• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.57-65
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• 2014

Risk factors are the reason behind cost overruns and delays in long-term large-scale IT service projects. Major risks originate from the integration of complex IT system components, including software, hardware, and solutions; the competitive bidding process; the turnkey and firm-fixed price nature of contracts; and the project execution environment. We have identified several risk factors such as delay in acceptance, low quality of deliverables, delay in payment, adding and changing requirements and scope, unclear definition of roles and responsibilities of the buyer and supplier, and unclear procedures of change and quality management during the project execution phase. One needs to manage risks proactively before signing the contract. In order to weed out or lower the risk factors well in advance, we need to identify and remove risk factors contained in contract clauses and attached contract documents. We propose a checklist for assessing IT service project contracts. To validate the checklist's utility, we applied it to an IT service project in the finance industry. The results show that the checklist is effective in identifying and removing risk factors pertaining to IT service projects.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.329-341
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• 2006

The purposes of the study were to examine food purchasing management practices and to assess dietitians' awareness on food quality standards, use of food purchasing guidelines(food quality guidelines, supplier selection criteria), and organizational collaboration related to purchasing at school food service. A total of 400 dietitians working at elementary schools in Kyunggi Province were surveyed and 247 responses were returned. Excluding responses with significant missing data, 240 responses(60%) were used for data analysis. Compared to the previous reports, competitive bidding and shorter contract periods were preferred for purchasing food supplies. A dietitian, school staff, and food service staff participated in receiving and inspection together at 58.4% of the schools. An average score of the dietitians' awareness on the food quality standards was 3.28 based on a 5-point scale(1:strongly disagree, 5:strongly agree). Their awareness scores for the quality standards related to the genetically modified organism foods, organic foods, and pesticide residues were the lowest. The awareness scores increased significantly with their age(p<.001). In general, the food purchasing guidelines were used well at the schools ; the usage levels of the food quality guidelines and supplier selection criteria were significantly different by length of operation(p<.05) and dietitians' age(p<.05), respectively. The dietitians' perception score of the organizational collaboration related to purchasing was rated 3.46 and differed significantly by dietitians' educational background(p<.05). For improving food procurement management, standardized food quality and purchasing criteria need to be developed. As the demands on high quality food supplies increase for school food service, the dietitians should improve their knowledges on the food quality standards and implement effective and creative purchasing methods.

• KIEE International Transactions on Power Engineering
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• v.5A no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2005

In this paper, Nash equilibriums of generation markets are investigated using a game theory application for simplified competitive electricity markets. We analyze the characteristics of equilibrium states in N-company spot markets modeled by uniform pricing auctions and propose a new method for obtaining Nash equilibriums of the auction. We assume that spot markets are operated as uniform pricing auctions and that each generation company submits its bids into the auction in the form of a seal-bid. Depending on the bids of generation companies, market demands are allocated to each company accordingly. The uniform pricing auction in this analysis can be formulated as a non-cooperative and static game in which generation companies correspond to players of the game. The coefficient of the bidding function of company-n is the strategy of player-n (company-n) and the payoff of player-n is defined as its profit from the uniform price auction. The solution of this game can be obtained using the concept of the non-cooperative equilibrium originating from the Nash idea. Based on the so called residual demand curve, we can derive the best response function of each generation company in the uniform pricing auction with N companies, analytically. Finally, we present an efficient means to obtain all the possible equilibrium set pairs and to examine their feasibilities as Nash equilibriums. A simple numerical example with three generation companies is demonstrated to illustrate the basic idea of the proposed methodology. From this, we can see the applicability of the proposed method to the real-world problem, even though further future analysis is required.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.741-749
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to propose a rational and scientific damage calculation model in relation to damages caused by bid rigging in construction projects. Previous studies and precedents in relation to calculating damages from bid rigging suggest that the main issue was the lack of consideration in standards for deciding successful bids, selection of inadequate standard comparative markets, insufficiency in analyzing the appropriateness of competitive bid price influence factors, and absence of calculation model verification. In order to improve on these issues, a damage calculation method on alternative tenders for construction projects was proposed. For this calculation model, first, a standard market adequate to the successful bid selection standards was determined, second, an appropriate factor was selected by analyzing the correlation between competitive bid price influence factors, and third, a regression analysis was conducted on the selected factor. Lastly, this was demonstrated through verification of appropriateness, significance & normality of the proposed model and application of actual bid rigging cases. Through the proposed calculation model, this study seeks to serve as a base to prevent opportunity damages for parties involved in related court cases by early resolution of disputes and relief from issues of unfair damage burdens on a particular party.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute Of Construction Engineering and Management
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• autumn
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• pp.373-378
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• 2003

Korea's overseas construction industry has been rather depressed by the weakened profitability as well as the sharp decrease of the market shares due to the lack of international competitiveness and the declined international market following the outbreak of Iraq war. There exist a lot of various risks in performing the overseas construction, and especially EPC projects, which entail complicated process from different parts, also require a sophisticated procurement and management skill. Subsequently, to survive in the competitive international market, we need to establish strategies to select potentially profitable projects at the initial stage of bidding process and to mitigate the high degree of risk exposures through contract negotiation and its adjustment. This research provides the profitability evaluation bases, with which overseas construction participants can forecast and analyze the risk more systematically, by eliciting profit-influencing factors from real overseas construction projects and structuring their cause-and-effect relationships. The profitability causal hierarchy structure describes the profitability factors' hierarchy in details and their interrelationships. It also enables us to find out critical factors directly related to profitability aggravation through a qualitative analysis. Ultimately, with this hierarchy structure as the base, the research will suggest how to develop the quantitative profitability forecasting model.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.64-76
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• 2006

Korea's overseas construction industry has been rather depressed by the weakened profitability as well as the sharp decrease of the market shares due to the lack of international competitiveness and the declined international market. There exist a lot of various risks in performing the overseas construction, and especially EPC projects, which entail complicated process from different parts, also require a sophisticated procurement and management skill. Subsequently, to survive in the competitive international market, we need to establish strategies to select potentially profitable projects at the initial stage of bidding process and to mitigate the high degree of risk exposure through contract negotiation and its adjustment. This research discusses the trend of environment in international construction markets. Then, it identifies the key factors that affect the profitability significantly through the structured surveys from 59 actual overseas projects, and it analyzes the key factors by using statistical methods. This research provides the profitability evaluation bases, with which overseas construction participants can forecast and analyze the risk more systematically, by eliciting profit-influencing factors using the result of statistical analysis, literature review and structuring their cause-and-effect relationships. The profitability casual hierarchy structure describes the profitability factors' hierarchy in details and their interrelationships. It also enables us to find out critical factors directly related to profitability aggravation through a qualitative and quantitative analysis. Ultimately, with this hierarchy structure as the base, the research will suggest how to develop the quantitative profitability forecasting model.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.52-62
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• 2023

The objective of this study is to propose an automated algorithm for precise cutting length of slab rebar complying with regulations such as anchorage length, standard hooks, and lapping length. This algorithm aims to improve the traditional manual quantity take-off process typically outsourced by external contractors. By providing accurate rebar quantity data at BBS(Bar Bending Schedule) level from the bidding phase, uncertainty in quantity take-off can be eliminated and reliance on out-sourcing reduced. In addition, the algorithm allows for early determination of precise quantities, enabling construction firms to preapre competitive and optimized bids, leading to increased profit margins during contract negotiations. The proposed algorithm not only streamlines redundant tasks across various processes, including estimating, budgeting, and BBS generation but also offers flexibility in handling post-contract structural drawing changes. In particular, the proposed algorithm, when combined with BIM, can solve the technical problems of using BIM in the early phases of construction, and the algorithm's formulas and shape codes that built as REVIT-based family files, can help saving time and manpower.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.5D
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• pp.695-703
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• 2008

China water market has huge potential for increased use of BOT mode and one of the most attractive markets of doing business. However, the current China water BOT market shows that many foreign companies are retreating from the market while Chinese water companies fast growing. From the view no domestic companies have track records in China BOT water market, the research identified twenty market access barriers in terms of construction laws, regulations, BOT-related policy and the recent market situation. These are evaluated based on interview results with 10 professionals direct or indirect having a China water BOT experience. All the factors are found to be highly influential to foreign company's decision on the market participation. Among those, no fixed return policy and low water price, difficulty in water price adjustment and approval, and no government guarantees, all directly related to the project viability and under the control of government, were the most critical factors, implying government's role is the key in increasing the market competition by attracting more foreign participation on the market. In addition, new construction law regulating foreign EPC contractor's construction work, namely Decree 113, and requirement of applying competitive bidding in selecting EPC contractor in a BOT project are also considered signigicant barriers on foreign participation, which contradicts international norm and therefore necessitates an adjustment on current decision process in domestic companies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.1766-1773
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• 2014

The purpose of this research was to scrutinize dieticians' perspective of seafood ingredients prices in school food-service. Suppliers' contract status, seafood ingredient usage and satisfaction, expectations regarding prices of seafood ingredients, and willingness to pay when HACCP is taken into account were studied. Through random sampling, the survey was conducted on 231 dieticians in 11 different educational districts and 12 elementary, six middle, and three high schools. Ultimately, 142 survey responses were taken into account. Data analysis was performed using SPSS v15.0 by descriptive analysis, ${\chi}^2$-test, and t-test. For contracts regarding seafood ingredients, competitive contracts composed 79.7%. Exactly 42.1% responded that contracts were breached, and 60.1% testified that product returns were due to excessive glazing of ingredients. The satisfaction rate of 'hygiene & sanitation of product' was the highest, whereas 'price of product' was the lowest. For 'recontracting intention', 'informal purchasing' showed higher rates compared to 'competitive bidding'. Reflecting upon the six main price factors, 'designation and maintenance of HACCP', 'price of raw seafood ingredients', 'processing costs', 'margin', 'logistic costs', and 'cost of standardizing seafood ingredients', dieticians' perceived 'impact on the anticipated price' on total cost was lower than present counterparts. This implicates that 'impact on the present price' of the six price factors is too excessive, suggesting that many dieticians are unsatisfied with the current prices of seafood ingredients. Furthermore, 52.8% of dieticians stated that the maximum additional payment of HACCP seafood ingredients should be less than 5%. Consequently, this research serves as basic information for reasonable pricing of seafood ingredients and contributes to increased seafood usage by school food-services.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.34-40
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• 2021

Purpose If a new test is introduced or reagents are changed in the laboratory of a medical institution, the characteristics of the test should be analyzed according to the procedure and the assessment of reagents should be made. However, several necessary conditions must be met to perform all required comparative evaluations, first enough samples should be prepared for each test, and secondly, various reagents applicable to the comparative evaluations must be supplied. Even if enough comparative evaluations have been done, there is a limit to the fact that the data variation for the new reagent represents the overall patient data variation, The fact puts a burden on the laboratory to the change the reagent. Due to these various difficulties, reagent changes in the laboratory are limited. In order to introduce a competitive bid, the institute conducted a full investigation of Radioimmunoassay(RIA) reagents for each test and established the range of reagents available in the laboratory through comparative evaluations. We wanted to share this process. Materials and Methods There are 20 items of tests conducted in our laboratory except for consignment tests. For each test, RIA reagents that can be used were fully investigated with the reference to external quality control report. and the manuals for each reagent were obtained. Each reagent was checked for the manual to check the test method, Incubation time, sample volume needed for the test. After that, the primary selection was made according to whether it was available in this laboratory. The primary selected reagents were supplied with 2kits based on 100tests, and the data correlation test, sensitivity measurement, recovery rate measurement, and dilution test were conducted. The secondary selection was performed according to the results of the comparative evaluation. The reagents that passed the primary and secondary selections were submitted to the competitive bidding list. In the case of reagent is designated as a singular, we submitted a explanatory statement with the data obtained during the primary and secondary selection processes. Results Excluded from the primary selection was the case where TAT was expected to be delayed at the moment, and it was impossible to apply to our equipment due to the large volume of reagents used during the test. In the primary selection, there were five items which only one reagent was available.(squamous cell carcinoma Ag(SCC Ag), β-human chorionic gonadotropin(β-HCG), vitamin B12, folate, free testosterone), two reagents were available(CA19-9, CA125, CA72-4, ferritin, thyroglobulin antibody(TG Ab), microsomal antibody(Mic Ab), thyroid stimulating hormone-receptor-antibody(TSH-R-Ab), calcitonin), three reagents were available (triiodothyronine(T3), Tree T3, Free T4, TSH, intact parathyroid hormone(intact PTH)) and four reagents were available are carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA), TG. In the secondary selection, there were eight items which only one reagent was available.(ferritin, TG, CA19-9, SCC, β-HCG, vitaminB12, folate, free testosterone), two reagents were available(TG Ab, Mic Ab, TSH-R-Ab, CA125, CA72-4, intact PTH, calcitonin), three reagents were available(T3, Tree T3, Free T4, TSH, CEA). Reasons excluded from the secondary selection were the lack of reagent supply for comparative evaluations, the problems with data reproducibility, and the inability to accept data variations. The most problematic part of comparative evaluations was sample collection. It didn't matter if the number of samples requested was large and the capacity needed for the test was small. It was difficult to collect various concentration samples in the case of a small number of tests(100 cases per month or less), and it was difficult to conduct a recovery rate test in the case of a relatively large volume of samples required for a single test(more than 100 uL). In addition, the lack of dilution solution or standard zero material for sensitivity measurement or dilution tests was one of the problems. Conclusion Comparative evaluation for changing test reagents require appropriate preparation time to collect diverse and sufficient samples. In addition, setting the total sample volume and reagent volume range required for comparative evaluations, depending on the sample volume and reagent volume required for one test, will reduce the burden of sample collection and planning for each comparative evaluation.