• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.137-164
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• 2013

This research examines not only the relationship between customer participation and friendship on which are focused in service marketing, but also their influences on relational outcomes. It has been well-known that customer participation had strong influence on an interaction with service provider in a service encounter which could build up social aspects of customers-service firms, as well as functional aspects. Thus, this paper identify the relational outcomes generated by customer participation and social bonds, not just customer satisfaction or service quality. As results, considering the impact of customer participation on the interaction process, customer participation had a directly positive effect on the friendship significantly. Additionally, friendship influenced by customer participation and interaction with a service provider was examined that it could have influences on relational outcomes such as relationship quality and customer loyalty. Therefore, customer participation can get rich the process of interaction, which can build up friendship between customers and service providers. Ultimately, it is estimated that customer participation and friendship can lead relational outcomes.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.179-222
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• 2011

This research investigates the influence of relational characteristics on 'co-defection', customer defection following salesperson turnover, in the context of salesperson-customer relationship. Based on the social exchange theory, it was hypothesized that perceived relational benefits and switching costs affect directly the customer's intentions to defect. Key constructs in relationship marketing such as customer satisfaction, trust, and loyalty were hypothesized to affect the customer's intention to defect as well as perceived relational benefits and switching costs. The results of structural equation modeling using a survey sample of 503 insurance customers who purchased life insurance policies through salespersons unveiled that the customer satisfaction with salesperson and the customer trust in salesperson strongly influence the salesperson-owned customer loyalty. However, they did not have significant direct effects on co-defection intentions. All paths from salesperson-owned customer loyalty to perceived relational benefits and perceived switching costs were also significant. Salesperson-owned customer loyalty did not have significant direct effects on co-defection intentions, but it had significant indirect effects on co-defection intentions through relational benefits and switching costs. Three sub-dimensions of perceived relational benefits had significant positive effects on co-defection intentions while the perceived switching costs had significant negative effects on co-defection intentions. The significance of our research findings were verified by comparing the hypothesized model and the rival model in the past studies.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.1-32
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• 2011

I. Introduction: In Chinese electronics industry, the local wholesalers are still dominant but power is rapidly swifting from wholesalers to retailers because in recent foreign big retailers and local mass merchandisers are growing fast. During such transient period, conflicts among channel members emerge important issues. For example, when wholesalers who have more power exercise influence strategies to maintain status, conflicts among manufacturer, wholesaler, and retailer will be intensified. Korean electronics companies in China need differentiated channel strategies by dealing with wholesalers and retailers simultaneously to sell more Korean products in competition with foreign firms. For example, Korean electronics firms should utilize 'guanxi' or relational quality to form long-term relationships with whloesalers instead of power and conflict issues. The major purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of conflict, dependency, and influence strategies between local Korean-products-selling retailers and wholesalers on performance in Chinese electronics distribution channels. In particular, this paper proposes effective distribution strategies for Korean electronics companies in China by analyzing moderating effects of 'Guanxi'. II. Literature Review and Hypotheses: The specific purposes of this study are as follows. First, causes of conflicts between local Korean-products-selling retailers and wholesalers are examined from the perspectives of goal incongruence and role ambiguity and then effects of these causes are found out on perceived conflicts of local retailers. Second, the effects of dependency of local retailers upon wholesalers are investigated on local retailers' perceived conflicts. Third, the effects of non-coercive influence strategies such as information exchange and recommendation and coercive strategies such as threats and legalistic pleas exercised by wholesalers are explored on perceived conflicts by local retailers. Fourth, the effects of level of conflicts perceived by local retailers are verified on local retailers' financial performance and satisfaction. Fifth, moderating effects of relational qualities, say, 'quanxi' between wholesalers and retailers are analyzed on the impact of wholesalers' influence strategies on retailers' performances. Finally, moderating effects of relational qualities are examined on the relationship between conflicts and performance. To accomplish above-mentioned research objectives, Figure 1 and the following research hypotheses are proposed and verified. III. Measurement and Data Analysis: To verify the proposed research model and hypotheses, data were collected from 97 retailers who are selling Korean electronic products located around Central and Southern regions in China. Covariance analysis and moderated regression analysis were employed to validate hypotheses. IV. Conclusion: The following results were drawn using structural equation modeling and hierarchical moderated regression. First, goal incongruence perceived by local retailers significantly affected conflict but role ambiguity did not. Second, consistent with conflict spiral theory, the level of conflict decreased when retailers' dependency increased toward wholesalers. Third, noncoercive influence strategies such as information exchange and recommendation implemented by wholesalers had significant effects on retailers' performance such as sales and satisfaction without conflict. On the other hand, coercive influence strategies such as threat and legalistic plea had insignificant effects on performance in spite of increasing the level of conflict. Fourth, 'guanxi', namely, relational quality between local retailers and wholesalers showed unique effects on performance. In case of noncoercive influence strategies, 'guanxi' did not play a role of moderator. Rather, relational quality and noncoercive influence strategies can serve as independent variables to enhance performance. On the other hand, when 'guanxi' was well built due to mutual trust and commitment, relational quality as a moderator can positively function to improve performance even though hostile, coercive influence strategies were implemented. Fifth, 'guanxi' significantly moderated the effects of conflict on performance. Even if conflict arises, local retailers who form solid relational quality can increase performance by dealing with dysfunctional conflict synergistically compared with low 'quanxi' retailers. In conclusion, this study verified the importance of relational quality via 'quanxi' between local retailers and wholesalers in Chinese electronic industry because relational quality could cross out the adverse effects of coercive influence strategies and conflict on performance.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.1-28
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• 2012

I. Introduction : The purpose of this study is to test empirically hypothetical causality among constructs used in previous studies to build the model of relational market behavior on customers' participation and consumer-brand relationship after introducing theories of relationship marketing, loyalty program, consumer-brand relationship, customers' participation in service marketing as previous studies with regard to relational market behavior, which Bagozzi(1995) and Peterson(1995) commented on constructs and definition suggested by Sheth and Parvatiyar (1995). For this purpose, loyalty program by the service provider, customers' participation and consumer-brand relationship as preceding variables explain relational market behavior defined by Sheth and Parvatiyar(1995). This study proposes that loyalty program as a tool of relationship marketing will be effective in that consumers' participation in marketing relationship results in a narrow range of choice(Sheth and Parvatiyar, 1995) because consumers think that their participation motive result in benefits(Peterson, 1995). Also, it is proposed that the quality of consumer-brand relationship explain the performance of relationship as well as the intermediary effect because the loyalty program could be evaluated based on relationship with customers. We reviewed the variables with regard to performance of relationship based on relation maintain in marketing literature, and then tested our hypotheses related to several performance variables including loyalty and intention of relation maintain based on the previous studies and constructs(Bendapudi and Berry, 1997 ; Bettencourt, 1997 ; Palmatier, Dant, Grewal and Evans, 2006 ; You Jae Yi and Soo Jin Lee, 2006). II. Study Model : Analyses about hypothetical causality were proceeded. The marketing effect of loyalty program on relational market behavior was empirically tested in study regarding a service provider. The research model in according to the path hypotheses (loyalty program ${\rightarrow}$ customers' participation ${\rightarrow}$ consumer-brand relationship ${\rightarrow}$ relational market behavior and loyalty program ${\rightarrow}$ consumer-brand relationship, and loyalty program ${\rightarrow}$ relational market behavior and customers' participation ${\rightarrow}$ consumer-brand relationship, and customers' participation ${\rightarrow}$ relational market behavior) proceeded as an activity for customer relation management was suggested. The main purpose of study is to see if relational market behavior could be brought as a result of developing relationship between consumers and a corporate into being stronger and more valuable when a corporate or a service provider try aggressively to build the relationship with customers (Bettencourt, 1997; Palmatier, Dant, Grewal and Evans, 2006; Sheth and Parvatiyar, 1995). III. Conclusion : The results of research into the membership fitness club, one of service areas with high level of customer participation (Bitner, Faranda, Hubbert and Zeithaml, 1997; Chase, 1978; Kelley, Donnelly, Jr. and Skinner, 1990) are as follows: First, causalities in according to path hypotheses were tested, after the preceding variables affecting relational market behavior and conceptual frame were suggested. In study, all hypotheses were supported as expected. This result confirms the proposition suggested by Sheth and Parvatiyar(1995), who claimed that intention of consumer and corporate to participate in marketing relationship brings high level of marketing productivity. Also, as a corporate or a service provider try aggressively to build relationship with customers, the relationship between consumers and a corporate can be developed into stronger and more valuable one (Bettencourt, 1997; Palmatier, Dant, Grewal and Evans, 2006). This finding supports the logic of relationship marketing. Second, because the question regarding the path hypothesis of consumer-brand relationship ${\rightarrow}$ relational market behavior are still at issue, the further analyses were conducted. In particular, there existed the mediating effects of consumer-brand relationship toward relational market behavior. Also, multiple regressions were conducted to see if which one strongly influences relational market behavior among specific question items with regard to consumer-brand relationship. As a result, the influence between items composing consumer-brand relationship and ones composing relational market behavior was different. Among items composing consumer-brand relationship, intimacy was an influence of sustaining relationship, word of mouth, and recommendation, intimacy and interdependence were influences of loyalty, intimacy and self-connection were influences of tolerance and advice. Notably, commitment among items measuring consumer-brand relationship had the negative influence with relational market behavior. This means that bringing relational market behavior is not consumer-brand relationship without personal commitment, but effort to build customer relationship like intimacy, interdependence, and self-connection. This finding confirms the results of Breivik and Thorbjornsen(2008). They reported that six variables composing the quality of consumer-brand relationship have higher explanation in regression model directly affecting performance of consumer-brand relationship. As a result of empirical analysis, among the constructs with regard to consumer-brand relationship, intimacy(B=0.512), interdependence(B=0.196), and quality of partner(B=0.153) had the effects on relation maintain. On the contrary, self-connection, love and passion, and commitment had little effect and did not show the statistical significance(p<0.05). On the other hand, intimacy(B=0.668) and interdependence(B=0.181) had the high regression estimates on word of mouth and recommendation. Regarding the effect on loyalty, explanation level of the model was high(R2=0.515), intimacy(0.538), interdependence(0.223), and quality of partner(0.177) showed the statistical significance(p<0.05). Furthermore, intimacy(0.441) had the strong effect as well as self-connection(0.201) and interdependence (0.163) had the effect on tolerance and forgive. And these three variables showed effects even on advice and suggestion, intimacy(0.373), self-connection(0.270), interdependence (0.155) respectively. Third, in study with regard to the positive effect(loyalty program ${\rightarrow}$ customers' participation, loyalty program ${\rightarrow}$ consumer-brand relationship, loyalty program ${\rightarrow}$ relational market behavior, customers' participation ${\rightarrow}$ consumer-brand relationship, customers' participation ${\rightarrow}$ relational market behavior, consumer-brand relationship ${\rightarrow}$ relational market behavior), the path hypothesis of customers' participation ${\rightarrow}$ consumer-brand relationship, was supported. The fact that path hypothesis of customers' participation ${\rightarrow}$ consumer-brand relationship was supported confirms assertion by Bitner(1995), Fournier(1994), Sheth and Parvatiyar(1995) about consumer relationship to participate in marketing relationship.

• 한국경영정보학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.06a
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• pp.493-517
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• 2008

The purpose of this research is to identify effect of communication strategy as effectively communication method which is decreasing Internet Web site users' perceived information privacy concerns as important factor affecting to positive behavior or behavioral intentions on long-term relational outcome perspectives. This study suggests alternatives concepts and causal relationship about information privacy issues. First, it addressed collaborative communication strategy (CCS) model of effective communication method for Web site's IPP to users. Second, it provided comparing and integrating streams of information privacy research on long-term relational outcomes perspective. Third, it assessed effectiveness of Web site's IPP on organization legitimacy ensured continuous survival of organization. A research model was proposed and subsequent hypotheses were empirically tested with partial least square (PLS) based on 684 responses from the users of 21 Internet Website among entirely finance, recruit, portal /e-store Web site. It was learned that CCS(as a communication method) and relationship quality(representing long-term relational outcomes)was positively associated with decreasing user's IPC more than privacy risk. Also, legitimacy to information privacy practice positively associated with willingness to information providing more than negative effect of IPC. Lastly, their association strength was partially moderated by the type of real information sensitivity.

• Proceedings of the Korean DIstribution Association Conference
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• 2006.02a
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• pp.43-78
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• 2006

While trust and commitment, essential ingredients of the relationship quality variables, are core mediating variables for the purpose of maintaining the long-term relationship, in the context of the internal political economy of company and the relational performance of its members, there have been limited studies which explore as to how each of the dimensions have affect differently. The basic purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between an automobile manufacturer and its agencies. The main purpose of this study is to examine how each different dimension of trust and commitment on the automobile manufacturer have different mediating effects in the context of internal political economy variables and relational performance perceived by its agents. Another purpose is to investigate the mechanism by which the relational performance of the agencies is improved. An empirical study surveying 115 sales office managers at a leading automobile manufacturer in Korea was conducted. An analysis of the collected data indicates that while internal political economy variables have a positive influence on the agencies' relational performance through the mediating role of trust and commitment, agencies' benevolence on its headquarter has a different influence on the dimensions of commitment. Currently, an automobile manufacturer is advised to implement the relational management philosophy in dealing with its agencies with an hope of innovative orientation for customers. In this sense, this study is a big stride in providing ample implications for the automobile manufacturer in establishing trust and commitment, which are the prerequisite conditions in developing and maintaining a successful long-term relationship with its agencies, and in improving the agency's relational performance.

• International Journal of Fuzzy Logic and Intelligent Systems
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.38-42
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• 2002

A fast iterative solving method of fuzzy relational equation is proposed. It is derived by eliminating a redundant comparison process in the conventional iterative solving method (Pedrycz, 1983). The proposed method is applied to image reconstruction, and confirmed that the computation time is decreased to 1 / 40 with the compression rate of 0.0625. Furthermore, in order to make any initial solution converge on a reconstructed image with a good quality, a new cost function is proposed. Under the condition that the compression rate is 0.0625, it is confirmed that the root mean square error of the proposed method decreases to 27.34% and 86.27% compared with those of the conventional iterative method and a non iterative image reconstruction method, respectively.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.165-194
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• 1996

Data distribution is one of the most important steps in distributed database design. This paper proposes a methodology for distributing database by using a relational schema as an input. A design support system called DBDD (Database Distribution Design) is implemented within the framework of this methodology. The methodology consists of three phases such as (i) schema analysis, (ii) fragmentation, and (iii) allocation. In the schema analysis phase, all the table names are acquired from a global relational schema. In the fragmentation phase, fragments are generated according to transaction retrieval patterns. Furthermore, DBDD enhances the design quality by allocating fragments in a progressive manner. A real-life case is illustrated to demonstrate the practical usefulness of the DBDD.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.155-179
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• 2016

The rapid changing technology and globalization allow consumers get information and new products or services faster, have more choices than before, which might be causing more competitive and more uncertain demand. The relationship quality between enterprises positively influence the relational performance. Through this research, enterprises should realize the importance of relationship learning to improve the competitive advantage. Also this research provide the strategic solutions to promote the relationship learning. this is considered to be able to present an improved directionality of the relationship between the buyer and the supplier. In addition, from the perspective of policy, this research provides implications for large enterprises and SMEs to promote their coexistence relation. The empirical model of this paper is established on basis of previous research. The empirical results show that: first, as the influence factors, relation solidarity level, environmental uncertainty, learning intension affect relationship learning, whilst special transaction assets influence information shared and relationship memory and have no effect on mutual understanding; second, relationship learning influence on relational performance and this influence relation becomes stronger if the relationship trust is higher.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2006.10a
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• pp.253-255
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• 2006

Grey relational analysis has been carried out to develop a new approach for optimization of Nd:YAG laser and MIG hybrid welding parameters. The quality of welded material depends on welding parameters. The parameters chosen for current study include wire type, shielding gas, laser energy, laser focus, traveling speed, and wire feed rate. The welding experiments were performed on 6K21-T4 aluminum alloy sheet. Functional demands on products may vary widely depending on their use. The ultimate tensile stress, width, and penetration were chosen as the optimization criterion. Practice based on an orthogonal array which is following Taguchi's method has been progressed. Base on the results of grey relational analysis, the optimal process parameters were obtained. This integrated work was judged and it is observed that the results obtained by using the optimal parameters are much improved compared to those obtained through initial setting.