• Korean small business review
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.19-37
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• 2009

The purpose of this research is to explore differences between small and medium-sized companies and large-sized companies in the impact of human resource innovativeness(HRI), learning orientation(LO), and HRI-LO interaction on innovation effect and business performance. Although learning orientation has long been considered as a key factor influencing good performance of a business, little research was devoted to exploring the effect of HRI-LO interaction on innovation effect and business performance. In this study, it is investigated whether there is a synergy effect between innovative human workforce and learning orientation corporate culture, in addition to each by itself, to generate good business performance as well as a success of new innovations in the market. Research hypotheses were as follows, including H1) human resource innovativeness(HRI), learning orientation(LO), and interactions of HRI and LO(HRI-LO interaction) positively affect innovation effect, H2) there is a difference of the effect of HRI, LO, and HRI-LO interaction on innovation effect between large-sized and small-sized companies, H3) HRI, LO, HRI-LO interaction, innovation effect positively affect business performance, and H4) there is a difference of the effect of HRI, LO, HRI-LO interaction, and innovation effect on business performance between large-sized and small-sized companies. Data were obtained from 479 practitioners through a web survey since the web survey is an efficient method to collect a national data at a variety of fields. A single respondent from a company was allowed to participate in the study after checking whether they have more than 5-year work experiences in the company. To check whether a common source bias is existed in the sample, additional data from a convenient sample of 97 companies were gathered through the traditional survey method, and were used to confirm correlations between research variables of the original sample and the additional sample. Data were divided into two groups according to company size, such as 352 small and medium-sized companies with less than 300 employees and 127 large-sized companies with 300 or more employees. Data were analyzed through t-test and regression analyses. HRI which is the innovativeness of human resources in the company was measured with 9 items assessing the innovativenss of practitioners in staff, manager, and executive-level positions. LO is the company's effort to encourage employees' development, sharing, and utilizing of knowledge through consistent learning. LO was measured by 18 items assessing commitment to learning, vision sharing, and open-mindedness. Innovation effect which assesses a success of new products/services in the market, was measured with 3 items. Business performance was measured by respondents' evaluations on profitability, sales increase, market share, and general business performance, compared to other companies in the same field. All items were measured by using 6-point Likert scales. Means of multiple items measuring a construct were used as variables based on acceptable reliability and validity. To reduce multi-collinearity problems generated on the regression analysis of interaction terms, centered data were used for HRI, LO, and Innovation effect on regression analyses. In group comparison, large-sized companies were superior on annual sales, annual net profit, the number of new products/services in the last 3 years, the number of new processes advanced in the last 3 years, and the number of R&D personnel, compared to small and medium-sized companies. Also, large-sized companies indicated a higher level of HRI, LO, HRI-LO interaction, innovation effect and business performance than did small and medium-sized companies. The results indicate that large-sized companies tend to have more innovative human resources and invest more on learning orientation than did small-sized companies, therefore, large-sized companies tend to have more success of a new product/service in the market, generating better business performance. In order to test research hypotheses, a series of multiple-regression analysis was conducted. In the regression analysis examining the impact on innovation effect, important results were generated as : 1) HRI, LO, and HRI-LO affected innovation effect, and 2) company size indicated a moderating effect. Based on the result, the impact of HRI on innovation effect would be greater in small and medium-sized companies than in large-sized companies whereas the impact of LO on innovation effect would be greater in large-sized companies than in small and medium-sized companies. In other words, innovative workforce would be more important in making new products/services that would be successful in the market for small and medium-sized companies than for large-sized companies. Otherwise, learning orientation culture would be more effective in making successful products/services for large-sized companies than for small and medium-sized companies. Based on these results, research hypotheses 1 and 2 were supported. In the analysis of a regression examining the impact on business performance, important results were generated as : 1) innovation effect, LO, and HRI-LO affected business performance, 2) HRI by itself did not have a direct effect on business performance regardless of company size, and 3) company size indicated a moderating effect. Specifically, an effect of the HRI-LO interaction on business performance was stronger in large-sized companies than in small and medium-sized companies. It means that the synergy effect of innovative human resources and learning orientation culture tends to be stronger as company is larger. Referring to these result, research hypothesis 3 was partially supported whereas hypothesis 4 was supported. Based on research results, implications for companies were generated. Regardless of company size, companies need to develop the learning orientation corporate culture as well as human resources' innovativeness together in order to achieve successful development of innovative products and services as well as to improve sales and profits. However, the effectiveness of the HRI-LO interaction would be varied by company size. Specifically, the synergy effect of HRI-LO was stronger to make a success of new products/services in small and medium-sized companies than in large-sized companies. However, the synergy effect of HRI-LO was more effective to increase business performance of large-sized companies than that of small and medium-sized companies. In the case of small and medium-sized companies, business performance was achieved more through the success of new products/services than much directly affected by HRI-LO. The most meaningful result of this study is that the effect of HRI-LO interaction on innovation effect and business performance was confirmed. It was often ignored in the previous research. Also, it was found that the innovativeness of human workforce would not directly influence in generating good business performance, however, innovative human resources would indirectly affect making good business performance by contributing to achieving the development of new products/services that would be successful in the market. These findings would provide valuable managerial implications specifically in regard to the development of corporate culture and education program of small and medium-sized as well as large-sized companies in a variety of fields.

• Proceedings of the Korean Operations and Management Science Society Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.219-222
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• 2003

This paper is to propose e-business strategies for individual SME's(small and medium-sized enterprises). e-business maturity model is used to assess e-business maturity level of a target SME, and then corresponding e-business strategy is proposed based on the current maturity level. We studied two SME's to show how it works. Most SME's are small and do not have enough resources to invest on information systems. As it turns out, e-business strategies of SME should heavily depend on its relationship with customers and suppliers. One of the studied SME's is found to be in higher maturity level, because its manufacturing system is tightly related to its customer. One of major implications of this study is that e-business level of SME's should be upgraded considering how it is doing business with its customers and suppliers.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.61-75
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of quality management system requirements, a management innovation technique, on business performance to secure the competitiveness of SMEs in an environment of increasing uncertainty in the global economy and intensifying competition. To this end, a survey was conducted on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating a quality management system, and statistical analysis was performed through validity and reliability analysis, regression analysis, and group analysis using IBM SPSS 26.0. As a result of the study, it was found that planning, operation, support, and improvement, which are the core requirements of a quality management system, have a positive effect on business performance. In addition, through group analysis, it was found that the effect of quality management system requirements on business performance varies according to the level of the company. This means that the importance of quality management requirements required for strategy establishment varies according to the quality management introduction level of small and medium-sized manufacturers, and it can be used for small and medium-sized manufacturers to set strategic directions.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.1-16
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• 2003

ERP implementations are known to be unusually difficult, even when compared to other large-scale systems developing in a firm level, because it requires a substantial investment of time, money, and internal resources. Moreover, medium and small-sized enterprises that are increasingly adopting ERP feel much difficult due to the lack of resources. To promote the spread of ERP in medium and small-sized enterprises, "ERP template standardization methodology" led by government has been used for constructing ERP system in Korea. In this study, we present a study to measure fitness between ERP standard templates and business processes of 10 small enterprises in 5 industries. Also, we define a fitness measure suitable for this purpose. We car find that ERP template standardization methodology is partly adequate to establish ERP systems and it is required to add to templates which support the differences of business process.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.140-155
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• 2004

Six Sigma Management has been introduced as a management strategy by leading companies and some small and medium-sized companies in Korea. But it is not easy for small and medium-sized companies to implement this new management system because of their business environment such as poor manpower or lack of time, etc. This paper proposes an effective implementation model of the Six Sigma Management for small and medium-sized companies using the management by process. First, We review the concept of Six Sigma Management and consider the problems of introducing the system for small and medium-sized companies. And then, Six Sigma Management model for small and medium-sized companies named SIX SIGMA-s is presented. Finally, we present a case study of applying SIX SIGMA-s for a medium- sized company.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.1-16
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• 2018

The decline in the construction industry has led to a decrease the profitability of small and medium-sized landscape contractors. To relieve this situation, small and medium-sized landscape contractors have continued to proactively find ways to enter global construction markets. However, many small and medium-sized landscape contractors face risks due to their lack of capacity and insufficient preparations to extend the business abroad. Thus, this study aims to analyze the current condition of the Vietnamese construction market and the related risk factors. It then suggests strategies to improve the small and medium-sized landscape contractors' competitiveness in that market. We investigated the business climate and analyzed risk factors. Finally, we developed expansion strategies and conducted in-depth interviews with six overseas construction professionals. The study results first showed that efforts to improve infrastructure and the increased demand for housing in Vietnam will lead to more opportunities for small and medium-sized landscape contractors entering the Vietnamese construction market. However, changes in the Vietnamese business climate may act as a variable. Second, we found that small and medium-sized landscape contractors' risk factors are mainly related to laws and regulations, government finance, market fluctuations, public administration system, minimum wage increases, financing and bonds, contracting, trees and materials, and design errors. Finally, small and medium-sized landscape contractors are required to consider the following when seeking to enter the Vietnamese construction market: short-term strategy and mid-to-long-term strategy. This study will be used as the basis for small and medium-sized landscape contractors to plan to enter the Vietnamese construction market and to contribute to the expansion of the global construction market in the landscape industry.

• The Journal of Society for e-Business Studies
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.1-15
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• 1998

A major effect of electronic commerce on the Internet is that it reduces transaction costs and creates an efficient market. Thus, an information strategy for developing of regional economy must be changed toward 21st century of electronic commerce era. In this paper, we present an information strategy for activating the electronic commerce of regional small and medium-sized business organizations. The paper stresses creation of a network organization comprising local government, regional business organizations, universities, research institutes, and citizens' coalitions as groups of organizational actors. Necessary conditions of a successful network organization in electronic commerce are to build the public key infrastructure for developing the trust of transactions among partners, and to create an information center to manage a web of partners. In the network organization, the information center must play critical roles as a creator of value and the certification authority in order to issue and manage participants' electronic certificates.

• 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.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.133-151
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• 2007

In the era of 21st new century. reinforcement of regional competitiveness by establishing innovation system is taking its place of main small and medium sized enterprise policies in major developed countries. The model of regional balanced development for promoting small and medium sized enterprise is a main frame of governmental small and medium sized enterprise policies. which complements national innovation process. And in the level of local area, the model is regional network system, molded in the process of induction, application, modification, proliferation of new technologies and knowledge by local businessman and innovators. This study focused on the strategy development for small and medium sized businesses to increase local competitive power, in terms of regional balanced development. In order to find the real problems and improvement alternatives for local competitive power, this study both reviewed the common strategies and action programs advanced in developed countries for small businesses, and did research on the current economic conditions in local area. Based on the lessons from foreign cases and the analysis of the current situations in small business in local area, the study suggested the model of regional balanced development for promoting small and medium sized enterprise including formation of innovation network system through the invitation of leading firms in the area, industry-university partnerships, and development and attraction for small and medium sized businesses.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.8
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• pp.567-576
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• 2020

This study develops a mediating model to explore the relationships between organizational characteristics, manager's knowledge, management commitment, user involvement, information quality, and management information system effectiveness in small- and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam. Adapting scales from previous research, the authors designed questionnaires, which they distributed to respondents in Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises. Also, by employing a meta-analytic path analysis throughout structural equation modelling (SEM) with sample of 356 respondents, authors indicate that organizational characteristics are directly related to management information systems effectiveness. Moreover, manager's knowledge, user involvement, and information quality show their important roles in the increase of management information system effectiveness, yet management commitment does not indicate a similar role in the growth of management information system effectiveness. Bootstrapping is utilized to discover the meditating role of information quality, illustrating that quality information mediates the linkages between user involvement, organizational characteristics, and management information systems. However, the mediating role of information quality in the relationship between management commitment, manager's knowledge, and management information systems is not significant. This study contributes to the management information system literature as well as to enhance MIS effects in small and medium-sized enterprises.