• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.117-129
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• 2015

As the Internet becomes ubiquitous, a large volume of information is posted on the Internet with exponential growth every day. Accordingly, it is not unusual that investors in stock markets gather and compile firm-specific or market-wide information through online searches. Importantly, it becomes easier for investors to acquire value-relevant information for their investment decision with the help of powerful search tools on the Internet. Our study examines whether or not the Internet helps investors assess a firm's value better by using firm-level data over long periods spanning from January 2004 to December 2013. To this end, we construct weekly-based search volume for information technology (IT) services firms on the Internet. We limit our focus to IT firms since they are often equipped with intangible assets and relatively less recognized to the public which makes them hard-to measure. To obtain the information on those firms, investors are more likely to consult the Internet and use the information to appreciate the firms more accurately and eventually improve their investment decisions. Prior studies have shown that changes in search volumes can reflect the various aspects of the complex human behaviors and forecast near-term values of economic indicators, including automobile sales, unemployment claims, and etc. Moreover, search volume of firm names or stock ticker symbols has been used as a direct proxy of individual investors' attention in financial markets since, different from indirect measures such as turnover and extreme returns, they can reveal and quantify the interest of investors in an objective way. Following this line of research, this study aims to gauge whether the information retrieved from the Internet is value relevant in assessing a firm. We also use search volume for analysis but, distinguished from prior studies, explore its impact on return comovements with market returns. Given that a firm's returns tend to comove with market returns excessively when investors are less informed about the firm, we empirically test the value of information by examining the association between Internet searches and the extent to which a firm's returns comove. Our results show that Internet searches are negatively associated with return comovements as expected. When sample is split by the size of firms, the impact of Internet searches on return comovements is shown to be greater for large firms than small ones. Interestingly, we find a greater impact of Internet searches on return comovements for years from 2009 to 2013 than earlier years possibly due to more aggressive and informative exploit of Internet searches in obtaining financial information. We also complement our analyses by examining the association between return volatility and Internet search volumes. If Internet searches capture investors' attention associated with a change in firm-specific fundamentals such as new product releases, stock splits and so on, a firm's return volatility is likely to increase while search results can provide value-relevant information to investors. Our results suggest that in general, an increase in the volume of Internet searches is not positively associated with return volatility. However, we find a positive association between Internet searches and return volatility when the sample is limited to larger firms. A stronger result from larger firms implies that investors still pay less attention to the information obtained from Internet searches for small firms while the information is value relevant in assessing stock values. However, we do find any systematic differences in the magnitude of Internet searches impact on return volatility by time periods. Taken together, our results shed new light on the value of information searched from the Internet in assessing stock values. Given the informational role of the Internet in stock markets, we believe the results would guide investors to exploit Internet search tools to be better informed, as a result improving their investment decisions.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2020

The Government provides a financial assistance to stimulate firm R&D and innovation activities. Previous papers on the impact of public subsidies on firm R&D investments mainly had a focus on an individual policy tool regardless of potential impacts of other policy instruments. This study addresses this gap by examining the effects of policy mix regarding a subsidy and a tax credit. The empirical analyses from fixed effect model using Survey on Technology of SMEs 2015-2017 revealed valuable points. First, policy mix induces more R&D investment of SMEs, which in turn, shows a complementary relationship between two instruments. Second, even if impact of tax credit controlled, subsidy is positively associated with SMEs R&D investment. These findings justify policy mix interventions to promote SME R&D activity. Moreover, grants can be applied as a more useful policy tool for SMEs that are constrained by resources and capabilities.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.23
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• pp.263-301
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• 1992

In recent years, Korean public libraries, placed under changing circumstances, require that some new and positive financial policies be formulated for the improvement of their services. T he purpose of this study is to propose a scheme to ensure the revenues of Korean public libraries. The main contents of this study are as follows : (1) Public finance theory is applied to the question of why the public library is publicly supported. The public library does not contribute to stabilization, but it does playa role in each of the other public sector functions : allocation of resources and redistribution of income. In public finance terms there is justification for at least partial subsidy of public library services, which have the attributes of public goods, merit goods and externalities. (2) Public libraries in Korea find themselves suffering from limited budgets. They are neglected in national and local budgets. The lack of adequate funding for library collections prevents libraries from rendering efficient services. (3) In order to put the finances of the Korean public library system on a firm basis, the following proposals are made: 1) It is proposed that the parallel administration under which public libraries are organized be unified to be directly under the local governments. 2) It is proposed that the legislative and administrative system for public library finance be strengthened. (1) Library expenses should be itemized independently in the calculation of general grants-in-aid to local governments. (2) A fixed portion of the total municipal revenue should be appropriated for public library services. It can be executed by making provisions expressly in the annual guidelines for budgeting, municipal ordinances, or in the Library Promotion Law. The rate of allocation should be specified as a part of the national public library development plan. (3) Library tax as a local tax can be imposed. An indirect tax is preferable in order to avoid public misunderstanding and antagonism. 3) The augmentation of the specific grants-in-aid for the public library is proposed. The Library Promotion Law and the Law on Budget and Administration of Grants should be amended to oblige the central government to give financial assistance to local public libraries. 4) It is proposed that strategies to encourage private endowments be worked out. Revision of the Law on Tax Reduction and Exemption and the activation of an advisory library committee at each public library are recommended. 5) Funding and utilization of the envisioned Library Promotion Foundation is proposed. Government contributions, contributions from the Culture and Arts Foundation, and donations from individuals, corporations, and enterprises can be considered as the financial resources of the Foundation. 6) It is proposed that the structure of the Korean Library Association be consolidated to exercise greater influence over the formation of national policy on the public library system. 7) It is proposed as an ultimate guarantee of the health of the public libraries that the citizenry be educated to strongly support library services in responce to the active services provided by the public libraries.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.167-181
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• 2012

This study analyzed consumer's harsh complaining behaviors and firm's reactions toward consumers' harsh complaining behavior, and investigated the differences in the firms' reactions according to the characteristics of counselors and customer service centers. In addition, this study attempted to find a strategy and provide guidance regarding consumer's harsh complaining behaviors. The results of this study are discussed below. First, consumer's harsh complaining attitudes were expressed by crude language, violent language, threats, personal attacks, and claims of a high-ranking social position. Consumer's directive, complaining behaviors were repeated on the telephone, and threats of prosecution or disclosure to the public, exposure of habitual product returns, and requests for interviews with superiorsat the representative firm were made. Second, a firm typologies according to its reaction style toward a consumer's harsh complaining behaviors were as follows: Group 1, having a neutral attitude toward consumers and preparation thoroughly regarding their demands; Group 2, having a negative attitude toward consumers and some degree of preparation toward consumers' demands; and finally, Group 3, having a positive attitude toward consumers but offering insufficient reparation regarding consumers' demands. Third, female counselors, counselors having a certified counselor's license, and those much experience working in labor work were more likely to be in Group 3. Male counselors, part-time counselors, and those having experience of many years were more likely to be in Group 2. Group 1 were more likely to have large number of workers at customer service centers, male counselors, and to have large numbers of educational training programs related to the reactions of consumers in the form of dissatisfaction, complaints, how to offer compensation for injuries to consumers, and issues related to PL(product liability). In addition, Group 1 also had more firm level welfare policies related to hight stress levels of consumer counselors and extra types of support regarding harsh consumers. However, Group 2 members were more likely to provide excessive compensation and rewards to harsh consumers. Finally, to react to consumer's harsh complaint efficiently, it was suggested that firms should not treat consumers as harsh consumers, should react to consumers' complaints sincerely, and should take precautionary management efforts as regards consumer dissatisfaction based on better quality control of products. In addition, it was deemed necessary to formulate a management strategy to train competent consumer counselors with a high quality of counselor skill, having standardized and consistent reaction guidance toward consumer complaints and thorough knowledge of compensation rules for consumer injuries and subsequent guidance.

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

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

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.237-245
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to suggest the improvement plan for an effective benefit sharing support policy through empirical analysis on the benefit sharing operation of government as well as the benefit sharing support policy of government affecting firm performance. Therefore, this study analyzed current problems on benefit sharing operation of government as well as performed a survey for 225 participating and cooperation firms regarding firm performance. This study found some improvements such as insufficient diverse incentive measures leading to the difficulty of participating firm's increase and spread, insufficient substantial benefit sharing such a cash allocation between consignment firms, the increase of biz management system model failing to induce innovation of new technology or product, and difficult spread into 2nd, 3rd cooperative firms besides 1st ones, meanwhile, verifying the positive influence of government benefit sharing support policy on both participating and cooperation firms, especially on the performance of cooperation firms. As a further study, it is necessary to increase the objectiveness and accuracy of a research through verification of the interrelationships between firm statue and performance on the basis of more objective and quantitative data such a sales increase or R&D capability of cooperation firms.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.7-17
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• 2019

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to explore how advertising for multilevel marketing brands affect the salesperson's activity including customer-salesperson interactivity, work attitude, and perceived and actual performance after the campaign. Research Design, data, and methodology - This study collects experimental data, survey data, and actual sales data and applies statistical analyses such as factor analysis, t-tests, and a structural equation model. Results - The results show that advertising campaign can enhance a salesperson's selling activities and provide wide managerial implications to a multilevel marketing firm by filling the gaps for the field of advertising research. Conclusions - Managerial implications include: i) multilevel marketing firms should consider advertising campaigns as a means of changing customer responses because advertising plays a significant role in increasing familiarity with, and knowledge of, attitudes toward the brand, which also helps salespeople interact with customers; ii) multilevel marketing firms should consider brand advertising as a means to support the sales activities of salespeople including sales effectiveness, work attitudes, and perceived performance, and iii) multilevel marketing firms should consider brand advertising as a means to enhance a salesperson's pride and motivation for selling their brand, which will lead to improved sales performances.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.87-120
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• 2011

This paper examines how the levy-grant system for on-the-job training affects individual workers' training level and the subsequent wage growth. Some notable results include: (i) the workers at the firms facing high net benefits (i.e., grant minus levy) receive more firm training indeed, and (ii) training provision raises post-training earnings substantially. All these results are found to be robust to changes in firm size and estimation method.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.117-138
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• 2017

While prior work has noted the importance of knowledge creation in gaining competitive advantages, much less is understood about why firms do not actually use what they create. Building upon institutional approaches to organization studies, we offer a new framework to explain the gap between knowledge creation and utilization. We test our framework in an empirical context of sustainable innovation and environmental technologies where ideas of environmental sustainability have recently gained public popularity and shaped how interested audiences make evaluative assessments of firms. In such a context, firms are apt to perceive the social attention toward sustainability to be a normative pressure, which causes them to create new knowledge and develop technologies consistent with the pressure. Using data from the government-initiated certification system for green technologies, our study finds that firms do not always fully implement new environmental technologies they develop in response to the certification program, the situation we refer to as knowledge decoupling. We also examine a set of conditions under which knowledge decoupling becomes more or less amplified. Taken together, our findings show how a firm's knowledge creation and utilization is shaped by its external institutional environment as well as internal learning processes.

• Asia Pacific Journal of Business Review
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.17-35
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• 2017

This research is a case study that focuses on how conglomerate illegality and corresponding penalty affects corporate performance and strategy. The research aims to provide base information for policy-makers as well as the general public about the corporate environment. The analysis results can be summarized as follows. First, profitability is represented as an M-curve. Profitability falls from indictment to the final pronouncement of the corporate head and increases upon his or her return. The result suggests that the absence of a corporate head could result in low profitability as the firm is exposed to owner risk. Secondly, significant effects on investment were not found. Investment showed a continuous increase from indictment to final judgment. This could have resulted from investment decisions made prior to the indictment, which are generally long-term. Meanwhile, the rate at which investments rose for core subsidiaries were lower, which makes it reasonable to suspect dwindling executive capacity due to the absence of a corporate head. Thirdly, employment showed a slight increase, but the rate was found to be greater during the periods following the final judgment. From a political perspective, this increase can be inferred from a give-and-take tradeoff between corporate employment and the pardon of the corporate head.