• 대한산업공학회지
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.209-215
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to determine whether there are differences in hand muscle activities (APB : abductor pollicis brevis, ED : extensor digitorum, ECU : extensor carpi ulnaris, and EI : extensor indicis) and subjective discomfort according to the three mouse sizes (small, medium, large) and two task types (pointing and scrolling). The mouse size and task type showed significant interaction effects on the total NEMG (p = 0.004) and on the NEMG of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle (p = 0.001). The total NEMG and the NEMG of APB showed the highest value in the 'scrolling' task using the 'small' mouse. However, the NEMG of the EI was different according to the mouse size, and the 'small' mouse showed the lowest value. The subjective discomfort was the lowest in the 'medium' mouse, and all nine subjects preferred the 'medium' size. The hand-size related anthropometric variables showed different correlations according to the task type and mouse size with the NEMGs and subjective discomfort. The results of this study could be used as a basic information for the determination of the proper mouse size according to the hand size.

• 아태비즈니스연구
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.113-129
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• 2024

Purpose - This study aims to empirically identify the quantitative effects of work from home (WFH) on employee productivity using field data. Design/methodology/approach - Based on large-scale field data from a South Korean company which introduced the WFH arrangement in 2020, we conducted fixed effect and moderating effect analyses using individual-level panel data over sixty-three weeks. Findings - The empirical analysis generated several findings. It was found that overall, WFH has a positive effect on productivity. However, the productivity impact of WFH was found to vary depending on task characteristics. Specifically, WFH led to over 20% increase in productivity for simple and repetitive tasks. On the other hand, no significant productivity impact was observed for professional and knowledge-based tasks. Research implications or Originality - As the first study based on field data from South Korea, this study offers convincing causal evidence of the moderating impact of task characteristics on the relationship between WFH and productivity. Further, the above findings provide managers with practical insights concerning their work arrangement decisions.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.39-69
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• 2012

With the advent of communication technologies including electronic collaborative tools and conferencing systems provided over the Internet, virtual collaboration is becoming increasingly common in organizations. Virtual collaboration refers to an environment in which the people working together are interdependent in their tasks, share responsibility for outcomes, are geographically dispersed, and rely on mediated rather than face-to face, communication to produce an outcome. Research suggests that new sets of individual skill, knowledge, and ability (SKAs) are required to perform effectively in today's virtualized workplace, which is labeled as individual virtual competence. It is also argued that use of online social networking sites may influence not only individuals' daily lives but also their capability to manage their work-related relationships in organizations, which in turn leads to better performance. The existing research regarding (1) the relationship between virtual competence and task performance and (2) the relationship between online networking and task performance has been conducted based on different theoretical perspectives so that little is known about how online social networking and virtual competence interplay to predict individuals' task performance. To fill this gap, this study raises the following research questions: (1) What is the individual virtual competence required for better adjustment to the virtual collaboration environment? (2) How does online networking via diverse social network service sites influence individuals' task performance in organizations? (3) How do the joint effects of individual virtual competence and online networking influence task performance? To address these research questions, we first draw on the prior literature and derive four dimensions of individual virtual competence that are related with an individual's self-concept, knowledge and ability. Computer self-efficacy is defined as the extent to which an individual beliefs in his or her ability to use computer technology broadly. Remotework self-efficacy is defined as the extent to which an individual beliefs in his or her ability to work and perform joint tasks with others in virtual settings. Virtual media skill is defined as the degree of confidence of individuals to function in their work role without face-to-face interactions. Virtual social skill is an individual's skill level in using technologies to communicate in virtual settings to their full potential. It should be noted that the concept of virtual social skill is different from the self-efficacy and captures an individual's cognition-based ability to build social relationships with others in virtual settings. Next, we discuss how online networking influences both individual virtual competence and task performance based on the social network theory and the social learning theory. We argue that online networking may enhance individuals' capability in expanding their social networks with low costs. We also argue that online networking may enable individuals to learn the necessary skills regarding how they use technological functions, communicate with others, and share information and make social relations using the technical functions provided by electronic media, consequently increasing individual virtual competence. To examine the relationships among online networking, virtual competence, and task performance, we developed research models (the mediation, interaction, and additive models, respectively) by integrating the social network theory and the social learning theory. Using data from 112 employees of a virtualized company, we tested the proposed research models. The results of analysis partly support the mediation model in that online social networking positively influences individuals' computer self-efficacy, virtual social skill, and virtual media skill, which are key predictors of individuals' task performance. Furthermore, the results of the analysis partly support the interaction model in that the level of remotework self-efficacy moderates the relationship between online social networking and task performance. The results paint a picture of people adjusting to virtual collaboration that constrains and enables their task performance. This study contributes to research and practice. First, we suggest a shift of research focus to the individual level when examining virtual phenomena and theorize that online social networking can enhance individual virtual competence in some aspects. Second, we replicate and advance the prior competence literature by linking each component of virtual competence and objective task performance. The results of this study provide useful insights into how human resource responsibilities assess employees' weakness and strength when they organize virtualized groups or projects. Furthermore, it provides managers with insights into the kinds of development or training programs that they can engage in with their employees to advance their ability to undertake virtual work.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.1-9
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• 2000

This study was performed to investigate some characteristics on human error proneness in the computerized work environment. Our concerning theme was on human error likelihood according to personal temperament. Two experiments were performed. The first experiment was to study the effect of field- independence/dependence on error likelihood. The second experiment was on error proneness. These experiments were performed in information search task. which was most frequent task in computerized work environment such as the control room of nuclear power plant. Ten subjects were participated in this study. Analyzed results are as follows. Field-independence/dependence had a significant effect in both information search time and error frequency. Error proneness had a significant effect in both factors, too. And, a positive correlation was found between error frequency and information search time. These results will be utilized as a basis to study operator's error proneness in the computerized control room of nuclear power plant. later on.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.174-180
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• 1999

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of carrying postures and weight of load carried one time on a worker when carrying heavy loads. Six male students participated in this study to perform a manual materials carrying task as subjects. To make comparison of work loads with physical work capacity, maximal oxygen uptake measurement tests were performed with submaximal test. The average oxygen consumption for the tasks of this study was 27.59~31.93% $VO_2$max. The results showed that the weight of load carried one time affects on working heart rate and oxygen consumption($VO_2$). It was found that the workload was significantly lower when handling a 20kg load at a frequency rate of 3times/min than when handling a 40kg load at a frequency rate of 1.5 times/min. There was no difference between carrying postures. It is concluded from the results of this study that the workload can be reduced by controlling conditions of a manual materials handling task.

• 간호행정학회지
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.263-276
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• 2015

Purpose: The study was done to verify the effect size of the variables related to the emotional labor of nurses. Methods: A total of 47 article on variables related to the emotional labor of nurses and published from 2006 to 2014 were used for the meta-analysis. Results: Variables with the largest effect size related to emotional labor were identified as the variables of work task, organization and individual characteristics in descending order of effect size. The sub-factors with the greatest effect size in the work task variable were exhaustion and work commitment, while for organization variables, intention to change jobs had the largest effect size. For individual characteristics, physical symptoms had the largest effect size. Conclusion: The results of this study are meaningful as the first study to integrate research results on variables related to the emotional labor of Korean nurses, providing practical data for the management of emotional labor.

• 한국안전학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.167-175
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• 2000

Work performance and human error are complicated phenomena so that it is very difficult to grasp the true nature of them. However, Event Related Potential (ERP) may give a clue to them because human brain reflects diverse psychophysiological process. In the present study, the possibility of ERP application to the ergonomic area was evaluated in view of grasping error symptoms. For that purpose, the subjects were asked to count specific characters in a random character matrix on a computer monitor, and their ERP was compared with their performance data. Based upon the results, the amplitude of P300 was not so high as that in the case of the Odd Ball tasks, correct response corresponded with stable ERP with high P300 amplitude whereas wrong response did with unstable, fluctuating ERP with low P300 amplitude. Those results coincided with the work performance, and it was concluded that 3-wave fluorescent with illumination level of 800 lux would be recommendable for the counting task in concern. Conclusively, ERP including P300 might supply an objective clue to the problem of human errors in cognitive process.

• 대한안전경영과학회지
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.21-26
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• 2010

This study compared the effects of praise and punishment for improving safety behaviors. Participants were 30 volunteer undergraduate students and they were randomly assigned to one of two experimental conditions: (1) praise under which positive feedback was delivered for safe behaviors, (2) punishment under which negative feedback was delivered for unsafe behaviors. A simulated computerized work task was developed specifically for this study. Participants had to work on the work task and follow seven safety rules while working. When they follow all the seven safety rules, their behaviors were considered safe. If they did not follow any one of the rules, their behaviors were considered unsafe. Results showed that the percentage of safe behavior under group of praise feedback was significantly higher than under group of punish feedback.

• 한국방재학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국방재학회 2008년도 정기총회 및 학술발표대회
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• pp.609-612
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• 2008

Since most of the industries have adopted automation system, the industrial disaster has been declined sharply. Also automation system has offered many benefits such as productivity and assured quality. However, the construction industry is still relying on man power and because of this there are many victims occurring due to the industrial disaster. Construction industry has to overcome uncertainty of incidents and changing natural surroundings to actualize automation. Therefore, the efficient working plan and intelligent decision making process are needed to run more developed techniques and automations. Specially to decline the rate of industrial accidents occurred in basic construction in earth work, the automation via excavator is necessary and also the development of planning process system is too. This research is to establish Task Planning System to prevent disaster which is used for planning automated earth work.

• 대한인간공학회지
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.395-401
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• 2011

Objective: This study examined the effects of working chair that was developed for farmers who work in grapevine's cluster thinning. Background: Agricultural work involves some of the nation's highest occupational risk exposures. Fruit cultivation has been recognized as one of the most hazardous crops in which to work. Grapevine cluster thinning task involve activities related to the main risk factors associated with upper limb work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Method: An experiment was designed to test the working chair. Six healthy male($25.8{\pm}4.9years$) were selected as the subjects for this study. Electromyography(EMG) was used to monitor the muscles activity, and Electro-goniometer was used to measure the ranges of motions of the elbow, trunk and knee. Subjective test was also carried out to examine discomfort body parts and their pain intensity. A grapevine's working space was built for the experiment and working chair was installed on it. In order to examine the muscle activity and range of motion, subjects used to the working chair for 30 minutes for each experimental condition. Another test without working chair was also performed for comparison. %MVC was used to quantify the level of muscle activity. Results: Decreases of muscle activity was found in all leg muscles and significant decrease of muscle activity was found in left Gastrocnemius. The range of motion of the trunk and knee also decreased when working chair used. Discomfort in lower back, thigh and shank region were reduced significantly. However, in upper limbs muscle activity tended to increase in working chair compared with conventional task. Conclusion: Improvement for cushion in seat back and pan required to reduce discomfort in buttocks. Application: Overall findings verified that the working chair might help to prevent upper limb and lower back MSDs based on the current study. These results can be practically used for work improvement for the grapevine growers to prevent MSDs.