• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.61-81
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• 2007

A typical small firm in consumer goods sectors of developing countries is an OEM supplier to big MNCs. Lacking design and marketing capability, a small firm relies on the MNCs for survival but their long term growth is not guaranteed as the MNCs are always looking for, and ready to relocate to, cheaper production sites. In this light, we can say that there is something like "OEM trap" from which most firms from LDCs find difficult to move out (Lee 2005). In this situation, one way for long term growth and catch-up is to make a transition to the OBM (own brand manufacturer). But, the transition is not easy or even risky. This paper analyzes the cases of three companies in Korea to find out common features in their successful transition to OBM. They are Aurora World (a flush toy maker), Hankook Chinaware (a chinaware maker), and Hanacobi (a plastic-made food container maker with the Lock-and-Lock brand). These firms can be commonly characterized by 1) arranging access to external knowledge base and steady increase of in-house R&D efforts and capabilities leading to acquisition of formal IPRs and their management, and 2) establishment of global production networks with factories in lower-income countries as well as their own independent global marketing network.

• IE interfaces
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.471-478
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• 2000

One of the most important problems encountered by parcel transportation firms or LTL (Less-than-truckload) firms is the planning of daily linehaul operations. The transportation firm's goal is to determine the most efficient way to move all freight from its originating terminal to its destination terminal after each shipment is picked up from the shipping dock. The purpose of this study is to design a transportation system and develop an efficient scheduling algorithm for linehaul operations carrying small amount of shipment. This paper presents three approaches for efficient linehaul operations. The first approach examines drivers using the roundtrips which start from a terminal, visit several terminals, and return to the starting terminal. The second approach uses a freight assembly center where drivers take freight for a number of destination terminals which they then swap for freight for their starting terminal. The third approach is similar to the second approach in that it uses a transshipment point like a freight assembly terminal for shipment, but it has several transshipment points since each shipment may have a different transshipment point. In this study, we developed a mathematical formulation and algorithm for each approach. The experimental results using data of a LTL firm show that the third approach is more efficient than the other two. Mileage and overnight stays of the third approach are reduced by 10% and 30%, respectively.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.9
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• pp.341-350
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• 2020

This study aims to verify the relationship between overseas activities and performance of Korea's SMEs during the last financial crisis. Whether overseas activity performance of enterprises differed was determined based on characteristic variables, including the degree of concentration on R&D and marketing. This study also examined how SMEs' international transactions and their performance differed based on internal variable such as the level of stock holding and firm size. This study developed a model for analyzing the relationship between the level of internationalization and performance of Koran SMEs listed in the KOSDAQ. We used firm-level data, including annual reports and various data sources such as the KISVALUE program. To smooth annual fluctuations in accounting data, we used a three-year average from 2006 to 2009 for each variable in the study. The results showed that proactive overseas activities ultimately had a positive effect on an enterprise's performance, even though it initially had a negative effect. Therefore, enterprises should focus their capacity on R&D and marketing environment. Although numerous studies have focused on the relationship between overseas activities and performance of enterprises, the present study analyzed whether enterprises should continuously engage in overseas activities and what capacities they should strengthen during a global economic recession.

• Proceedings of the Korea Technology Innovation Society Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.227-245
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• 2000

Korean firms have attempted to catch up in the aircraft industry during last quarter century. Korean firms have built up their capabilities by moving from parts manufacturing through subassembly to system integration. The number of projects carried out and the intensity of technological effort undertaken by firms strongly influences market position and firm performance. However, successful catching up is not simply dependent on capability building within the firm. The national environment (Porter, 1990) in which firms are located plays a pivotal role. The Korean government has been effective in creating a favorable environ-ment in many areas, but has not been able to replicate this success in the aircraft industry. Opportunities for learning in the aircraft industry have been hampered by the small size of the Korean civilian aircraft market and the sophisticated requirements of military systems. A policy of domestic rivalry in airframe manufacture has created too many firms for such a small market. The ability of Korean firms to catch up in the aircraft industry depends on both the internal capabilities of firms as well as appropriate government policies and the involve- ment of government research institutions and universities over an extended period of time. There have been many studies about the catching up of developing countries in mass production (such as automobile, consumer electronics, and recently DRAM), but few in complex systems, such as aircraft.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.329-338
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• 2021

The mobile payment system has not only changed the payment pattern but also has improved the performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individuals' quality of life by saving their energy, reducing the risk of taking cash, and enabling them to give more time to businesses and do international business. Besides, with the current advancement in the Internet as well as the digital transformation, SMEs are being forced to adopt mobile payment systems (MPS). The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of technological-organizational-environmental (TOE) determinants on the adoption of MPS and its impact on SMEs' firm performance operating in Ghana. This research employed a closed-ended questionnaire to collect data from January 2020 - April 2020. This study used a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach using SmartPLS 3.0 for path analysis of 145 responses. The findings of the study include the statistically significant effects of technological (relative advantage and compatibility), organizational (top management support and employees' readiness), and environmental (social influence and competitive pressure) factors on the adoption of MPS. Furthermore, this study also proved the positive and statistically significant effect of MPS on SMEs' performance. This study demonstrated that the TOE factor explains 70% variations in the adoption of MPS.

• 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 the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.157-167
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• 2012

The purpose of this paper is to develop an OLAP (online analytical processing) database system that supports the SMBA (Small and medium Business Administration) policy funding. A heterogeneous dimension schema will be central in staged support of policy funds. In this paper, therefore, we designed the FREQUENCY dimension table which has a heterogeneous dimension schema structure. In this paper, we made a model of measuring SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) size first. The model is composed of six determinants of firm growth such as sales, employment, own technology, the operating profit to sales ratio, the debt ratio, and the current ratio. We developed the OLAP database system by using three dimensions including the FREQUENCY dimension, and using the model of measuring SME size. Also we assessed past decisions on policy funding in the Small Business Policy Funds Support Project (2004-2007) by using the OLAP database system.

• Industry Promotion Research
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.63-69
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• 2016

This study analyzed the effect of Chung-nam province small manufaturing firm male workers' participation in training on perceptions of effectiveness. The study results showed that Off-the-job training satisfaction significantly affected satisfaction of training system and helpfulness of self-development. It means that workers considered lecture or e-learning method is better than on-the-job training, so it is suggested that small manufacturing businesses should establish more organized training system for on-the-job training because workers' perception of satisfaction and effectiveness of OJT was lower than Off-JT. This study provided implications for verifying the effectiveness depend on the type of training and presenting important points to enhance workers' satisfaction of education and training.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.341-350
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• 2023

Purpose - How are gains from trade distributed between countries when economic integration is achieved through free trade? The purpose of this paper is to answer this question. Design/methodology/approach - This study attempts to address the issue of distribution of trade gains between participating countries following economic integration in terms of positive economics. The analysis is therefore based on a theoretical methodology. Findings - First, commodity prices fall and consumer surplus increases in both large and small countries. Second, when economic integration into free trade is achieved, gains from trade always exist in small countries. However, the size of trade gains depends on the degree of difference from the market size of the partner country, the large country. However, the size of the gains from trade depends on the extent of difference between the market size of the large country. If the market size of a large country is much larger and there is a large difference, trade gains will be very large, whereas if the market size is similar, profits of domestic firm will decrease. Therefore, in that case, the size of the gains from trade becomes relatively small because only the gains from exchange exists. On the other hand, in a large country with a large market size, there is a possibility of trade gains only when the market size is similar to that of a small country, which is a trading partner. However, if there is a large difference in market size, the decrease in profits of domestic firm is relatively larger than the increase in consumer surplus due to trade, and rather, a trade loss occurs. Research implications or Originality - Our analysis contributes to filling the gaps in the literature regarding the distribution of gains from trade, and from a policy point of view, it is meaningful in examining the impact of market size, an important variable considered in regional economic integration of countries.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.139-160
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• 2012

Win-win growth between large companies and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) become a critical encomic and social issue in Korea. Korea government has been attempted to establish strong policy to build right win-win relationship between large companies and SMEs. Along with this strong drive from Korea government, a variety of strategies that enhance win-win relationships between large companies and SMEs have been adopted. Win-win growth policy is expected to provide positive impact on sustainable competitive advantage of firms. Therefore, many studies have focused on the win-win growth policy success factors, type of the policy, and the results of the policy. Although there is much literature on the win-win growth policy, the effects of win-win policy on firm value is not well understood. We addressed this issue by exploring how win-win growth policy influences a firm's market value using event study methodology. We evaluated the cumulative abnormal returns for win-win growth policy announced by Korean large firms from 2004 to 2012. The results of this study insisted that the announcements of win-win growth policy show negative impact on firm's market value, which is not consistent with previous studies. The findings of this study offer insights that may help government policy makers and managers to revise their policy for better outcomes of their win-win growth policy.