• Korean small business review
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.139-160
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• 2017

Today, changes in the environments surrounding companies are so uncertain that corporate entrepreneurship should be activated to enhance the competitiveness of firms and to improve their profitability. In particular, The practice of entrepreneurship by small and medium sized enterprises (hereafter SMEs) is suggested as an important factor for the enhancement of competitiveness of firms. In this context, this study examined the effects of the organizational climates on the entrepreneurship activities of SMEs in Korea and China. The data obtained from 300 SMEs in Korea and China through questionnaire surveys were analyzed. The results demonstrate that the organizational climates have significant positive effects on SMEs in the countries belonging to emerging markets such as Korea and China. However, the practice of corporate entrepreneurship could be manifested in diverse forms, such as innovation or strategic renewal, and the effects of organizational climates were shown to sightly different effects on the corporate entrepreneurship activities. In addition, SMEs in Korea and China, which belong to common cultural areas, did not show any statistically significant difference in organizational climates in general. Furthermore, the effects of these factors did not show significant differences in general. However, SMEs in Korea with more flexible organizational structures and higher job autonomy were shown to be more advantageous in practicing corporate entrepreneurship than those in China. The results of the study provide meaningful implications for SMEs in Korea in terms of the efforts that should be made to enhance their competitiveness, implement innovation, and achieve comparative advantages over China.

• Korean small business review
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.147-172
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• 2020

This study presents the determinants of R&D efficiency as the focus on CEO's competency, which influences R&D competency and R&D efficiency. The research samples are 6,708 technology-innovation small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The independent variable is the R&D competency(existence of R&D organization, level of R&D personnel, R&D personnel management, R&D investment), the dependent variable is R&D efficiency. The moderator is the CEO's competency(experience level in its own industry, technical knowledge level, technology management strategy, management ability). R&D efficiency measures the relationship between inputs(level of R&D personnel, R&D investment) and outputs(patent applications, prototype) by the DEA. and the determinant analysis uses Tobit regression. As a result of the analysis, the existence of R&D organization and R&D personnel management is positively significant, level of R&D personnel and R&D investment is negatively significant for R&D efficiency. The moderating effect of CEO's competency on the relationship between the R&D competency and R&D efficiency is significant determinants of CEO's experience(experience level in its own industry, technical knowledge level) and technology management strategy. The finding is to measure the efficiency of R&D performance, and to analyze its determinants as the moderating effect of CEO's competency, using the technology appraisal data. In the conclusion session, the limitations of the research and future research directions were discussed.

• Korean small business review
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.1-20
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• 2021

The survival period according to technological capability was analyzed for about 22,500 innovative SMEs in the service industry. The survival period was defined as the occurrence of overdue and default, and the technological capability was divided into two clusters. As a result of estimating the survival period according to technological capability through Kaplan-Meier analysis, it was confirmed that the estimated survival period of T1-T4 grade service innovative SMEs was significantly greater in both overdue and default. As a result of the analysis of the Cox proportional hazard model applying the control variable, it was confirmed that the higher technological capability, the lower the risk in the group of start-up companies. However, in the group of non-start-up companies the technological capability did not significantly affect the survival period, and the influence of the variables related to the size of the company was found to increase. Therefore, the technological capability is meaningful as additional information that has a significant effect on the survival period of innovative SMEs in the start-up companies group of service industry. In addition, it was concluded that it is necessary to reflect the technological capability when establishing the SME support and promotion policy of the start-up companies group in the service industry.

• Korean small business review
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.29-51
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• 2019

This study investigates how SMEs' (small and medium-sized enterprises) financing strategies affect firm valuation. Given that information asymmetry is engaged in firm valuation in the stock market, investors interpret the meanings of debt financing depending on how SMEs construct the portfolio of financing strategies (retained earnings vs debt financing), thereby making investment decision. Specifically, given that SMEs' debt financing has two meanings in the market signals, called "benefit" and "cost", this study postulates that firm valuation will be differently made by investors, depending on how they interpret the meanings of debt financing under choice competition between retained earnings and debt financing. In this study, we argue that under choice competition, as a SME's debt proportion increases, the "cost" signal outweighes the "benefit" signal, thereby decreasing firm valuation. Moreover, the effect of such signal can be contingent on the SME's characteristics-firm visibility. These ideas are examined using 363 U.S. SMEs ranging from 1971 to 2010. The fixed-effects models estimating Tobin's q show that under choice competition, a SME's debt proportion has a negative impact on firm valuation and that the firm's high visibility mitigates the effect of "cost" signal. In conclusion, this study sheds new light on how investors' interpretations of SMEs' financing strategies affect firm valuation.

• Journal of Intelligence and Information Systems
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.157-175
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• 2013

Since Korean government announced 'Smartwork promotion strategy' in 2010, Korean firms and government organizations have started to adopt smartwork. However, the smartwork has been implemented only in a few of large enterprises and government organizations rather than SMEs (small and medium enterprises). In USA, both Yahoo! and Best Buy have stopped their flexible work because of its reported low productivity and job loafing problems. In addition, according to the literature on smartwork, we could draw obstacles of smartwork adoption and categorize them into the three types: institutional, organizational, and technological. The first category of smartwork adoption obstacles, institutional, include the difficulties of smartwork performance evaluation metrics, the lack of readiness of organizational processes, limitation of smartwork types and models, lack of employee participation in smartwork adoption procedure, high cost of building smartwork system, and insufficiency of government support. The second category, organizational, includes limitation of the organization hierarchy, wrong perception of employees and employers, a difficulty in close collaboration, low productivity with remote coworkers, insufficient understanding on remote working, and lack of training about smartwork. The third category, technological, obstacles include security concern of mobile work, lack of specialized solution, and lack of adoption and operation know-how. To overcome the current problems of smartwork in reality and the reported obstacles in literature, we suggest a novel smartwork service model based on NFC(Near Field Communication). This paper suggests NFC-based Smartwork Service Model composed of NFC-based Smartworker networking service and NFC-based Smartwork space management service. NFC-based smartworker networking service is comprised of NFC-based communication/SNS service and NFC-based recruiting/job seeking service. NFC-based communication/SNS Service Model supplements the key shortcomings that existing smartwork service model has. By connecting to existing legacy system of a company through NFC tags and systems, the low productivity and the difficulty of collaboration and attendance management can be overcome since managers can get work processing information, work time information and work space information of employees and employees can do real-time communication with coworkers and get location information of coworkers. Shortly, this service model has features such as affordable system cost, provision of location-based information, and possibility of knowledge accumulation. NFC-based recruiting/job-seeking service provides new value by linking NFC tag service and sharing economy sites. This service model has features such as easiness of service attachment and removal, efficient space-based work provision, easy search of location-based recruiting/job-seeking information, and system flexibility. This service model combines advantages of sharing economy sites with the advantages of NFC. By cooperation with sharing economy sites, the model can provide recruiters with human resource who finds not only long-term works but also short-term works. Additionally, SMEs (Small Medium-sized Enterprises) can easily find job seeker by attaching NFC tags to any spaces at which human resource with qualification may be located. In short, this service model helps efficient human resource distribution by providing location of job hunters and job applicants. NFC-based smartwork space management service can promote smartwork by linking NFC tags attached to the work space and existing smartwork system. This service has features such as low cost, provision of indoor and outdoor location information, and customized service. In particular, this model can help small company adopt smartwork system because it is light-weight system and cost-effective compared to existing smartwork system. This paper proposes the scenarios of the service models, the roles and incentives of the participants, and the comparative analysis. The superiority of NFC-based smartwork service model is shown by comparing and analyzing the new service models and the existing service models. The service model can expand scope of enterprises and organizations that adopt smartwork and expand the scope of employees that take advantages of smartwork.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.15-24
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• 2011

Modern enterprises should concentrate their efforts on continuous improvements in focusing their development in the core areas of business and to reduce their expenses and to enhance the quality of service for customers. The enterprises should focus on their core business while outsourcing the non-core areas of business to external specialists for the purpose of reducing cost. In South Korea, the enterprises are becoming increasingly interested in outsourcing their logistics function, especially in using IT technologies to the 3PL. The underlying reason for this trend is because the logistics costs of Korean businesses are much higher than that of other advanced countries. This higher logistic costs weakens the price competitiveness of Korean companies in the overseas export markets and even dampening the balance of international trade. Domestically, the higher logistics costs have the effect of raising prices in the local markets and thus affecting the local economy. Therefore a solution is urgently needed to save the logistics costs for the Korean companies in the interest of increasing national competitiveness. Outsourcing to the 3PL is becoming an attraction solution to this problem. Thanks to the increasing supply of professional logistics companies, many of the enterprises are switching to the Third Party Logistics. Nevertheless the enterprises do not yet utilize the integrated third-party logistics services on a full scale. This study analyzes present conditions and problems of the domestic third-party logistics market and suggests directions for future development. To solve the problems in the domestic third-party logistics market, four actions are recommended. First there should be new supporting policies in the laws and regulations and a system for small and medium sized companies to grow. Solutions to structural problems such as abnormal multilevel merchandising, illegal operation of private cars, and freight dumping should be implemented concurrently. Furthermore, standards for new companies entry into the market should be enhanced to allow only the competitive distribution companies to enter the market. Second, development of variety of educational programs is needed through establishing human-resource development system and specialized formal educational institution focused on this market. Third, the third party distribution companies, which seek long-term relationships with the owners of goods, should endeavor to strengthen their communications capability. Fourth, adoption of high-tech distribution system and the advent of U-Logistics, making use of RFID is urgent. This study has the limitation of objectivity because it does not include various comparative case studies about companies relating to the Third Party Logistics and domestic franchise companies. However, this study is significant to the extent that it analyzes the general present conditions and the problems of domestic Third Party Logistics and suggests recommendations for revitalization of Third Party Logistics. For future studies, analyzing the successful cases of international third party logistics companies' empirical data and studying the application into domestic franchise companies would improve the objectivity of the results. This would assist the domestic third party logistics companies not only to perform excellent domestic logistics function but also to enter into the global market for international logistics.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.33-62
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• 2021

This study compares and analyzes the efficiency of R&D activities of technology-innovative small and medium-sized enterprises(SMEs) between industries and proposes ways to improve efficiency. The research samples are 6,708 technology-innovative SMEs, which have received a guarantee by the KIBO from 2008 to 2011. Input variables are the level of R&D personnel, R&D investment, and output variables are patent applications, prototype. Efficiency is measured by the DEA model, and indirect comparisons that are individually measured by industry are performed. As a result of the analysis, the CCR for determining the optimal returns to scale is 0.19, the BCC for determining the optimal input distribution is 0.70, and the SE for determining the optimal output is 0.30. By industry type, the medium and low-tech industries have high CCR and BCC, while the high-end and high-tech industries have high SE. R&D activities need to be operated on an optimal scale through managing R&D performance because there is the inefficiency of scale across the industry. The contribution of the study is to analyze the R&D efficiency of each industry of technology-innovative SMEs by the technology evaluation data of the KIBO.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to provide an environment that can support the development of the virtual asset industry. The limiting factors and countermeasures currently possessed by the virtual asset industry were considered in terms of legal and institutional aspects, technical aspects, and market aspects.Small businesses classified as virtual asset operators have difficulty meeting the government's requirements.Accordingly, SMEs with insufficient funds and manpower are withdrawn from the market, creating an environment where only large-scale enterprises with capital power survive.It is difficult to develop desirable technologies and markets in the virtual asset technology industry. In addition, small and medium-sized companies may be expelled from the market, causing damage to current users. Therefore, in terms of legal and institutional aspects, there is a lack of an exact scope of virtual asset providers, and thus it is necessary to respond to the controversial elements of virtual asset providers. In terms of technology, it is necessary to cope with the slowdown of the P2P method, the difficulty in recovering errors, and the absence of operational experts. Therefore, technology standardization and stabilization are required, and efforts must be made to cultivate operational technical personnel who can support them.In terms of the market, it is necessary to prepare measures to protect users of virtual assets and to establish countermeasures for companies operating virtual assets against weak user protection, inadequate application of the AML method, and limitations of taxation. This study is expected to contribute to active utilization support or related policies in the virtual asset industry.

• Journal of Arbitration Studies
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.53-85
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• 2022

Small and medium-sized enterprises ("SMEs") are vulnerable to trade secret misappropriation. Korea's legislation for the protection of SMEs' trade secrets and provision of civil, criminal, and administrative remedies includes the SME Technology Protection Act, the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, the Industrial Technology Protection Act, the Mutually Beneficial Cooperation Act, and the Subcontracting Act. Among these acts, the revised SME Technology Protection Act of 2018 introduced the "administrative technology misappropriation investigation system" to facilitate a rapid resolution of SMEs' technology misappropriation disputes. On September 27, 2021, Korea's Ministry of SMEs announced that it had reached an agreement to resolve the dispute between Hyundai Heavy Industries and Samyeong Machinery through the administrative technology misappropriation investigation system. However, not until 3 years and a few months passed since the introduction of the system could it be used to resolve an SME's technology misappropriation dispute with a large corporation. So there arose a question on the usefulness of the system. Therefore, we conducted a comparative legal analysis of Korea's laws enacted to protect trade secrets of SMEs and to address technology misappropriation, focusing on their legislative purpose, protected subject matter, types of misappropriation, and legal remedies. Then we analyzed the administrative technology misappropriation investigation system and the cases where this system was applied. We developed a proposal to enhance the usefulness of the system. The expert interviews of 4 attorneys who are experienced in the management of the system to check the practical value of the proposal. Our analysis shows that the lack of compulsory investigation and criminal sanctions is the fundamental limitation of the system. We propose revising the SME Technology Protection Act to provide correction orders, criminal sanctions, and compulsory investigation. We also propose training professional workforces to conduct digital forensics, enabling terminated SMEs to utilize the system, and assuring independence and fairness of the mediation and arbitration of the technology misappropriation disputes.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.3-29
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• 2016

Recently, the market size of the global electronic-commerce is rapidly growing. The global market size of an overseas direct-purchase is expected to reach 1 trillion won by 2020. This study intends to determine the decision making factors of B2B overseas direct-purchase(DP) and reverse direct-purchase(RDP), and the impact on the vitalization of the small to middle-sized companies'(SMC) overseas DP and RDP. Ultimately, the purpose of this study is to provide a policy insight on the expansion of exports by SMC. For this, we determined the necessary elements for getting good results by Korean SCM in the overseas DP and RDP market through a preceding research based on resource-based theory and industry structure theory. Afterwards, we used the multiple regression model for positive analysis of the survey documents. We were able to confirm through analysis that the company information, logistics delivery, customs process, law and regulations have positive effects on the overseas DP and RDP. This study surveyed the entire overseas DP market, rather than focusing on the cases of harm and responses of the overseas DP, which was the topic for the preceding research, and can be differentiated from the previous study by deducting influence factors for the Korean SMC to succeed in the overseas DP and RDP market. Moreover, the results of this study is meaningful in proposing a strategic direction for the SMC participating in the overseas DP market and the government enacting policies.