• Fourth Industrial Review
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2021

Purpose - This case study analyzes the internationalization strategy and innovation strategy as key factors contributing to the business success of CAP, a small and medium-sized manufacturing company in Korea producing auto parts such as wipers. This study describes the diversification strategies conducted by CAP Corporation and highlights the company's core competencies that have largely contributed to their global competitive success. Research design, data, and methodology - This paper provides in-depth case study on how CAP was able to grow into a hidden champion company, focusing on their strategies since its establishment. In particular, by analyzing the success factors centering on CAP's aggressive innovation strategy and internationalization strategy, it presents guidelines for small and medium-sized enterprises in Asian countries to become a Hidden Champion company. Result - CAP's product technology has successfully established innovative system on their product called 'vertebra spring' to distribute uniform pressure to the rubber to ensure performance as well as durability of their products. In order to continue benefiting from utilizing core competence and to continue pursuing technological advancement in the wiper industry, CAP has launched a wide range of products (flat blade, conventional blade, hybrid blade) applicable to 95% of the vehicle in the market. Conclusion - Taken together, CAP has many aspects of a hidden champion company by investing in R&D up to 8% of its annual sales to R&D investment even during the crises situation. This number is about 3.36 times higher than the average ratio of listed companies in Korea. Furthermore, the leadership of the management team as well as their vision toward the global market and strong commitment to innovation enabled CAP to become the world's fifth-largest wiper and Asia's No. 1 wiper manufacturer.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.129-140
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• 2012

Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute(KAERI) invested the technology and made the Research Institute Company, SunBioTech with Korea Colma in 2006. It is the first Research Institute Company, based on the 'Law for Daedeok Innopolis Development'. this company made a product of HemoHim which is the supportive functional food for the cancer treatment. This technology is very unique and get the Triad Patent Families. This paper deal with the new technology based innovation and the product is very sensitive because of the consumer oriented. We study the successful technology commercialization process of HemoHim and suggest a implication for the company and decision makers.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.66-77
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• 2008

Six sigma is a business strategy and a systematic methodology using statistically oriented approach to process and product quality improvement. Many cases have reported significant benefits from six sigma implementation. But, some organizations have been reported that six sigma methodology has not given the expected benefits. Further, small and medium sized companies have faced various barriers. The purpose of this paper is to examine the successful case study on the improvements of partnership between large and small/medium-sized companies via six sigma activities. Data were collected using in depth interviews of six sigma champion, master black belt, and black belt from one large company and five medium-sized companies in Gumi industry zone.

• Journal of East Asia Management
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.29-49
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• 2020

In an intensively competitive global market, small-and medium-sized firms are puzzled about how to develop sustainable competitive advantages against global rivalries, thus leading satisfactory economic performance. However, despite the roles and contributions of such small-and medium-sized firms in the local community and national economies in Japan, little guidance has been offered to the practical issues related to their strategic behaviors toward global management. To fill this notable knowledge gap, this study aims to investigate the conditions in which how Japanese small-and medium-sized could dominates global market, which is one of key challenges in the literature of small business and entrepreneurship. To obtain better insights to this research area, this study undertakes an in-depth interview survey with I.S.T (Industrial Summit Technology) Corporation that shows off the highest global market share (40 per cent) with seamless polyimide tube product widely used in office automation equipment (e.g., copiers and printers). This method of survey is designed to deeply understand historical considerations about how I.S.T Corporation could dominate in the global market of such seamless polyimide tube product. Based on findings drawn from an interview, this study identifies five major factors enabling I.S.T Corporation to be a competitive global hidden company: vision sharing through founder's entrepreneurship, core competence, strategic network, risk management, and employee engagement. Specifically, to become a global hidden champion, sharing the vision motivating employees to partake in shaping company's future will be the first step on the road to global success through founder's entrepreneurship. However, in order to achieve such a vision, the importance of company's core competence cannot be overemphasized, which differentiates your customer solution with those of competitors. As such, a group of experts will be naturally formed and demonstrates your expertise in the global market, thereby building sustainable competitiveness. On the other hand, to maintain sustainable competitiveness, it is necessary to make up for the weaknesses small-and medium-sized firms suffer from competitive resources while strengthening their own strengths through strategic networks with external organizations. Here, every company has to understand the critical role of risk management, which is essential in this process of being global company so as not to lose your own strengths. Last but not least, do not forget the significant effects of employee engagement in firm performance. To enhance employees' engagement, a company has to create an ideal organization culture which fits into company's history and personality. In doing so, such organization culture can allow the vision and strategy to be implemented into detailed business tactics while facilitating employees to challenge the status quo by experimenting with creative ideas.

• Information Systems Review
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.257-287
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• 2008

Grounded in the prior literatures on acceptance and diffusion of IT and innovation in the level of organization research, 3 major constructional factors such as Motivation, IT resistance, and IT change management were investigated to suggest propositions from 15 multi-cases of PLM from 6 different companies in Automotive OEMs and suppliers, and we posited that the diffusion is continued only when motivation is stronger enough to overcome IT resistance as a fundamental finding and basis of this research on PLM acceptance and diffusion. The Motivation was found to be initiated and categorized from three different factors such as environmental factors, organizational factors, and technological factors, providing key propositions for further research: (1)The Automotive suppliers, contrary to OEM, are affected more by the demand of inter-connectivity as an environmental factor, while the other factors are similarly influencing to them, (2)The big organizations are influenced more by the champion, while the small organizations get influenced more by leader. (3)When the trend, inter-connectivity and complexity get stronger, the motivation gets more strongly influenced by the perceived benefit in the technological context. Regarding Change management we suggests IT change management is supportive to overcome IT resistance and also to enforce Motivation, and the critical mass exists differently according to the market maturity adopted, and more market matured technology has lower critical mass, implies less requirement of IT change management than less market matured technology.