• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.149-172
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• 2009

Service industries nowadays have become the subject of a scientific research. However, unlike research on manufacturing, there has not yet been a broader presentation of important aspects theoretically and methodologically. The importance of service sector in both national and global economies has grown significantly. An active participation of service industries in the internationalization process, notably by licensing and FDI, has occurred over time. But a few sub-sectors still dominate on this process, for example, financial institutions such as banks, securities, and insurance as well as producer services in advertising and accounting. On the other hand, personal services that are owned by small- and medium- sized firm have limited capabilities in their transnational transfer. This paper attempts to examine various factors influencing decisions for these small- and medium- sized Korean beauty firms in entering to the foreign markets. Determining factors for these firms in the engagement of internationalization depends largely on competitive advantages in both domestic and host countries, and they may be different from those in the sub-sectors mentioned above. Based on previous researches, i identified three categories of independent variables(characteristics of firms, managers, and competition) that can influence decisions to enter to the foreign markets. Seven hypotheses have been tested by using a sample of beauty firms in Daegu city and Kyungbuk province. The results show that the intention of these firms to enter to the foreign markets is significantly influenced by the factors of the innovative character of CEO's, the competitiveness of firms, and size of firms.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.233-241
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• 2017

This study has attempted to empirically analyze the mediating effects of small and medium venture firms' manufacturing capability and testing and inspection capability on the relation between their external information network heterogeneity and technology commercialization capability with a view to diversifying the research stream on the influential factors to small and medium firms' technology commercialization capability. By performing the ordinary least squares regression analysis, the Sobel test, and the Baron and Kenny test based on the 683 data of South Korean small and medium venture firms with the IBM SPSS version 23, this study provides the three empirical findings to be useful for future studies on the roles of small and medium venture firms' the manufacturing capability and testing and inspection capability. First, small and medium venture firms' manufacturing capability partially mediates the positive effect of their external information network heterogeneity on their technology commercialization capability. Second, their testing and inspection capability partially mediates this positive effect. Third, their manufacturing capability and testing and inspection capability jointly and partially mediates this positive effect.

• Journal of Korea Society of Industrial Information Systems
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2000

This study objectively in examines materials related to factory rationalization of D Corp., a regionally based enterprise. One reason that previous factory rationalizations have not been all that effective is that each firm has not used strategies specially designed for it Despite the fact that each firm has a different culture, and different human and physical resources, the application of rationalization without any modifications has produced many problems. In order to stabilize the production system and reduce the capacity of the factory, D Corp. changed the basic 5 S's and stimulated the factory atmosphere through computer education. Rationalization stabilized and standardized the factory, and organized the physical resources and each area of the factory according to their place in the process of production. It also made improvements that verified the party responsible for the flow of the complex production system, and simplified analysis supervision of production, and ex post management. We think that the successful example of D Corp. can serve as a real, tangible model for small and medium regionally-based firms to follow.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.101-118
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• 1999

Factory automation(FA) is a part of technological innovation to make production process more efficient and it also facilitates technological innovation by accumulating the internalization ability of newly imported technology Introduction of FA, however, does not guarantee the increase of production efficiency and high product quality, moreover, the competitiveness of firm. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between firm's behavioral characteristics during implementation process of FA and organizational performance, and to find out success factors of FA. Results of the case studies for 4 SME's show that financial stability and the fitness between corporate strategy and the purpose of FA are the necessary conditions for successful implementation of FA. But the organizational restructuring for new manufacturing system, openness of all communication channels, and common mind of employees are also needed to achieve the high degree of performance from FA, especially the benefits of qualitative or organizational level.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.87-100
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• 2012

This study is to determine the key factors of internal situational characteristics, affecting the motivation and performance for overseas expansion of Korean venture business in global markets and to investigate the moderating effect of them on the relationship between entrepreneurship and overseas expansion. To meet the research purpose, by reviewing previous researches, we categorized internal factors into four situational factors of firm size with sales growth, firm age with main product's life cycle, overseas experience and organizational structure and into three entrepreneurship sub-categories of innovativeness, pro-activeness and risk-taking. As result of the statistical analysis of 289 small and medium-sized enterprises with Korean Venture Certificate, it is verified that the motivation for globalization has been influenced by firm size, entrepreneurship, and overseas experience. On the other hand, all factors excepting firm size have positive effects on globalization performance overseas. And, it also verified that there are positive moderating effects of internal situational factors on the relationship of entrepreneurship and the performance of globalization, wheres overseas experience only plays positive moderating effects on the relationship between entrepreneurship and the motivation of globalization. On the basis of these results, we discussed and suggested practical and political issues and implications in order to vitalize globalization of Korean SMEs in the conclusion.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.111-125
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• 2008

The management of organizational Human Resource is steadily shifting away from pure hierarchical to market mechanisms that involve external vendors. HR Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) has recently emerged as a significant administrative innovation in an organization's strategy. Our paper attempts to understand firm-specific factors influencing the scope of HR BPO needs. Study results show that IT maturity and firm size are influential factors on the scope of HR BPO needs. We hope that our attempt at empirically examining and predicting this emergent phenomenon will stimulate others to look at this important strategic challenge facing firms from a theoretical perspective. Such research initiatives will allow us not only to better understand this complex phenomenon, but also to drive useful management prescriptions grounded on theory-based research.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.325-333
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• 2022

This study examined the influence of three elements of individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO), namely innovativeness, risk-taking, and proactiveness on the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). It is worth noting that SMEs have experienced low productivity, low profit, and low performance during the COVID-19 pandemic era. Although several studies have shown that entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is a key factor of company performance, few have focused on IEO. This study employed a quantitative research design because all variables were measurable. It used a questionnaire to survey 384 SMEs in the service sector and employed structural equation modeling (SEM) in data analysis. The findings suggested that SMEs' performance was influenced by risk-taking and proactiveness. This could be related to the fact that SMEs have a less formal structure, allowing owner-managers to take risks and make quick decisions. Furthermore, high performance was ensured by being very sensitive to market trends and changes in the business environment. Innovativeness was not a significant factor in influencing the performance of SMEs. Perhaps it was rather difficult for SME owner-managers to be innovative due to the lack of various resources. This study successfully re-confirmed the effect of IEO on business performance and highlighted the importance of risk-taking and proactiveness in improving the performance of SMEs.

• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.19-43
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• 2004

This study was motivated by a practical need for estimating the macroeconomic effect of government IT Promotion investment, specifically for micro and small firms. Small firms have been in a disadvantageous position to adopt and utilize new IT compared with medium or large-sized firms. Small firms don't have enough resource to acquire IT in general, therefore private IT companies don't have much incentive to develop IT services and products for small firms. Lack of feasible IT solutions for small firms again restricted active IT adoption of small firms. Government recognized the vicious cycle, therefore decided to promote private IT companies to develop IT services and products for small firms's. Our main concern was to identify a relevant government supporting Policy, especially in the amount and the period. To do this, we first constructed a system dynamics simulation model to Investigate important factors and causal relationships among them. Simulation results showed 2.19% of GDP contribution and 0.16% of employment contribution in max from small firms' IT adoption. Also we could find that investing proper amount for a short period would be for better than maintaining Investing small amount for a long period.

• 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.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.411-417
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• 2021

This study aims to estimate the production function and total factor productivity (TFP) of Vietnamese seafood processing firms. At the same time, the study analyses the impact of internal factors of firms and the quality of economic institutions on the TFP of the Vietnamese seafood processing industry. The study uses the Function Control (FC) approach in TFP estimation and the Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) regression model in the analysis of factors affecting TFP. The study was carried out on the census data of enterprises of the Vietnamese seafood processing industry collected by the Vietnamese General Statistics Office and Provincial Competitiveness Index data of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the period from 2013 to 2018. Estimated results from the models show that: i) Vietnamese seafood processing firms are, currently, mainly labor-intensive, the TFP contribution and output is only about 2.258. ii) Factors such as the firm's age, firm's size, and the firm's ownership affect TFP. In which, firms that have few numbers of years of operation, small and medium firms, and private firms have low TFP. iii) Institutional quality and the provincial business environment have a positive impact on the TFP of Vietnamese seafood processing firms in this period.