• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.93-110
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• 2022

Korea, a resource-scarce country, has been undergoing export-led economic growth in the form of processing and intermediary trade for the past several decades. In Korea, which has an export-led economic structure centered on processing trade, the export economy precedes the domestic economy, so Korea's monthly export performance has been used as an important indicator of economic indicators in itself. In recent decades, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for 99% of the total number of domestic enterprises, account for about 35% of exports as of 2021. In this study, from the viewpoint of emphasizing the export contribution of SMEs, the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Export Business Index is developed based on the actual export performance of SMEs, through which this paper could present alternative index differentiated from the existing Business Survey Indexes.

• The Journal of Economics, Marketing and Management
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.15-25
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• 2019

Purpose - This paper attempts to derive effective performance-reward strategies for SMEs to raise the valence for their employees while using their relatively limited resources, which is one of the primary concerns raised by SME CEOs. Research design, data, and methodology - This paper draws on the four question items such as the financial/direct factors, the financial/indirect factors, the non-financial/direct factors and the non-financial/indirect performance-reward factors to shed light on the most important factors and aspects that need improving, using the AHP and IPA. Results - The overall findings on the SMEs' performance-reward factors of interest here are indicative of the need for rectifying their performance-reward systems. Conclusions - SMEs' performance-reward factors of interest here are indicative of the need for rectifying their performance-reward systems. In particular, despite the fact that SMEs can hardly offer high wages or bonuses as large enterprises do, the expectancy theory suggests it is better to reward employees as per a valid common system, while the equity theory underscores the need to maintain and reinforce the fairness in distribution, procedures and interactions.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.605-629
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• 2013

The aim of this study is analyzing the factors and performance related to the entry control mode when a SME advances into the global market. For this, the strategic factor of the SME was divided into the enterprise capabilities consisting of technology commercial capability, internal capability, and global capability of enterprise and information capabilities that are the capabilities on the global market and on the advanced technology. In the empirical study, a total of 27 variables that include the control variables and the financial and non-financial variables as a performance variable was used. The hypothesis was also established for analyzing the effect of the entry strategies on the entry control mode and the effect of the mode on performance. Logistic regression was conducted for verifying the hypothesis, and Multiple regression analysis and T-test were carried out on the additional analysis related to the performance.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.101-118
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• 2016

With regards to CSR, Proactive CSR has been less researched in small & medium enterprises(SMEs). This research examines empirically the relation between SME's organizational capabilities, proactive CSR and corporate performance as well as a mediating role of proactive CSR between capabilities and corporate performance. Using quantitative data collected from 485 SMEs in Korea, we find that all specified capabilities are positively related with adoption of proactive CSR by SMEs and that proactive CSR is, in turn, associated with an improvement in corporate performance. In addition, we also find a mediating role of proactive CSR on the relationship between organizational capabilities and performance. The study is likely to contribute to both SMEs CSR strategy and RBV research.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1-18
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• 2021

Purpose - In this study, we explore the relationship between the degree of internationalization (DOI) and firm performance (DOI-P) of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector. Specifically, we investigate whether the costs and benefits dynamics concerning the internationalization of SMEs differ between high-tech and non-high-tech industries. Design/methodology - We extend the prior literature on this relationship by employing 5-year data on 589 Korean SMEs in the manufacturing sector and examining the moderating impact of the industry characteristics. Our findings reveal a U-shaped relationship between the DOI and SME performance. High-tech SMEs demonstrate an inverted U-shaped relationship, whereas non-hightech SMEs exhibit a U-shaped relationship. Findings - Our findings illustrate the importance of the industry factor in testing the performance impact of the internationalization of Korean SMEs. By incorporating industry dynamics, our results indicate that the DOI-P relationship depends on the context of the industry in which an SME operates. High-tech SMEs also display a higher DOI but are outperformed by non-high-tech SMEs for the entire internationalization path, which implies that high-tech SMEs face more challenges than non-high-tech SMEs while seeking internationalization. Originality/value - The findings strongly validate that significant benefits exist for SMEs undertaking internationalization. We also employ the contextual framework contributing to increasing the understanding of the intrinsic value of internationalization and resolving the mixed results issue on the DOI-P relationship, by illustrating that the industry factor leads to different dynamics of costs and benefits of SME internationalization; it also determines the shape and direction of the relationship.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.57-82
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• 2022

As the strategy to support SMEs' innovation has shifted to induce market-oriented innovation, the Korean government increasingly invests in grant-type R&D projects proposed by SME firms. This study reveals the characteristics of grant-type R&D projects proposed by SME firms through a transition of national R&D strategy and demand-pull innovation perspectives. This study also examines the differences between grant-type R&D projects proposed by firms and R&D projects led by the government through logit-analysis and propensity score matching methods. As a result, we found that a national R&D project for SMEs yields better innovation performance when the project is proposed by a company than led by the government.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.295-314
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the factors affecting productivity performance for Korean SMEs of manufacturing which had obtained the certification of Productivity Management System(PMS) that is a Korean assessment program for enhancing maturity of company's management systems. Methods: The proposed model is based on the PMS model. The valid 759 data registered from 2010 to 2018 year was analyzed using SEM analysis for testing hypotheses. Results: The results are as follows. First, Leadership affects the five core sub-system processes positively, but doesn't a significant Business Performance directly. Secondly, HRM, Customer & Market Analysis, and Process Management excluding Productivity Development and Measurement Analysis and Knowledge Management have a significant effect on Business Performance. Lastly, when examining the mediation effect, Process Development, Customer & Market Analysis, and HRM have indirectly effect between Leadership and Business Performance. Conclusion: This study results suggest not only the role of leadership to improve productivity performance of SME, but also which core processes are focused and differentiated.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.229-253
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• 2012

There has been various government SME R&D programs and the increase of budget which amount to 15.8% CAGR over the last 10 years, in order to support the research and development of SMEs which accounts for over 99% of our nation's total number of companies. To investigate the factors which affect the ROI of the Government R&D project for SMEs, we conducted Tobit and Logistic regression analysis on the 1237 projects of 'Technology Innovation Program for SME' which is one of the major programs of the Korea Small and Medium Business Administration. The empirical results of this study are as follows. Application or registration of patent or certification while performing the project, positively affect the financial performance of the government R&D project. And we can also find that, according to the technology field, patent and certification have a markedly different effect on ROI of the project. The results of this study suggest that planning, evaluation, and managing of government SME R&D project should be performed with the consideration of the effect of patent and certification on the economic performance, according to the technology field of the project.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.197-220
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• 2012

This study is to understand those determinants of performance differences of Korean small and medium firm's subsidiaries in Vietnam based on the resource based view. We have visited 21 Korean SME's subsidiaries in Hochiminh city area in Vietnam and interviewed CEO of those subsidiaries for 1-2 hours to make each case. Based on case content analysis, we can get those results that eight management capabilities such as securing competent local managers, clear and smooth communication with local employees, establishing good labor-management relations, raising the rate of factory operation and subcontracting, firm specific quality control system, timely financing, establishing good relationships with local communities, and fostering friendly relations with local public officers are major determinants of performance differences. Also we can know that various factors including local experiences in Vietnam have influenced those management capabilities. To be a high performer in Vietnam, foreign subsidiaries of Korean SMEs have to build and develop major management capabilities continuously.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.7
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• pp.571-578
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• 2021

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in 2020, had a significant impact on the economy and business activities worldwide. Large companies, as well as small businesses were affected, many of them had to scale down or divert their businesses, and some even had to stop. This extraordinary situation requires business people to make innovations and adjustments to survive during a pandemic. Entering the digital era, business players are helped by the ease of internet access, which will make it easier for SME players to get data from their consumers. Business actors can use this data to innovate and create new creations to improve business performance during this pandemic. This research aims to identify how small and medium enterprises can take advantage of Big Data to improve marketing performance through innovation and value creation. The research methodology used the in this research is quantitative method. The respondents are SME producers of food and beverage, with a total of 150 respondents. The results in the study indicate that all the proposed hypotheses are accepted. The most significant influence is found on the relationship of Big Data to value creation. The lowest effect was obtained from the relationship between Big Data and marketing performance through the mediation variable and innovation capability.