Google Wallet service failed to be adopted to users despite NFC based payment method which provides convenience, security, ease of use. As shown in upper case, there remains an unexplained aspect. Therefore, the present research question emerged from the question: "What is the more essential and fundamental factor that should takes precedence over factors such as provides convenience, security, ease of use for successful penetration to market". With these cases, this paper analyzes four cases predicted on the following hypothesis and demonstrates it. "To successfully penetrate a market and sustainably grow, new payment service should find non-customer of the existing payment service and provide noble payment method so that they can use payment method". We give plausible explanations for the hypothesis using multiple case studies. Diners club, Danal, PayPal, Square were selected as a typical and successful cases in each category of payment service. The discussion on cases is primarily non-customer analysis that noble payment service targets on to find the most crucial factor in the early market, we does not attempt to consider factors for business growth. We clarified three-tier non-customer of the payment method that new payment service targets on and elaborated how new payment service satisfy them. In case of credit card, this payment service target first tier of non-customer who can't pay for because they don't have any cash temporarily but they have regular income. So credit card provides an opportunity which they can do economic activities by delaying the date of payment. In a result of wireless phone payment's case study, this service targets on second of non-customer who can't use online payment because they concern about security or have to take a complex process and learn how to use online payment method. Therefore, wireless phone payment provides very convenient payment method. Especially, it made group of young pay for a little money without a credit card. Case study result of PayPal, online payment service, shows that it targets on second tier of non-customer who reject to use online payment service because of concern about sensitive information leaks such as passwords and credit card details. Accordingly, PayPal service allows users to pay online without a provision of sensitive information. Final Square case result, Mobile POS -based payment service, also shows that it targets on second tier of non-customer who can't individually transact offline because of cash's shortness. Hence, Square provides dongle which function as POS by putting dongle in earphone terminal. As a result, four cases made non-customer their customer so that they could penetrate early market and had been extended their market share. Consequently, all cases supported the hypothesis and it is highly probable according to 'analytic generation' that case study methodology suggests. We present for judging the quality of research designs the following. Construct validity, internal validity, external validity, reliability are common to all social science methods, these have been summarized in numerous textbooks(Yin, 2014). In case study methodology, these also have served as a framework for assessing a large group of case studies (Gibbert, Ruigrok & Wicki, 2008). Construct validity is to identify correct operational measures for the concepts being studied. To satisfy construct validity, we use multiple sources of evidence such as the academic journals, magazine and articles etc. Internal validity is to seek to establish a causal relationship, whereby certain conditions are believed to lead to other conditions, as distinguished from spurious relationships. To satisfy internal validity, we do explanation building through four cases analysis. External validity is to define the domain to which a study's findings can be generalized. To satisfy this, replication logic in multiple case studies is used. Reliability is to demonstrate that the operations of a study -such as the data collection procedures- can be repeated, with the same results. To satisfy this, we use case study protocol. In Korea, the competition among stakeholders over mobile payment industry is intensifying. Not only main three Telecom Companies but also Smartphone companies and service provider like KakaoTalk announced that they would enter into mobile payment industry. Mobile payment industry is getting competitive. But it doesn't still have momentum effect notwithstanding positive presumptions that will grow very fast. Mobile payment services are categorized into various technology based payment service such as IC mobile card and Application payment service of cloud based, NFC, sound wave, BLE(Bluetooth Low Energy), Biometric recognition technology etc. Especially, mobile payment service is discontinuous innovations that users should change their behavior and noble infrastructure should be installed. These require users to learn how to use it and cause infra-installation cost to shopkeepers. Additionally, payment industry has the strong path dependency. In spite of these obstacles, mobile payment service which should provide dramatically improved value as a products and service of discontinuous innovations is focusing on convenience and security, convenience and so on. We suggest the following to success mobile payment service. First, non-customers of the existing payment service need to be identified. Second, needs of them should be taken. Then, noble payment service provides non-customer who can't pay by the previous payment method to payment method. In conclusion, mobile payment service can create new market and will result in extension of payment market.

Relationship Between Usage Needs Satisfaction and Commitment to Apparel Brand Communities: Moderator Effect of Apparel Brand Image (의류 브랜드 커뮤니티의 이용욕구 충족과 커뮤니티 몰입의 관계: 의류 브랜드 이미지의 조절효과)

  • Hong, Hee-Sook;Ryu, Sung-Min;Moon, Chul-Woo
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.51-89
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    • 2007
  • INTRODUCTION Due to the high broadband internet penetration rate and its group-oriented culture, various types of online communities operate in Korea. This study use 'Uses and Gratification Approach, and argue that members' usage-needs satisfaction with brand community is an important factor for promoting community commitment. Based on previous studies identifying the effect of brand image on consumers' responses to various marketing stimuli, this study hypothesizes that brand image can be a moderate variable affecting the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction with brand community and members' commitment to brand community. This study analyzes the influence of usage-needs satisfaction on brand community commitment and how apparel brand image affects the relationships between usage-needs satisfactions and community commitments. The hypotheses of this study are proposed as follows. H1-3: The usage-needs satisfaction of apparel brand community (interest, transaction, relationship needs) influences emotional (H1), continuous (H2), and normative (H3) commitments to apparel brand communities. H4-6: Apparel brand image has a moderating effect on the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and emotional (H4), continuous (H5), and normative (H6) commitments to apparel brand communities. METHODS Brand communities founded by non-company affiliates were excluded and emphasis was placed instead on communities created by apparel brand companies. Among casual apparel brands registered in 6 Korean portal sites in August 2003, a total of 9 casual apparel brand online communities were chosen, depending on the level of community activity and apparel brand image. Data from 317 community members were analyzed by exploratory factor analysis, moderated regression analysis, ANOVA, and scheffe test. Among 317 respondents answered an online html-type questionnaire, 80.5% were between 16 to 25 years old. There were a total of 150 respondents from apparel brand communities(n=3) recording higher-than-average brand image scores (Mean > 3.75) and a total of 162 respondents from apparel brand communities(n=6) recording lower-than-average brand image scores(Mean < 3.75). In this study, brand community commitment was measured by a 5-point Likert scale: emotional, continuous and normative commitment. The degree of usage-needs satisfaction (interest, transaction, relationship needs) was measured on a 5-point Likert scale. The level of brand image was measured by a 5-point Likert scale: strength, favorability, and uniqueness of brand associations. RESULTS In the results of exploratory factor analysis, the three usage-needs satisfactions with brand community were classified as interest, transaction, and relationship needs. Brand community commitment was also divided into the multi-dimensional factors: emotional, continuous, and normative commitments. The regression analysis (using a stepwise method) was used to test the influence of 3 independent variables (interest-needs satisfaction, transaction-needs, and relationship-needs satisfactions) on the 3 dependent variables (emotional, continuous and normative commitments). The three types of usage-needs satisfactions are positively associated with the three types of commitments to apparel brand communities. Therefore, hypothesis 1, 2, and 3 were significantly supported. Moderating effects of apparel brand image on the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and brand community commitments were tested by moderated regression analysis. The statistics result showed that the influence of transaction-needs on emotional commitment was significantly moderated by apparel brand image. In addition, apparel brand image had moderating effects on the relationship between relationship-needs satisfaction and emotional, continuous and normative commitments to apparel brand communities. However, there were not significant moderate effects of apparel brand image on the relationships between interest-needs satisfaction and 3 types of commitments (emotional, continuous and normative commitments) to apparel brand communities. In addition, the influences of transaction-needs satisfaction on 2 types of commitments (continuous and normative commitments) were not significantly moderated by apparel brand image. Therefore, hypothesis 4, 5 and 6 were partially supported. To explain the moderating effects of apparel brand image, four cross-tabulated groups were made by averages of usage-needs satisfaction (interest-needs satisfaction avg. M=3.09, transaction-needs satisfaction avg. M=3.46, relationship-needs satisfaction M=1.62) and the average apparel brand image (M=3.75). The average scores of commitments in each classified group are presented in Tables and Figures. There were significant differences among four groups. As can be seen from the results of scheffe test on the tables, emotional commitment in community group with high brand image was higher than one in community group with low brand image when transaction-needs satisfaction was high. However, when transaction-needs satisfaction was low, there was not any difference between the community group with high brand image and community group with low brand image regarding emotional commitment to apparel brand communities. It means that emotional commitment didn't increase significantly without high satisfaction of transaction-needs, despite the high apparel brand image. In addition, when apparel brand image was low, increase in transaction-needs did not lead to the increase in emotional commitment. Therefore, the significant relationship between transaction-needs satisfaction and emotional commitment was found in only brand communities with high apparel brand image, and the moderating effect of apparel brand image on this relationship between two variables was found in the communities with high satisfaction of transaction-needs only. Statistics results showed that the level of emotional commitment is related to the satisfaction level of transaction-needs, while overall response is related to the level of apparel brand image. We also found that the role of apparel brand image as a moderating factor was limited by the level of transaction-needs satisfaction. In addition, relationship-needs satisfaction brought significant increase in emotional commitment in both community groups (high and low levels of brand image), and the effect of apparel brand image on emotional commitment was significant in both community groups (high and low levels of relationship-needs satisfaction). Especially, the effect of brand image was greater when the level of relationship-needs satisfaction was high. in contrast, increase in emotional commitment responding to increase in relationship-needs satisfaction was greater when apparel brand image is high. The significant influences of relationship-needs satisfaction on community commitments (continuous and normative commitments) were found regardless of apparel brand image(in both community groups with low and high brand image). However, the effects of apparel brand image on continuous and normative commitments were found in only community group with high satisfaction level of relationship-needs. In the case of communities with low satisfaction levels of relationship needs, apparel brand image marginally increases continuous and normative commitments. Therefore, we could not find the moderating effect of apparel brand image on the relationship between relationship-needs satisfaction and continuous and normative commitments in community groups with low satisfaction levels of relationship needs, CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS From the results of this study, we draw several conclusions; First, the increases in usage-needs satisfactions through apparel brand communities result in the increases in commitments to apparel brand communities, wheres the degrees of such relationship depends on the level of apparel brand image. That is, apparel brand image is a moderating factor strengthening the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and commitment to apparel brand communities. In addition, the effect of apparel brand image differs, depending on the level and types of community usage-needs satisfactions. Therefore, marketers of apparel brand companies must determine the appropriate usage-needs, depending on the type of commitment they wish to increase and the level of their apparel brand image, to promote member's commitments to apparel brand communities. Especially, relationship-needs satisfaction was very important factor for increasing emotional, continuous and normative commitments to communities. However the level of relationship-needs satisfaction was lower than interest-needs and transaction-needs. satisfaction. According to previous study on apparel brand communities, relationship-need satisfaction was strongly related to member's intention of participation in their communities. Therefore, marketers need to develope various strategies in order to increase the relationship- needs as well as interest and transaction needs. In addition, despite continuous commitment was higher than emotional and normative commitments, all types of commitments to apparel brand communities had scores lower than 3.0 that was mid point in 5-point scale. A Korean study reported that the level of members' commitment to apparel brand community influenced customers' identification with a brand and brand purchasing behavior. Therefore, marketers should try to increase members' usage-needs satisfaction and apparel brand image as the necessary conditions for bringing about community commitments. Second, marketers should understand that they should keep in mind that increasing the level of community usage needs (transaction and relationship) is most effective in raising commitment when the level of apparel brand image is high, and that increasing usage needs (transaction needs) satisfaction in communities with low brand image might not be as effective as anticipated. Therefore, apparel companies with desirable brand image such as luxury designer goods firms need to create formal online brand communities (as opposed to informal communities with rudimentary online contents) to satisfy transaction and relationship needs systematically. It will create brand equity through consumers' increased emotional, continuous and normative commitments. Even though apparel brand is very famous, emotional commitment to apparel brand communities cannot be easily increased without transaction-needs satisfaction. Therefore famous fashion brand companies should focus on developing various marketing strategies to increase transaction-needs satisfaction.

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