• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.177-188
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• 2011

This paper proposes a DEA model for the performance evaluation of each brand of coking coals in an integrated steel mill. The performance is defined as the efficiency which is the ratio of two linear combinations of the output factors to the input factors. There is only one input factor considered in the model : unit price of each brand based on CIF. Five output factors are chosen in consideration of their impact to the quality of cokes such as Ash, VM, LMF, TD, and Rm. Some of the output factors are treated as undesirable in DEA model because the quality criteria are given by the range. The CCR and BCC efficiencies are derived by the DEA model, and the scale efficiency is calculated, too. Each brand of coking coal is classified into four categories according to the CCR and BCC efficiencies, and the most inferior brands are identified as a result. The impact of the input and output factors to the efficiency is analyzed using a multiple regression, then the unit price is revealed as the most critical among them. Also, ANOVA results show that there exist efficiency differences among the coal types and the countries imported, respectively. Finally, the quantitative projection for the inefficient brands is performed if they are to be efficient. The result could be utilized in selecting the good or bad brands of coking coal based on the efficiency in an integrated steel mill. Also, this model will be used to assess the relative efficiency of a new brand of coking coal if it is a candidate to be imported.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.105-116
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• 2016

Corporate social media has been recently used in customer relationship management in many ways to improve product sales and company images. Not much research exists on corporate social media, Therefore, in this paper, we propose a research model to identify how corporate social media enhances corporate's CRM quality, resulting in forming customer's purchase intention. In detail, this paper is to examine how customer's perceived value of corporate social media influences CRM quality(CRM trust and CRM commitment), and then how CRM quality affects purchase intention. To this end, a total of 300 questionnaires were used from online panel respondents to test research hypothesis. The findings showed that service performance value and monetary value were major determinants of CRM trust, however, there was no association between brand integration value and CRM trust. In addition, the effects of service performance value and brand integration value on CRM commitment were found whereas monetary value had no effect on CRM commitment. The results also showed that CRM trust and CRM commitment played a critical role in forming of purchase intention. Theoretical and practical Implications are discussed.

• Journal of Distribution Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.87-115
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• 2012

Introduction: In these days, a loyalty program is one of the most common marketing mechanisms (Lacey & Sneath, 2006; Nues & Dreze, 2006; Uncles et al., 20003). In recent years, Coalition Loyalty Program is more noticeable as one of progressed forms. In the past, loyalty program was operating independently by single product brand or single retail channel brand. Now, companies using Coalition Loyalty Program share their programs as one single service and companies to participate to this program continue to have benefits from their existing program as well as positive spillover effect from the other participating network companies. Instead of consumers to earn or spend points from single retail channel or brand, consumers will have more opportunities to utilize their points and be able to purchase other participating companies products. Issues that are related to form of loyalty programs are essentially connected with consumers' perceived view on convenience of using its program. This can be a problem for distribution companies' strategic marketing plan. Although Coalition Loyalty Program is popular corporate marketing strategy to most companies, only few researches have been published. However, compared to independent loyalty program, coalition loyalty program operated by third parties of partnership has following conditions: Companies cannot autonomously modify structures of program for individual companies' benefits, and there is no guarantee to operate and to participate its program continuously by signing a contract. Thus, it is important to conduct the study on how coalition loyalty program affects companies' success and its process as much as conducting the study on effects of independent program. This study will complement the lack of coalition loyalty program study. The purpose of this study is to find out how consumer loyalty affects affiliated brands, its cause and mechanism. The past study about loyalty program only provided the variation of performance analysis, but this study will specifically focus on causes of results. In order to do these, this study is designed and to verify three primary objects as following; First, based on opinions of Switching Barriers (Fornell, 1992; Ping, 1993; Jones, et at., 2000) about causes of loyalty of coalition brand, 'brand attractiveness' and 'brand switching cost' are antecedents and causes of change in 'brand loyalty' will be investigated. Second, influence of consumers' perception and attitude prior to joining coalition loyalty program, influence of program in retail brands, brand attractiveness and spillover effect of switching cost after joining coalition program will be verified. Finally, the study will apply 'prior brand preference' as a variable and will provide a relationship between effects of coalition loyalty program and prior preference level. Hypothesis Hypothesis 1. After joining coalition loyalty program, more preferred brand (compared to less preferred brand) will increase influence on brand attractiveness to brand loyalty. Hypothesis 2. After joining coalition loyalty program, less preferred brand (compared to more preferred brand) will increase influence on brand switching cost to brand loyalty. Hypothesis 3. (1)Brand attractiveness and (2)brand switching cost of more preferred brand (before joining the coalition loyalty program) will influence more positive effects from (1)program attractiveness and (2)program switching cost of coalition loyalty program (after joining) than less preferred brand. Hypothesis 4. After joining coalition loyalty program, (1)brand attractiveness and (2)brand switching cost of more preferred brand will receive more positive impacts from (1)program attractiveness and (2)program switching cost of coalition loyalty program than less preferred brand. Hypothesis 5. After joining coalition loyalty program, (1)brand attractiveness and (2)brand switching cost of more preferred brand will receive less impacts from (1)brand attractiveness and (2)brand switching cost of different brands (having different preference level), which joined simultaneously, than less preferred brand. Method : In order to validate hypotheses, this study will apply experimental method throughout virtual scenario of coalition loyalty program if consumers have used or available for the actual brands. The experiment is conducted twice to participants. In a first experiment, the study will provide six coalition brands which are already selected based on prior research. The survey asked each brand attractiveness, switching cost, and loyalty after they choose high preference brand and low preference brand. One hour break was provided prior to the second experiment. In a second experiment, virtual coalition loyalty program "SaveBag" was introduced to participants. Participants were informed that "SaveBag" will be new alliance with six coalition brands from the first experiment. Brand attractiveness and switching cost about coalition program were measured and brand attractiveness and switching cost of high preference brand and low preference brand were measured as same method of first experiment. Limitation and future research This study shows limitations of effects of coalition loyalty program by using virtual scenario instead of actual research. Thus, future study should compare and analyze CLP panel data to provide more in-depth information. In addition, this study only proved the effectiveness of coalition loyalty program. However, there are two types of loyalty program, which are Single and Coalition, and success of coalition loyalty program will be dependent on market brand power and prior customer attitude. Therefore, it will be interesting to compare effects of two programs in the future.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2007

This research is to explore relationship between the underwear shopping value and purchasing behaviors, as well as to figure out how the underwear store VM information has influence on consumers' purchase behaviors. Focus is placed on subdividing consumers into different groups according to underwear shopping value, and then verify whether VM information influences the consumer groups differently or not. This study, based on systematic understanding of an underwear consumption, will provide strategic suggestion to establish effective VM information of the underwear brand. The results of this study show that VM information is being utilized by the important clue when the consumers go shopping underwear. That's why the underwear brands should concentrate on developing VM by causing an interest and purchasing of consumers through corresponding with store's individuality and image. Also, the manner of performance should be related to brand image and theme reflected consumer's life style.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.745-758
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• 2008

In this paper, we examined the trend information collected by apparel industries to develop fashionable products. We also investigated the product development process of a swimwear industry, ELLE Swimwear, through in-depth interviews. The results are as follows; 1. The apparel industries were collecting information about a fashion trend, international exhibitions and fairs, world collections, and a market trend to develop fashionable products. 2. As the swimwear consumers are spreaded in all ages, the launching of more specialized swimwear brand with ages is required. 3. These days, swimwear is not only an item of sportswear but also being a fashionable product on street. Therefore, the industries should try to develop a various assortment of swimwear capable of coordinating with multi-mix instead of developing a separate item. 4. To design and produce swimwear satisfying functional, sensual and cultural performance, the development of new materials and patterns are required. 5. Nurturing of swimwear pattern specialists dealing with CAD is urgently required. 6. Turning of understanding about the importance of VMD and more attractive marketing strategies by a specialized team are also required.

• Asia Marketing Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.131-159
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• 2014

Corporate rebranding has been evident in the qualitative corporate rebranding studies as an imposed organizational change that induces mixed reactions and ambivalent attitudes among consumers. Corporate rebranding for the established and familiar corporate brands leads to more ambivalent attitudes as these companies represent larger targets for disparaging information. Consumers are found to hold both positive and negative reactions toward companies and brands that they are familiar with. Nevertheless, the imposed change assumption and ambivalent attitude, in particular corporate rebranding, have never been widely explored in the quantitative corporate rebranding studies. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive empirical examination of the ambivalence towards rebrandingrebranded brand attitude-purchase intention relationships. The author proposes that corporate rebranding for familiar corporate brands is a double-edged sword that not only raises the expectation for better performance, but also induces conflicted and ambivalent attitudes among consumers. These consumers' ambivalent attitudes are influenced by both the parent brands-related and general attitude factors which further affect their rebranded brand attitude and purchase intention. A total of 156 useable questionnaires were collected from Malaysian working adults; and two established Malaysian airfreight operators were utilized as the focal parent brands. The study found a significant impact of prior parent brand attitudes on ambivalence towards rebranding (ATR). The parent brand attitudes served as anchors in influencing how new information was processed (Mazaheri et al., 2011; Sherif & Hovland, 1961) and closely related to behavioral intention (Prislin & Quellete, 1996). The ambivalent attitudes experienced were higher when individuals held both positive and negative reactions toward the parent brands. Consumers also held higher ambivalent attitudes when they preferred one of the parent brands; while disliked the other brand. The study also found significant relationships between the lead brand and the rebranded brand attitude; and between the partner brands and ATR. The familiar but controversial partner brand contributed significantly to the ambivalent attitudes experienced; while the more established lead brand had significant impact on the rebranded brand attitude. The lead and partner brands, though both familiar, represented different meanings to consumers. The author attributed these results to the prior parent brand attitudes, the skepticism and their general ambivalence toward the corporate rebranding. Both general attitude factors (i.e. skepticism and general ambivalence towards rebranding) were found to have significant positive impacts on ATR. Skeptical individuals questioned the possibility of a successful rebranding (Chang, 2011) and were more careful with their evaluations toward 'too god to be true' or 'made in heaven' pair of companies. The embedded general ambivalent attitudes that people held toward rebranding could be triggered from the associative network by the ambiguous situation (Prislin & Quellete, 1996). In addition, the ambivalent rebranded brand attitude was found to lower down purchase intention, supporting Hanze (2001), Lavine (2001) and van Harreveld et al. (2009)'s studies. Ambivalent individuals were found to prefer delay decision making by choosing around the mid-ranged points in 'willingness to buy' scale. The study provides several marketing implications. Ambivalence management is proven to be important to corporate rebranding to minimize the ambivalent attitudes experienced. This could be done by carefully controlling the parent brands-related and general attitude factors. The high ambivalent individuals are less confident with their own conflicted attitudes and are motivated to get rid of the psychological discomfort caused by these conflicted attitudes (Bell & Esses, 2002; Lau-Gesk, 2005; van Harreveld et al., 2009). They tend to process information more deeply (Jonas et al., 1997; Maio et al., 2000; Wood et al., 1985) and pay more attention to message that provides convincible arguments. Providing strong, favorable and convincible message is hence effective in alleviating consumers' ambivalent attitudes. In addition, brand name heuristic could be utilized because the rebranding strategy sends important signal to consumers about the changes that happen or going to happen. The ambivalent individuals will pay attention to both brand name heuristic and rebranding message in their effort to alleviate the psychological discomfort caused by ambivalent attitudes. The findings also provide insights to Malaysian and airline operators for a better planning and implementation of corporate rebranding exercise.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.838-851
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• 2015

This study explores the level of designer brands' market oriented attitude through a conceptual framework of market orientation. Designer brands have rapidly increased in the Korean fashion market with a competitive environment that pushes designers to improve market oriented attitudes and strategy. Designers working for 20 brands that the government designated as 'promising creative designer brands' were invited for in-depth interviews, 19 designers from 18 brands participated in this study. The generation of market intelligence that composes market orientation meant that the designers were confirmed to collecting different types of information according to information sources. They showed interest in collecting information on the exploration of design trends from overseas designers as well as operational and managerial information from domestic designers. Fashion-related stakeholders mainly collected feedback on design concepts from the press and public institutions. They collected customer feedback from buyers; however, appropriate feedback was inadequate. Designers generally appeared to place less value on the collection of customer responses and opinions; however, two groups of designers showed customer-oriented attitudes according to accumulated experience. The market-oriented attitude of top designers had an important role in designer brands; consequently, top designers should be properly trained to improve market-oriented attitudes to increase market performance.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.472-490
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• 2021

The detection of products with manipulated reviews has received widespread research attention, given that a truthful, informative, and useful review helps to significantly lower the search effort and cost for potential customers. This study proposes a method to recognize products with manipulated online customer reviews by examining the sequence of each review's sentiment, readability, and rating scores by product on randomness, considering the example of a Russian online retail site. Additionally, this study aims to examine the association between brand awareness and existing manipulation with products' reviews. Therefore, we investigated the difference between well-known and unknown brands' products online reviews with and without manipulated reviews based on the average star rating and the extremely positive sentiment scores. Consequently, machine learning techniques for predicting products are tested with manipulated reviews to determine a more useful one. It was found that about 20% of all product reviews are manipulated. Among the products with manipulated reviews, 44% are products of well-known brands, and 56% from unknown brands, with the highest prediction performance on deep neural network.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.92-99
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• 2022

This study show the empirical results and the models that explain the content creator's personal brand value in the user-generated content platform. Producer's brand value performance could have enhancement and dilution by their activities for the long-term and repetitive change. Therefore, for the measure and analysis, the models have to catch the effect from producer's the diverse activities. This study would find the guideline by competitive analysis between (1) the impact of in-group user's self-motivated participation and (2) the impact of the social links from the outside platform. Based on the analysis results, producer's creation activity as focused on the specific and professional category increase their brand value for the long-term. However, producers would have to upload diverse category, after users are bored to their similar videos' as before. These empirical results would be a guidelines to the content management strategies for producers and the platform.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.27-41
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• 2022

In a fiercely competitive environment, quality is a key factor that enables dashboard camera makers to maintain their competitive advantage. Quality affects consumer satisfaction, brand loyalty, and firm performance. Therefore, to remain competitive, it is important that manufacturers maintain product quality that meets consumer expectations. To this end, it is necessary to investigate customer preferences and product performance in terms of product quality and to properly allocate resources to improve the quality level such that the firm can maintain a competitive advantage. In this paper, we proposed the various ways in which manufacturing firms can determine which quality dimensions need improvement in order to secure competitiveness. To this end, we analyzed a case study of Urive to develop a quality improvement strategy through importance performance competitor analysis (IPCA). Urive's IPCA results showed that 14 quality dimensions, namely performance, size, price, ease of use, country of origin, manufacturer, brand, product certificate, warranty, distribution channel, market share, reliability, durability, and conformance, were not absolutely competitive compared with those of Mando, Inavi, and Finevu. In terms of color, Urive had an absolute competitive advantage over Mando, but not Inavi and Finevu. Urive's appearance was more competitive than Mando's, but not Inavi's and Finevu's. In terms of advertisement and serviceability, Urive was absolutely less competitive than Mando and Inavi, but had a competitive advantage over Finevu. Therefore, it is necessary to put resources and time as the first priority for performance, reliability, and durability, which have a large performance difference in common among the three brands. The quality dimensions in which resources and time need to be put in second place are price and ease of use, which have a large performance difference in common among the two brands.