• Title/Summary/Keyword: Perceived Structural Support

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Modeling Brand Equity for Lifestyle Brand Extensions: A Strategic Approach into Generation Y vs. Baby Boomer (생활방식품패확장적품패자산건모(生活方式品牌扩张的品牌资产建模): 침대Y세대화영인조소비자적전략로경(针对Y世代和婴儿潮消费者的战略路径))

  • Kim, Eun-Young;Brandon, Lynn
    • Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.35-48
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    • 2010
  • Today, the fashion market challenged by a maturing retail market needs a new paradigm in the "evolution of brand" to improve their comparative advantages. An important issue in fashion marketing is lifestyle brand extension with a specific aim to meet consumers' specific needs for their changing lifestyle. For fashion brand extensions into lifestyle product categories, Gen Y and Baby Boomer are emerging as "prospects"-Baby Boomers who are renovating their lifestyle, and generation Y experiencing changes in their life stage-with demands for buying new products. Therefore, it is imperative that apparel companies pay special attention to the consumer cohort for brand extension to create and manage their brand equity in a new product category. The purposes of this study are to (a) evaluate brand equity between parent and extension brands; (b) identify consumers' perceived marketing elements for brand extension; and (c) estimate a structural equation model for examining causative relationship between marketing elements and brand equity for brand extensions in lifestyle product category including home fashion items for the selected two groups (e.g., Gen Y, and Baby boomer). For theoretical frameworks, this study focused on the traditional marketing 4P's mix to identify what marketing element is more importantly related to brand extension equity for this study. It is assumed that comparable marketing capability can be critical to establish "brand extension equity", leads to successfully entering the new categories. Drawing from the relevant literature, this study developed research hypotheses incorporating brand equity factors and marketing elements by focusing on the selected consumers (e.g., Gen Y, Baby Boomer). In the context of brand extension in the lifestyle products, constructs of brand equity consist of brand awareness/association, brand perceptions (e.g., perceived quality, emotional value) and brand resonance adapted from CBBE factors (Keller, 2001). It is postulated that the marketing elements create brand extension equity in terms of brand awareness/association, brand perceptions by the brand extension into lifestyle products, which in turn influence brand resonance. For data collection, the sample was comprised of Korean female consumers in Gen Y and Baby Boomer consumer categories who have a high demand for lifestyle products due to changing their lifecycles. A total of 651 usable questionnaires were obtained from female consumers of Gen Y (n=326) and Baby Boomer (n=325) in South Korea. Structural and measurement models using a correlation matrix was estimated using LISREL 8.8. Findings indicated that perceived marketing elements for brand extension consisted of three factors: price/store image, product, and advertising. In the model of Gen Y consumers, price/store image had a positive effect on brand equity factors (e.g., brand awareness/association, perceived quality), while product had positive effect on emotional value in the brand extensions; and the brand awareness/association was likely to increase the perceived quality and emotional value, leading to brand resonance for brand extensions in the lifestyle products. In the model of Baby Boomer consumers, price/store image had a positive effect on perceived quality, which created brand resonance of brand extension; and product had a positive effect on perceived quality and emotional value, which leads to brand resonance for brand extension in the lifestyle products. However, advertising was negatively related to brand equity for both groups. This study provides an insight for fashion marketers in developing a successful brand extension strategy, leading to a sustainable competitive advantage. This study complements and extends prior works in the brand extension through critical factors of marketing efforts that affect brand extension success. Findings support a synergy effect on leveraging of fashion brand extensions (Aaker and Keller, 1990; Tauber, 1988; Shine et al., 2007; Pitta and Katsanis, 1995) in conjunction with marketing actions for entering into the new product category. Thus, it is recommended that marketers targeting both Gen Y and Baby Boomer can reduce marketing cost for entering the new product category (e.g., home furnishings) by standardized marketing efforts; fashion marketers can (a) offer extension lines with premium ranges of price; (b) place an emphasis on upscale features of store image positioning by a retail channel (e.g., specialty department store) in Korea, and (c) combine apparel with lifestyle product assortments including innovative style and designer’s limited editions. With respect to brand equity, a key to successful brand extension is consumers’ brand awareness or association that ensures brand identity with new product category. It is imperative for marketers to have knowledge of what contributes to more concrete associations in a market entry into new product categories. For fashion brands, a second key of brand extension can be a "luxury" lifestyle approach into new product categories, in that higher price or store image had impact on perceived quality that established brand resonance. More importantly, this study increases the theoretical understanding of brand extension and suggests directions for marketers as they establish marketing program at Gen Y and Baby Boomers.

A Study on the Acceptance Factors of the Capital Market Sentiment Index (자본시장 심리지수의 수용요인에 관한 연구)

  • Kim, Suk-Hwan;Kang, Hyoung-Goo
    • Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.1-36
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    • 2020
  • This study is to reveal the acceptance factors of the Market Sentiment Index (MSI) created by reflecting the investor sentiment extracted by processing unstructured big data. The research model was established by exploring exogenous variables based on the rational behavior theory and applying the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The acceptance of MSI provided to investors in the stock market was found to be influenced by the exogenous variables presented in this study. The results of causal analysis are as follows. First, self-efficacy, investment opportunities, Innovativeness, and perceived cost significantly affect perceived ease of use. Second, Diversity of services and perceived benefits have a statistically significant impact on perceived usefulness. Third, Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness have a statistically significant effect on attitude to use. Fourth, Attitude to use statistically significantly influences the intention to use, and the investment opportunities as an independent variable affects the intention to use. Fifth, the intention to use statistically significantly affects the final dependent variable, the intention to use continuously. The mediating effect between the independent and dependent variables of the research model is as follows. First, The indirect effect on the causal route from diversity of services to continuous use intention was 0.1491, which was statistically significant at the significance level of 1%. Second, The indirect effect on the causal route from perceived benefit to continuous use intention was 0.1281, which was statistically significant at the significance level of 1%. The results of the multi-group analysis are as follows. First, for groups with and without stock investment experience, multi-group analysis was not possible because the measurement uniformity between the two groups was not secured. Second, the analysis result of the difference in the effect of independent variables of male and female groups on the intention to use continuously, where measurement uniformity was secured between the two groups, In the causal route from usage attitude to usage intention, women are higher than men. And in the causal route from use intention to continuous use intention, males were very high and showed statistically significant difference at significance level 5%.

Importance of End User's Feedback Seeking Behavior for Faithful Appropriation of Information Systems in Small and Medium Enterprises (중소기업 환경에서의 합목적적 정보시스템 활용을 위한 최종사용자 피드백 탐색행위의 중요성)

  • Shin, Young-Mee;Lee, Joo-Ryang;Lee, Ho-Geun
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.17 no.4
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    • pp.61-95
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    • 2007
  • Small-and-medium sized enterprises(SMEs) represent quite a large proportion of the industry as a whole in terms of the number of enterprises or employees. However researches on information system so far have focused on large companies, probably because SMEs were not so active in introducing information systems as larger enterprises. SMEs are now increasingly bringing in information systems such as ERP(Enterprise Resource Planning Systems) and some of the companies already entered the stage of ongoing use. Accordingly, researches should deal with the use of information systems by SME s operating under different conditions from large companies. This study examined factors and mechanism inducing faithful appropriation of information systems, in particular integrative systems such as ERP, in view of individuals` active feedback-seeking behavior. There are three factors expected to affect end users` feedback-seeking behavior for faithful appropriation of information systems. They are management support, peer IT champ support, and IT staff support. The main focus of the study is on how these factors affect feedback-seeking behavior and whether the feedback-seeking behavior plays the role of mediator for realizing faithful appropriation of information systems by end users. To examine the research model and the hypotheses, this study employed an empirical method based on a field survey. The survey used measurements mostly employed and verified by previous researches, while some of the measurements had gone through minor modifications for the purpose of the study. The survey respondents are individual employees of SMEs that have been using ERP for one year or longer. To prevent common method bias, Task-Technology Fit items used as the control variable were made to be answered by different respondents. In total, 127 pairs of valid questionnaires were collected and used for the analysis. The PLS(Partial Least Squares) approach to structural equation modeling(PLS-Graph v.3.0) was used as our data analysis strategy because of its ability to model both formative and reflective latent constructs under small-and medium-size samples. The analysis shows Reliability, Construct Validity and Discriminant Validity are appropriate. The path analysis results are as follows; first, the more there is peer IT champ support, the more the end user is likely to show feedback-seeking behavior(path-coefficient=0.230, t=2.28, p<0.05). In other words, if colleagues proficient in information system use recognize the importance of their help, pass on what they have found to be an effective way of using the system or correct others' misuse, ordinary end users will be able to seek feedback on the faithfulness of their appropriation of information system without hesitation, because they know the convenience of getting help. Second, management support encourages ordinary end users to seek more feedback(path-coefficient=0.271, t=3.06, p<0.01) by affecting the end users' perceived value of feedback(path-coefficient=0.401, t=6.01, p<0.01). Management support is far more influential than other factors that when the management of an SME well understands the benefit of ERP, promotes its faithful appropriation and pays attention to employees' satisfaction with the system, employees will make deliberate efforts for faithful appropriation of the system. However, the third factor, IT staff support was found not to be conducive to feedback-seeking behavior from end users(path-coefficient=0.174, t=1.83). This is partly attributable to the fundamental reason that there is little support for end users from IT staff in SMEs. Even when IT staff provides support, end users may find it less important than that from coworkers more familiar with the end users' job. Meanwhile, the more end users seek feedback and attempt to find ways of faithful appropriation of information systems, the more likely the users will be able to deploy the system according to the purpose the system was originally meant for(path-coefficient=0.35, t=2.88, p<0.01). Finally, the mediation effect analysis confirmed the mediation effect of feedback-seeking behavior. By confirming the mediation effect of feedback-seeking behavior, this study draws attention to the importance of feedback-seeking behavior that has long been overlooked in research about information system use. This study also explores the factors that promote feedback-seeking behavior which in result could affect end user`s faithful appropriation of information systems. In addition, this study provides insight about which inducements or resources SMEs should offer to promote individual users' feedback-seeking behavior when formal and sufficient support from IT staff or an outside information system provider is hardly expected. As the study results show, under the business environment of SMEs, help from skilled colleagues and the management plays a critical role. Therefore, SMEs should seriously consider how to utilize skilled peer information system users, while the management should pay keen attention to end users and support them to make the most of information systems.

The Effects of Metaphors in the Interface of Smartphone Applications on Users' Intention to Use (사용자환경의 메타포가 스마트폰 애플리케이션 사용의도에 미치는 영향)

  • Jung, Wonjin;Hong, Suk-Ki
    • Asia pacific journal of information systems
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    • v.24 no.3
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    • pp.255-279
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    • 2014
  • It is not too much to say that smartphones have become an essential part of our lives due to their versatility. Nevertheless, they still have less overall capabilities than their desktop counterparts. Specifically, they have small screens and low resolutions, which make their applications difficult to have a usable interface. To account for these limitations, the interface of smartphone applications should be designed carefully and properly. Good interface design to any application is critical. However, a comprehensive information systems (IS) literature review found that there has been little research on the user interface design of smartphone applications. More specifically, there has been little empirical evidence and understanding about how metaphors, an imaginative way of describing objects and concepts, in the user interface of smartphone applications affect users' intention to use the applications. Thereby, the research goals of this study are to examine 1) the effects of the metaphors in the user interface of smartphone applications on the interaction between users and applications and 2) the effects of mediating variables including the interaction between users and applications, users' beliefs and attitudes, on users' intention to use the applications. A survey was conducted to collect data. University students and practitioners participated in the survey. A 24-item questionnaire was developed on a 5-point Likert-type scale. The measurement items were mostly adapted from the previous studies in the IS literature and modified to fit the context of this study. First, a principal component factor analysis was performed to explore the inter-relationships among a set of variables. The analysis showed that most of the items loaded quite strongly on the six components. The analysis also revealed the six components with eigenvalues exceeding 1, explaining a total of 70.7 per cent of the variance. The reliabilities of the items were also checked. Most Cronbach alpha values were above 0.8, so the scales were considered reliable. In sum, the results of the analysis support the decision to retain the six factors for further investigation. Next, the structural model was analyzed with AMOS structural equation modeling. The values of GFI, AGFI, NFI, TLI, CFI, and RMSEA were checked. The values showed that the research model considerably have a good fit in general. Next, the convergent and discriminant validities of all constructs were examined. The values for the standardized regression weights and critical ration (CR) indicated sufficient convergent validity for all constructs. In addition, the square root of the average variance extracted (AVE) of each construct was compared with its correlations with all other constructs. The results supported discriminant validity for all constructs. In sum, the results of analysis demonstrated adequate convergent and discriminant validities for all constructs. Finally, path coefficients between the variables were examined. Methphor was found to have an impact on interaction (${\beta}$ = .457, p = .000). There were also significant effects of the interaction on perceived usefulness (${\beta}$ = .273, p = .000) and ease of use (${\beta}$ = .405, p = .000). User attitude was significantly influenced by these two beliefs, perceived usefulness (${\beta}$ = .386, p = .000) and ease of use (${\beta}$ = .347, p = .000) respectively. Further, the results of analysis found that users' intention to use smartphone applications was significantly influenced by user attitude (${\beta}$ = .567, p = .000). Based upon the analyses, all hypotheses were supported. This study found that the metaphors used in the interface of smartphone applications affect not only the interaction between users and applications, but also users' intention to use the applications through the mediating variables, perceived usefulness and ease of use. These findings imply that if the metaphors used in the user interface of application are easy enough to understand for smartphone users, then the application can be perceived useful and easy to use, which in turn make users to have an intention to use the application. In conclusion, this study contributed not only to validate and extend Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) partially, but also to develop the construct of metaphor in smartphone settings. However, since a single empirical study cannot be enough to validate the findings, some limitations should be considered.

An Exploratory Research of Structural Relationship between Importance, Satisfaction and Recommendation Intention for University Lifelong Education Perceived by Adult Learners (성인학습자의 대학평생교육 운영요인 만족도와 대학평생교육 만족도, 추천의도 간 관계 연구)

  • Ahn, Hyun-Yong
    • The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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    • v.20 no.7
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    • pp.438-450
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    • 2020
  • This study examined the relationship between demographic characteristics, satisfaction of operating factors in college lifelong education, satisfaction of college lifelong education, and recommendation intention for 1,782 adult learners of college lifelong education (N=1782). As a result of Hypothesis 1, gender and age were found to have a significant effect in all areas of college lifelong education satisfaction (education content, pedagogy, instructor, educational environment, system, support), while education level did not. In addition, the learning time was verified to affect only the educational content, educational environment, and satisfaction with the system and support. As a result of Hypothesis 2, it was found that the satisfaction of the operating factors of the instructor, system, and support had a positive effect on the satisfaction of college lifelong education, and the environmental factors of education had a negative effect. As a result of verification of Hypothesis 3, it was found that the satisfaction of college lifelong education influenced the intention of recommendation. The purpose of this study is to determine the degree of satisfaction with the operational factors of college lifelong education, the satisfaction of college lifelong education, and the intention of recommendation for adult learners of a university that is operating a degree program dedicated to adult learners who are actually practicing the transition to a lifelong education system of university as an innovation in higher education. The relationship verification is expected to provide practical implications for constructing a new college lifelong education model in the future.

Prevention and Overcoming Strategies for Taeoom in the Nursing Workplace: Based on the P-S-O-R Framework (간호업무 현장에서의 태움 예방 및 극복방안: P-S-O-R 프레임워크를 기반으로)

  • Eun Jin Kim;Sodam Kim;Sang-Hyeak Yoon;Sung-Byung Yang
    • Journal of Service Research and Studies
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    • v.13 no.4
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    • pp.70-96
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    • 2023
  • Recently, the high turnover rate of nursing staff and the problems caused by increased job stress have been highlighted as social issues, and the problem of 'Taeoom' in nursing organizations has received increasing attention. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to propose a solution to the Taeoom problem, including bullying in the nursing work environment, as there is an urgent need to find a solution to prevent and overcome this problem. For this purpose, based on the S-O-R framework and previous studies, job stress and turnover intention were derived as outcome variables of Taeoom and communication competence as an antecedent factor, and a research model was constructed with the expectation that mindfulness and social support would serve as moderating variables to help overcome this problem. Data were collected through a survey of 300 nurses who had experienced Taeoom within the past year, and the hypotheses were tested using a structural equation model. The results revealed that the higher the communication competence of nurses, the less they perceived the damage of Taeoom, and that the damage caused by Taeoom leads to turnover intention through high job stress. In addition, mindfulness and social support significantly attenuated the positive effects of burnout on job stress and job stress on turnover intention, respectively. The significance of this study is that it proposed an extended P-S-O-R framework by adding a prevention stage to the existing S-O-R framework, and further tested the moderating effects of mindfulness and social support variables. It is expected that the findings of this study will provide concrete guidelines to prevent and overcome the Taeoom problem that can be applied in practice.

Model Development of Affecting Factors on Health Behavior and Juvenile Delinquency of Adolescents (청소년의 건강행위와 비행의 영향 요인에 관한 모형 구축)

  • Kim, Hyeon Suk;Kim, Hwa Jung
    • Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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    • v.11 no.2
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    • pp.171-187
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    • 1998
  • In recent years, adolescent issues including smoking, drinking, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, deviant sexual behavior, mental health problems, high suicide rate, juvenile delinquency and absence without due notice, etc are emerging as serious social problems and the debate on these controversial issues is heating up. The previous studies on adolescent health behavior and social juvenile delinquency such as run-away from home and absence without due notice have been conducted mostly by cause analysis utilizing social demographic factors or biological factors. In other words, the main factors analyzed were demographic and economic factors or parent's educational level, etc, which were the fixed environmental ones that were unable to cause the change in the health behavior. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to analyze factors which are changeable and fixable among the factors influencing the adolescent's health behavior and misconducts and, eventually influencing factors which can be used as the basis to establish health policies and health promotion program to reduce the health risk behavior and misconducts of adolescents. The study subjects were selected by dividing senior high school student in Seoul by region and through random sampling. The 890 subjects were selected from 10 schools including the preparatory school, vocational schools and institutional schools. The duration of the study was for July 1-5, 1997 for the first survey and the second one, for August 25-September 10. Regarding the analysis method, the SAS program was used. The adoptablity of theoretical model was tested through covariance structural analysis utilizing PC-LISREL 8.12 Program. The major findings of the study are as follows: As a result of establishing the model of factors influencing health behavior and juvenile delinquency, in case of male students as the health behavior self-efficacy, education level of fathers, economic level, self-control and the health interest of parent were higher, students were more likely to practice the health promoting behavior. Juvenile delinquency and health risk behavior were prevalent among those with the less shyness, the lower health behavior self-efficacy, lower self-control, lower self-assertiveness, lower economic level. The self-control was the most powerful factor. In case of female students, those with higher health behavior self-efficacy were more likely to practice the health promoting behavior whereas those with lower health behavior self-efficacy, lower self-control, lower self- assertiveness, less shyness were more likely to practice health risk behavior and juvenile delinquency. In case of prep schools, those with higher health behavior self-efficacy and better perceived health status were more likely to practice the health promoting behavior while those with less shyness, lower health behavior self-efficacy and lower academic achievement were more likely to engage in health risk behavior and juvenile delinquency. In case of vocational schools, as health behavior self-efficacy and economic level were higher, the practice rate of health promoting behavior was higher. As the self-control, shyness, self-assertiveness, health behavior self-efficacy were lower, the rate of health risk behavior and juvenile delinquency were higher. In case of social institutional schools, as, the health behavior self-efficacy, social support and economic level, health interest of parents were higher, the rate of health promoting behavior were higher. As the self-control, shyness, self-assertiveness, health behavior self-efficacy and social support were lower, the rate of health risk behavior and juvenile delinquency were higher. So the health promoting behavior was positively related to the health behavior self-efficacy, health interest of parents, social support, education level of fathers, level of perceived health status, economic level. The health risk behavior and juvenile delinquency were higher with the lower health behavior self-efficacy, self-control and self-assertiveness, lower health locus control, less shyness and loneliness, lower economic level and academic achievement. In conclusion, the health risk behavior and juvenile delinquency can be reduced by enhancing self-control, self-assertiveness, health behavior self-efficacy and social support. According to the final model drawn by connecting health behavior and juvenile delinquency, the reduction of health risk behavior can greatly contribute to decreasing social juvenile delinquency as the process of juvenile delinquency was extended from common behaviors to problem behaviors and further into juvenile delinquency.

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Factors Affecting Participation Intention of the 4th Industrial Technology Education: Applying MGB Model (4차 산업혁명 기술교육의 참여의도에 영향을 미치는 요인 연구: 목표지향행동모델(MGB)을 중심으로)

  • Lee, Jihyun;Dong, Haklim
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.231-244
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    • 2020
  • With the rapid progress of the 4th industrial revolution, technical human capitals are considered to be the core competing factors of the enterprise. Technical manpower training of the 4th industrial revolution through technical education has become an essential task of venture start-ups. The opening of technical training courses and the education support system of companies are increasing, but the shortage of technical manpower is getting worse. This study was conducted to analyze the factors affecting participation intention of the 4th industrial revolution technology education. The research model was established based on the model of goal-directed behavior. For the analysis, 250 valid questionnaire data were used to test with a structural equation model. The results of the study are as follows. First, attitude had a positive effect on the intention to participate in education. Second, subjective norms had a positive effect on the intention to participate in education. Third, the perceived behavioral control has not been tested for a significant influence on educational participation intention. Fourth, positive and negative anticipated emotions had a significant effect on educational intention. The impact of significant variables were found in the order of positive anticipated emotions, attitudes, negative anticipated emotions, subjective norms. On the other hand, as a result of testing the mediating effect of desires, it was found that desires plays a mediating role between attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, positive anticipated emotions, negative anticipated emotions, and participation intention. In particular, the causal relationship between perceived behavioral control and intention to participate in education was not significant, but perceived behavioral control had a significant effect(full mediation) on participation intention through desires. Based on the results of this study, the following implication were suggested. First, the model of goal-directed behavior(MGB) was applied to the technical education field. Second, the direct relationship between antecedent variables and behavioral intentions was simultaneously tested. Third, unlike the existing education-related research, the factors affecting participation in education were analyzed. Fourth, the importance of desires for education were suggested.

The Effect of Entrepreneurship Education for Seniors on Entrepreneurship Intention: Integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior and Self-determination Theory (시니어 대상 창업교육이 창업의도에 미치는 영향: 계획된 행동이론과 자기결정 이론의 통합모델 중심으로)

  • Chung, Chan-Young;Lee, So-Young
    • Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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    • v.15 no.4
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    • pp.69-81
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    • 2020
  • This study is to identify the effect of seniors in their 40s and 50s on their entrepreneurial intentions through attitude on entrepreneurship, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control by utilizing the integrated model of the theory of planned behavior and self-determination theory. Also, in this process, we tried to analyze moderating effect of entrepreneurship education for seniors. An online survey was conducted for seniors in their 40s and 50s living in Seoul and Gyeonggi province, out of the total 284 questionnaire responses, 243 valid questionnaires were used in the study. Research analysis utilized SPSS 24, AMOS 23 structural equation model and Professor Hayes' Process 3.4 to analyze moderating effect. The results of the study were summarized as follows. First, autonomous motivation had a positive influence on attitude toward entrepreneurship, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. But controlled motivation didn't have the significant influence on attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Second, attitude toward entrepreneurship, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control had positive influence on entrepreneurship intention. Third, as a result of analyzing moderating effect of entrepreneurship education for seniors, the significant moderating effect was verified between attitude and entrepreneurship intention. Also the significant moderating effect was verified between subjective norms and entrepreneurship intention. On the other hand, no significant moderating effect was proved between perceived behavioral control and entrepreneurship intention. The implication of this study is that for retired seniors planning to enter into entrepreneurship, the result can contribute to the development of a entrepreneurship support program that can increase new startup creation, survival and sucess by diagnosing autonomous and controlled motivation for entrepreneurship. In addition, by providing entrepreneurship education as well as re-employment training in the senior outplacement program, the study can contribute to widening the opportunities for seniors to second career after retirement.

A Mid-Term Follow-Up Result of Spinopelvic Fixation Using Iliac Screws for Lumbosacral Fusion

  • Hyun, Seung-Jae;Rhim, Seung-Chul;Kim, Yong-Jung J.;Kim, Young-Bae
    • Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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    • v.48 no.4
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    • pp.347-353
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    • 2010
  • Objective : Iliac screw fixation has been used to prevent premature loosening of sacral fixation and to provide more rigid fixation of the sacropelvic unit. We describe our technique for iliac screw placement and review our experience with this technique. Methods : Thirteen consecutive patients who underwent spinopelvic fixation using iliac screws were enrolled. The indications for spinopelvic fixation included long segment fusions for spinal deformity and post-operative flat-back syndrome, symptomatic pseudoarthrosis of previous lumbosacral fusions, high-grade lumbosacral spondylolisthesis, lumbosacral tumors, and sacral fractures. Radiographic outcomes were assessed using plain radiographs, and computed tomographic scans. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and questionnaire about buttock pain. Results : The median follow-up period was 33 months (range, 13-54 months). Radiographic fusion across the lumbosacral junction was obtained in all 13 patients. The average pre- and post-operative ODI scores were 40.0 and 17.5, respectively. The questionnaire for buttock pain revealed the following : 9 patients (69%) perceived improvement; 3 patients (23%) reported no change; and 1 patient (7.6%) had aggravation of pain. Two patients complained of prominence of the iliac hardware. The complications included one violation of the greater sciatic notch and one deep wound infection. Conclusion : Iliac screw fixation is a safe and valuable technique that provides added structural support to S1 screws in long-segment spinal fusions. Iliac screw fixation is an extensive surgical procedure with potential complications, but high success rates can be achieved when it is performed systematically and in appropriately selected patients.