• Journal of Korea Trade
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.1-18
• /
• 2023

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to study how flexibility and mutuality in determining trade terms impact logistics efficiency in the context of relational theory. Additionally, the effect of relational contracts on logistical efficiency relative to the value of the goods being traded is investigated. Design/methodology - According to the relational contract theory, we developed 17 factors utilizing a 7-point Likert scale to measure variables related to flexibility, mutuality, logistics efficiency, and the added value of goods. The survey occurred over four months, and was distributed directly, and via email, phone, and online Google surveys. A total of 403 surveys were collected out of 1,800 distributed, and 380 were analyzed. The principal respondents were import/export companies and members of the Korea International Trade Association and the Korea Small and Medium Business Export-Import Association. The collected data were analyzed using frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and correlation analysis using SPSS ver. 26.0 statistical software, and hypothesis test results were derived using Process Macro ver. 3.5. Findings - This study provides evidence that negotiation flexibility for trade terms affects the efficiency of the logistics process, and the mutuality of such arrangements is shown to be associated with the flexibility and efficiency of logistics processes. Additionally, it has been established that companies whose trade goods possess a low degree of added value may experience increased efficiency in logistics operations if they agree to trade terms that are both flexible and mutually beneficial with their counterparts. Originality/value - This study suggests that in an environment of rapidly shifting global logistics and unpredictable related costs, trade companies may be able to improve logistics efficiency by establishing flexible, mutually beneficial trade terms when entering into contracts. Furthermore, it is suggested that companies dealing in low-value-added products may improve the logistical performance of approaching trade from a perspective of relational contracts.

• Journal of Korea Trade
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.14-32
• /
• 2019

Purpose - This study is designed to provide new insights on trade claim management by typifying trade claims from a relational perspective, which defines trade as an organic combination that exchanges relationships based on a mutual goal instead of conflicts between obligations and rights of the contracting parties. Design/methodology - This is a phenomenological study that aims to typify trade claims based on a relational perspective and extract implications for trade claim management. The research procedures of this study are as follows. First, international commercial dispute cases applying the CISG are collected. Second, the cases collected are quantified through content analysis. The variables for quantification are developed based on a relationship perspective. Third, cluster analysis is conducted on coded data to typify cases. And finally, this study compares the characteristics of each type using analysis of variance and suggests implications for the strategic management of trade claims from a relational perspective. Findings - Results show that trade claims are divided into four clusters, depending on whether flexibility is accepted or not and which party violates mutuality. There is also a difference between the claimant and the cause of the claim, according to the cluster. Based on the results, this study suggests that the buyer and the seller should employ different strategies depending on the type of trade claim and presents proposals for strategic claim management. Originality/value - Firstly, this study extends the theoretical discussion on trade claims by applying relational contract theory. Prior studies on trade claims have been primarily based on traditional contract theory. The second is to analyze trade claims quantitatively. Prior case studies on trade claims have mainly relied on qualitative research. Finally, the study contributes to international commercial practice by typifying trade claims and presenting options for strategic management.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.145-158
• /
• 2020

Purpose - To understand the growing interests in the professional temporary workforce, this study aimed to examine the different types of professional temporary workers and their different effects on creative performance. Design/methodology/approach - By sub-classifying professional temporary workers as boundaryless workers and transitional workers, this study developed propositions to provide comprehensive framework for directing meaningful topics for future research on professional temporary workers. Findings - This study suggested that two types of professional temporary workers may differ significantly in terms of their work efforts for getting approval or acceptance from the team members and for achieving creative contributions in teams. Specifically, drawing on expectance theory, social identity theory and resource-based theory, this study discussed the relationship between acceptance(task-oriented vs. relational-oriented acceptance), employment duration(short-term status vs. long-term status), contract security(volition being temporary worker) and creative performance for boundaryless workers versus transitional workers. Research implications or Originality - This study have implications for increasing our understanding of professional temporary workers by showing that creative performance may vary by employment types.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.57-69
• /
• 2013

This study analyzed the effects of the relational norm factor of food service franchising on the intention to remain, in view of the importance of relational norms, as antecedent variables, to franchisees' perceived fairness to enhance the competitiveness by formation of long-term relationship between interested parties to food service franchising, the franchiser and the franchisee. According to a questionnaire survey, more than 100 franchisees that recorded three business years in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi area were selected for convenience sampling. Then, among them, 515 effective samples were analyzed. For statistical data, detailed types of analysis were performed by using AMOS 17.0, such as factor analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory analysis and frequency analysis. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the franchiser and the franchisee by arranging relational norm factors for the relationship to be suitable for the current situation of Korea, instead of Western-style theory-based relationship marketing, and by understanding a connection between perceived fairness and management achievement-related variables, and to make a conceptual framework for building a positive relationship between the franchiser and the franchise in future food service franchising industry. Moreover, it aimed to increase franchisee satisfaction and results including re-contract according to perceived positive relationship value on the franchiser and to make contribution to find and show the proper direction for development of the Korean-style food service franchising system.

• Journal of Distribution Science
• /
• v.14 no.8
• /
• pp.113-121
• /
• 2016

Purpose - This paper aims to examine the impact of buyer-supplier cooperation on suppliers' trust on buyers and the moderating role of buyers' governance mechanism between the sharing activities and trust. Research design, data, and methodology - An integrated research model is designed to materialize the research hypotheses. First, the impact of buyer-supplier cooperation is empirically analyzed by looking into how the sharing activities, in the field of information, resource, and knowledge, of buyer with supplier will affect the trust of supplier on buyer. Second, the moderating effect of contract-based governance mechanism of buyer is empirically analyzed. Third, the influence of trust on innovation performance of suppler is empirically analyzed. Results - Our findings provide supporting evidence for some of our hypotheses. First, all of the sharing activities are significantly influential, but in different degree, to trust of supplier. Second, contract-based governance mechanism of buyer have a moderating effect on the relationship between sharing activities and trust, positively in resource-sharing activities, negatively in information-sharing activities, not significant in knowledge-sharing activities. Third, supplier's trust on buyer positively affects supplier's own innovation performance. Conclusions - The strategies applied in supply chain management have become important as the competition among firms has shifted from competition between individual firms to competition between supply chains. A customer's sharing activities with its supplier may contribute to an increase in innovation performance. The supplier's information-sharing activity with its customer could affect its information-sharing activities with its main supplier. Cooperative activity with a partner in the supply chain is cultivated and amassed into relationship knowledge, and this study shows that the cooperative relational knowledge related to information-sharing activities enables firms to participate in sharing activities with their main suppliers. Increasing evidence shows that sharing various activities between buyer and supplier improves trust and performance outcomes, and enables firms to maintain competitive advantage. From the perspective of knowledge theory, external knowledge is becoming more important in firms' innovation activities, because innovative knowledge is acquired primarily through interaction with another organization. In addition, relationship learning could be an important tool in absorbing the supplier's core technology, information, expertise, and core competencies, increasing relational value.

• The Korean Journal of Franchise Management
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.35-44
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This study examines the opportunism moderating effect by the startup experience in the relationship between franchisor and franchisees. In the case of a franchise system that has a continuous relational exchange transaction, relationship management is a very important activity because the relationship management between franchisor and franchisees improves the quality of the relationship. Nevertheless, there is insufficient of research on opportunism, which is a negative factor in managing the relationship between franchisor and franchisees in continuous relationship. Research design, data and methodology: This study, we explore the cause of opportunism based on transaction cost theory through prior research and establish a research model based by goal incongruity, uncertainty, information asymmetry, transaction specific assets, the relevance to determinant of opportunism and the startup experienced which is a moderating variable. To verify several hypotheses, the data were collected from 300 out of 1,760 domestic franchisees and analyzed using multiple regression analysis with SPSS program. Results: The findings are as follows. Goal incongruity did not affect opportunism. Opportunism increased as uncertainty increased, and as information asymmetry increased, opportunism increased. An opportunism decreased as transaction specific assets increased. Moreover, the findings show that startup experience only plays a moderating role in the relationship between information asymmetry and opportunism. Therefore, 4 out of 8 hypotheses were supported. Conclusions: The findings show that uncertainty, information asymmetry, and transaction specific assets are the determinants of opportunism. In addition, the results of the analysis of the moderating role of startup experience show that the less entrepreneurial experience, the greater the influence of information asymmetry on opportunism. Our findings mean that maintaining a successful relationship between franchisors and franchisees is possible when franchisors provide knowledge sharing, goal sharing, environmental sharing, and management information sharing to franchisees. In addition, the findings of this study shows that the contract content and management should be changed according to the entrepreneurial experience. In other words, the franchisors must share and integrate the accumulated franchisees' and franchisors' experience with the franchisees to create a synergy that can lead to successful bilateral relationship maintenance, which in turn reduces opportunism.

• Korea Trade Review
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.69-88
• /
• 2022

Recently, International commerce has continuously expanded with the development of logistics technology. However, the cost of international logistics is rising rapidly. The Korea International Trade Association (2021) proposes that the use of international commercial terms in Incoterms® could be an effective way against logistics costs. The purpose of this study is to verify the effect on the flexible operation of international commercial terms. For the detection of variables and data collection for empirical analysis based on previous studies and in-depth interviews. The questionnaires were distributed after pilot-study to a random sample of companies based on the list of members such as the Korea International Trade Association, the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, and the Global Small and Medium Business Association. A total of 800 questionnaires were distributed, and 166 were used for empirical analysis. The results of this study are as follows. First, mutual cooperation and Flexibly using of international commercial terms has a positive (+) effect on logistics efficiency. This is in line with the study of Yang (2021) and Stojanović et al. (2021) that logistics by using international commercial terms will increase the efficiency of logistics. Second, use of international commercial terms based on mutual understanding mediates the relationship between the logistics environment of the other country and the logistics efficiency. As in the study of Vidrova (2020), it is important to operate on international commercial terms mutually.

• 한국사회정책
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.57-91
• /
• 2018

Despite the rapid growth of social care, understanding of care is segmental and caring is still marginalizing. The socialization of caring is actually a 'half-socialization' that is the result of injustice surrounding caring. Therefore, it is necessary to approach the problem of caring in terms of justice. In this paper, I discuss the limitations of social justice based on John Rawls 's social contract theory in the discussion of caring justice through feminists'writings on caring ethics. And then applying Nancy Fraser' s three scales of Justice-redistribution, recognition, and representation, the concept of caring justice has been newly constructed. The concept of caring is defined as a unified concept of caring including the aspect of the social rights of the care recipient as well as the labor rights of the care provider. Based on the analysis of care justice, we derive the ideal types of care policy and then evaluate the long-term care policy for the elderly, which is the central axis of Korean care policy. The results of this study are as follows: First, it is necessary to strengthen the labor rights of care providers especially for the socialization of care responsibilities and the proper allocation of social resources. Second, a service delivery system and care culture are needed to ensure the relational autonomy of care-receivers and care-givers for caring ethics and individualization of care. Third, the issue of care should be treated as the central agenda of politics in order to distribute care responsibility democratically and to distribute legitimate resources. This requires a paradigm shift from marginalization of care to mainstreaming of care. Ultimately, we should aim for a Caring Society.

• Journal of Distribution Research
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.55-80
• /
• 2012

I. Introduction Developing the relationships between companies is very important issue to ensure a competitive advantage in today's business environment (Bleeke & Ernst 1991; Mohr & Spekman 1994; Powell 1990). Partnerships between companies are based on having same goals, pursuing mutual understanding, and having a professional level of interdependence. By having such a partnerships and cooperative efforts between companies, they will achieve efficiency and effectiveness of their business (Mohr and Spekman, 1994). However, it is difficult to expect these ideal results only in the B2B corporate transaction. According to agency theory which is the well-accepted theory in various fields of business strategy, organization, and marketing, the two independent companies have fundamentally different corporate purposes. Also there is a higher chance of developing opportunism and conflict due to natures of human(organization), such as self-interest, bounded rationality, risk aversion, and environment factor as imbalance of information (Eisenhardt 1989). That is, especially partnerships between principal(or buyer) and agent(or supplier) of companies within supply chain, the business contract itself will not provide competitive advantage. But managing partnership between companies is the key to success. Therefore, managing partnership between manufacturer and supplier, and finding causes of conflict are essential to improve B2B performance. In conclusion, based on prior researches and Agency theory, this study will clarify how business hazards cause conflicts on supply chain and then identify how developed conflicts have been managed by two control mechanisms. II. Research model III. Method In order to validate our research model, this study gathered questionnaires from small and medium sized enterprises(SMEs). In Korea, SMEs mean the firms whose employee is under 300 and capital is under 8 billion won(about 7.2 million dollar). We asked the manufacturer's perception about the relationship with the biggest supplier, and our key informants are denied to a person responsible for buying(ex)CEO, executives, managers of purchasing department, and so on). In detail, we contact by telephone to our initial sample(about 1,200 firms) and introduce our research motivation and send our questionnaires by e-mail, mail, and direct survey. Finally we received 361 data and eliminate 32 inappropriate questionnaires. We use 329 manufactures' data on analysis. The purpose of this study is to identify the anticipant role of business hazard (environmental dynamism, asset specificity) and investigate the moderating effect of control mechanism(formal control, social control) on conflict-performance relationship. To find out moderating effect of control methods, we need to compare the regression weight between low versus. high group(about level of exercised control methods). Therefore we choose the structural equation modeling method that is proper to do multi-group analysis. The data analysis is performed by AMOS 17.0 software, and model fits are good statically (CMIN/DF=1.982, p<.000, CFI=.936, IFI=.937, RMSEA=.056). IV. Result V. Discussion Results show that the higher environmental dynamism and asset specificity(on particular supplier) buyer(manufacturer) has, the more B2B conflict exists. And this conflict affect relationship quality and financial outcomes negatively. In addition, social control and formal control could weaken the negative effect of conflict on relationship quality significantly. However, unlikely to assure conflict resolution effect of control mechanisms on relationship quality, financial outcomes are changed by neither social control nor formal control. We could explain this results with the characteristics of our sample, SMEs(Small and Medium sized Enterprises). Financial outcomes of these SMEs(manufacturer or principal) are affected by their customer(usually major company) more easily than their supplier(or agent). And, in recent few years, most of companies have suffered from financial problems because of global economic recession. It means that it is hard to evaluate the contribution of supplier(agent). Therefore we also support the suggestion of Gladstein(1984), Poppo & Zenger(2002) that relational performance variable can capture the focal outcomes of relationship(exchange) better than financial performance variable. This study has some implications that it tests the sources of conflict and investigates the effect of resolution methods of B2B conflict empirically. And, especially, it finds out the significant moderating effect of formal control which past B2B management studies have ignored in Korea.

• Journal of the Daesoon Academy of Sciences
• /
• v.27
• /
• pp.283-317
• /
• 2016

This research is an attempt to detail the multi-layered ethical characteristics of 'mutual beneficence', shown in the principle of 'guarding against self-deception' in Daesoon Thought while focusing on its major differences as well as the similarities with Kantian and Utilitarian ethical views. In these Western ethical perspectives, the concept of self-deception has received a considerable amount of attention, centering on the context of natural rights and contract theory. Meanwhile, in Daesoon Thought, 'guarding against self-deception' is presented as one of the principal objectives as well as the method or deontological ground for practice. It further encompasses the features of virtue ethics oriented toward the perfection of Dao. Here, the deontological aspect is interlinked with the concept of cultivation and the pursuit of ethics and morals. Hence this makes it a necessary condition for achieving the perfection of Dao, and likewise renders the practice of 'guarding against self-deception' more active through facilitating mutual relations based on the expansion model wherein human nature is characterized as possessing innate goodness. With regard to the tenet of 'resolution of grievances for mutual beneficence,' this concept is presented as a positive ground for practicing virtues toward others without forming grudges. Furthermore, as long as it reveals the great principle of humanity built on conscience, it will come to harmonize practitioners with others and spirits in an expression of beneficence. Moreover, originating in the Dao of Deities, guarding against self-deception is expressed as a form of life ethics and can be suggested as a new alternative for the model of virtue ethics proposed by Nussbaum. All in all, there is a natural causal relationship by which 'guarding against self-deception' in accord one's own conscience and the principle of humanity as a pursuit of perfect virtues in Dao result in the fulfillment of mutual beneficence. This readily akin to how gravity causes water to flow from high ground to low ground. Consequently, these relational features of mutual beneficence can serve an effective alternative to the Western ethical views which also address the need to overcome the egoistic mind which is liable to self-interest and alienation.