• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.903-916
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• 2017

Purpose: The paper analyzes empirically the causal relationship between customer-oriented Quality circle activities and Business Performance for Korean service firms. We compare the operational characteristic behavior of the service firms and business performance. Methods: In this study, we used 3 variables, QC activities, Employee commitment and business performance. Especially, Service SME's QC Circle activities were analyzed in related with growth of company on the basis activities such as Leadership(team), improvement activity, Organizational learning, customer-focus activity and employee suggestion. Results: The result of analysis showed that employee commitment affected significantly on financial performance and non-financial performance and in turn, improvement activities, Organizational learning and customer-focus activity affected significantly on business performance (financial and non-financial). Conclusion: In the summary of the characteristics of this study based on the research results, first, segmenting the QCC activities in the service business into 5 elements can be considered to be differentiated from the existing researches in the aspect of utilizing the organization's objective-oriented variables differently from the researches utilized the variables related personal characteristics. Second, this study suggested the recent research results that suggested the problems of the QCC clearly, through which what new QC story approach was suggested has working level value in the aspect of activating the service QCC.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.15-23
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• 2019

Among service industries of knowledge based economic era, the roles of educational service field are becoming more important and standard of educational service makes a direct effect on economic development and social growth. Therefore, accurate measurement of service quality is the most important assignment and the measurement of the service quality remains difficult assignment. So, this researcher classified quality attributes applying weighted value and found potential satisfaction level(PSL) and potential customer demand improvement index(PCDI) for trainees participating in national manpower business so as to suggest measurement of service quality and easiness of use and then, calculated satisfaction position and opportunity cost by quality factor with Taguchi's loss fraction. And, improvable satisfaction level was measured, opportunity cost by degree of customer dissatisfaction was quantitatively measured, and a model that can indicate with economic factors was suggested. In addition, methodology of measuring quality cost that can be reduced by quality improvement and direction of strategic decision-making for deciding items to be improved preferentially were suggested with qualitative index that can indicate the degree of customers' dissatisfaction by loss.

• Journal of Internet Computing and Services
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.87-96
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• 2024

Information power has been a major criterion for wealth disparity in human history, and since the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, referred to as the data economy era, personal information has also gained economic value. Additionally, companies collect and analyze customer information to use as a marketing tool, providing personalized services, making the collection of quality customer information crucial to a company's success. However, as the amount of data held by companies increases, crimes of stealing personal information for financial gain have surged, making corporate customer information a target for criminals. The leakage of personal information and its circumstances lead to a decline in corporate trust from the customer's perspective, threatening corporate sustainability with falling stock prices and decreased sales. Therefore, companies find themselves in a paradoxical situation where the utilization of personal information is increasing while the risk of personal information leakage is also growing. This study used the news big data analysis system, BIG KINDS, to analyze major keywords before and after media coverage on personal information leaks, examining domestic media coverage trends. Through this, we identified the impact of personal information leakage on corporate sustainability and analyzed the connection between personal information protection and sustainable corporate management. The results derived from this study are expected to serve as foundational data for companies seeking ways to enhance sustainable management while increasing the utilization of personal information.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.173-183
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• 2011

The business is faced with the situation must improve a power in an increasingly competitive environment due to the recent rapid advance in information technology and the opening and expansion of global market, fast technological change, and various customer demand. The rapid change in information technology is having an effect on not only all the processes to develop products, but information contents that is provided for the purpose of customer value, and the appearance of products. In other words, the information technology is being recognized as a very important factor among other factors for companies to enhance their competitiveness. In addition, it is more efficient to focus on key factor to maintain the competitive advantage on the using of information technology by outsourcing information systems, rather than by operating the systems under their own. Since the global financial crisis, the long-term recession has been increasing companies who is ready to adopt outsourcing or adopted already. This study is to understand the environment and unique characteristics of outsourcing services and related industries focusing on information system operation and management in information outsourcing services, and is to set the concept needed through my theory that is connected to the service quality and customer satisfaction. A lot of business wiew the improvement of service quality and ensuring customer satisfaction as the major factors of business growth, and lots of ongoing studies have focused on service management in the Information outsourcing service industry. Yet few studies have ever concentrated on the quality of information system operation management service. This study, moreover, is to define the quality of service related with customer satisfaction from customer's viewpoint, measuring effects on customer satisfaction. The quality of outsourcing service on information system in this study is a great help to companies who are offering information outsourcing service, and company's managers and staffs who outsourcedto specialized company.

• Proceedings of the KAIS Fall Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.185-190
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• 2003

Due to the rapid growth of Internet, means of communication with customers in a traditional customer support environment such as telephone calls are being replaced by mainly e-mail in a Web-based customer support system. Although such a Web-based support is efficient and promises potential benefits for firms, including reduced transaction costs, reduced time, and high quality of support, there are some difficulties associated with responding to many types of customer’s inbound e-mails appropriately .As many types of e-mail are received, considerable attention is being paid to methods for increasing the efficiency of managing and responding e-mails. This research proposes an intelligent system for managing customer’s inbound e-mails in organizations by applying case based reasoning technique for responding to various customers' inbound e-mails more effectively. In this approach, a case is represented as a frame-typed data structure corresponding to an inbound e-mail, keywords, and its reply e-mail. In the retrieval procedure, keywords and affinity set is developed to index a case, and then the case is represented as a vector, a case vector. Also, cosines value is calculated to measure the similarity between a new inbound e-mail and the cases in the case base. In the adaptation procedure, we provide several adaptation strategies to adapt and modify the retrieved case. The strategies guide to make an outbound e-mail using product databases, databases for customer support, etc. Additionally, the Web-based system architecture is proposed to implement our methodology. The proposed methodology and system will be helpful for developing more efficient Web-based customer support.

• Korea Science and Art Forum
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• v.27
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• pp.231-246
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to examine effects of sustainability of convention events on brand equity and customer loyalty. This paper also explores the mediating role of brand equity amid sustainability of convention events and customer loyalty. The four determinants ofsustainability of convention events examined in this study are economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, social sustainability and event sustainability. Brand equity refers to performance, social image, value, trust worthiness, and attachment. The findings are as follows: (1)most sustainability of convention events have a positive effect on each brand equity's elements; (2)all sustainability of convention events have a positive effect on loyalty; (3)brand equity of convention is significantly related to customer loyalty. (4)brand equity plays a mediating role between sustainability of convention and customer loyalty. The findings will not only be useful in improving the structure of sustainability of convention events, but also in enhancing competitiveness in Korea's convention industry.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.12 no.12
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• pp.83-92
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• 2014

Purpose - A business ecosystem refers to mutually dependent systems interconnected by a loose foundation of various ecosystem members such as customers, suppliers, partners, and other stakeholders. The ecosystem-based strategy attempts to achieve competitive advantage for firms by enriching a business ecosystem or building a sustainable business ecosystem through the collaboration and co-evolution of its members. A sustainable business ecosystem is a source of competitiveness for firms anda manageable resource for gaining a competitive advantage. Customers represent the core membership of the business ecosystem and play a pivotal role in building a sustainable business ecosystem. This study examines the effects of customer participation on economic and social value in the business ecosystem and suggests a course of action for building a sustainable business ecosystem. Research design, data, and methodology - Two business cases of South Korea are selected from two different business types: business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C) firms. Business ecosystems for B2B and B2C firms reflect contrasting characteristics. Data was collected from in-depth interviews with four representatives of four firms. Results - The study suggested seven propositions for the relationships between customer participation and a sustainable business ecosystem through multiple case studies based on in-depth interviews. The results reveal the following four strategic actions for building sustainable business ecosystems based on the suggested propositions: alignment, systemization, socialization, and co-evolution. Alignment refers to achieving a harmonic balance or virtuous circle among the firm's mission, investment, and value creation. Systemization refers to building and implementing management and infrastructure systems rooted in the corporate culture. Socialization of customers in the business ecosystem reinforces the harmony or virtuous cycle. Finally, co-evolution is associated with the relationship between firms and customers as buyer firms in a restricted business ecosystem. Conclusions - This study considers multiple cases for the execution of a sustainable business ecosystem in collaboration with customers and suggests seven propositions and four strategic actions. The results are based on qualitative data from interviews with business associates from two firms in an open business ecosystem and two firms in a restricted business ecosystem, both in South Korea. Our research results regarding two contrasting business ecosystems shed light on business issues and policy making in Asian business environments, which are in the transition stages from a traditional conglomerate-driven to an inclusive growth-driven economy. The business ecosystem itself should be considered a manageable resource for firms' competitive positions in the market. A customer is a member of the business ecosystem and should thus be viewed not only as a purchasing entity and an object of relationship management but also as a co-creator of value. Therefore, firms should collaborate with customers to build sustainable business ecosystems. For this, firms must create social value, which cannot be created by customers alone, within the business ecosystem. Then, customers participate in a business ecosystem and build it to be favorable to them. Implications for academics and practitioners were suggested.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.323-358
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• 2015

This study strives to identify effects of the relationship between the loyalty program and service loyalty through focusing on the role of the loyalty program which is used as a means of promotion in relationship marketing. According to the result of the empirical testing, the higher the economical usefulness and psychological usefulness (the perceived value of the loyalty program) are, the higher the customer satisfaction rate was. Also, the higher the satisfaction of the loyalty program, the more credibility increased. Furthermore, the higher credibility was the more positive the influencing relationship with a heightened level of commitment was found to be. It was discovered that different factors such as customer satisfaction, customer trust, customer commitment in the loyalty program have a positive influence on service loyalty. Loyalty program satisfaction, along with loyalty program credibility and commitment indirectly affected service loyalty.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.219-230
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• 2010

Digital content makes big changes to our daily lives while bringing opportunities and challenges for companies. Creative firms integrate pictures, texts, videos, audios, and data by digitalization to develop new products or services and create digital experiences to promote their brands. Most articles on digital content contribute to the basic concept or development of marketing it in literature. Actually, compared with traditional value chains for common products or services, the digital content industry seems to have more potential value. Because quite a bit of digital content is free to the consumer, price is not necessarily perceived as an indicator of the quality or value of information (Rowley 2008). It becomes evident that a current theme in digital content is the issue of "value," and research on customers' perceived value of digital content is a necessity. This article argues that experiential value has an advantage in customers' evaluations of digital content. Two different but related contributions to the understanding of "value" of digital content are made here. First, based on the comparison of digital content with products and services, the article proposes two key characteristics that make experiential strategy available for digital content: intangibility and near-zero reproduction cost. On top of that, based on the discussion of the gap between company's idealized value and customer's perceived value, this article emphasizes that digital content prices and pricing of digital content is different from products and services. As a result of intangibility, prices may not reflect customer value. Moreover, the cost of digital content in the development stage may be very high while reproduction costs shrink dramatically. Moreover, because of the value gap mentioned before, the pricing polices vary for different digital contents. For example, flat price policy is generally used for movies and music (Magiera 2001; Netherby 2002), while for continuous demand, digital content such as online games and anti-virus programs involves a more complicated matter of utility and competitive price levels. Digital content companies have to explore various kinds of strategies to overcome this gap. Rethinking marketing solutions such as advertisements, images, and word-of-mouth and their effect on customers' perceived value becomes essential. China's digital content industry is becoming more and more globalized and drawing special attention from different countries and regions that have respective competitive advantages. The 2008-2009 Annual Report on the Development of China's Digital Content Industry (CCIDConsulting 2009) indicates that, with the driven power of domestic demand and governmental policy support, the country's digital content industry maintained a fast growth of some 30 percent in 2008, obviously indicating the initial stage of industry expansion. In China, anti-virus programs and other software programs which need to be updated use a quarter-based pricing policy. Customers can download a trial version for free and use it for six months or a year. If they want to use it longer, continuous payment is needed. They examine the excellence of the digital content during this trial period and decide whether to pay for continued usage. For China’s music and movie industries, as a result of initial development, experiential strategy has not been much applied, even though firms in other countries find the trial experience and explore important strategies(such as customers listening to music for several seconds for free before downloading it). For the above reasons, anti-virus program may be a representative for digital content industry in China and an exploratory study of the advantage of experiential value in customer's perceived value of digital content is done in the anti-virus market of China. In order to enhance the reliability of the survey data, this study focused on people who were experienced users of anti-virus programs. The empirical results revealed that experiential value has a positive effect on customers' perceived value of digital content. In other words, because digital content is intangible and the reproduction costs are nearly zero, customers' evaluations are based heavily on their experience. Moreover, image and word-of-mouth do not have a positive effect on perceived value, only on experiential value. That is to say, a digital content value chain is different from that of a general product or service. Experiential value has a notable advantage and mediates the effect of image and word-of-mouth on perceived value. The results of this study help provide an understanding of why free digital content downloads exist in developing countries. Customers can perceive the value of digital content only by using and experiencing it. This is also why such governments support the development of digital content. Other developing countries whose digital content business is also in the beginning stage can make use of the suggestions here. Moreover, based on the advantage of experiential strategy, companies should make more of an effort to invest in customers' experience. As a result of the characteristics and value gap of digital content, customers perceive more value in the intangible digital content only by experiencing what they really want. Moreover, because of the near-zero reproduction costs, companies can perhaps use experiential strategy to enhance customer understanding of digital content.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.269-277
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• 2010

Previous studies have shown that the most important factor affecting customer loyalty in the service industry is service quality. However, on the subject of whether service quality has a direct or indirect effect on customer loyalty, scholars' views apparently vary. Some studies suggest that service quality has a direct and fundamental influence on customer loyalty (Bai and Liu, 2002). However, others have shown that service quality not only directly affects customer loyalty, it also has an indirect impact on customer loyalty by influencing customer satisfaction and perceived value (Cronin, Brady, and Hult, 2000). Currently, there are few domestic articles that specifically address the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty in the mobile communication industry. Moreover, research has studied customer loyalty as a whole variable, rather than breaking it down further into multiple dimensions. Based on this analysis, this paper summarizes previous study results, establishes an effect mechanism model among service quality, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty in the mobile communication industry, and presents a statistical test on model assumptions by using customer investigation data from Heilongjiang Mobile Company. It provides theoretical guidance for mobile service management based on the discussion of the hypothesis test results. For data collection, the sample comprised mobile users in Harbin city, and the survey was taken by random sampling. Out of a total of 300 questionnaires, 276 (92.9%) were recovered. After excluding invalid questionnaires, 249 remained, for an effective rate of 82.6 percent for the study. Cronbach's ${\alpha}$ coefficient was adapted to assess the scale reliability, and validity testing was conducted on the questionnaire from three aspects: content validity, construct validity. and convergent validity. The study tested for goodness of fit mainly from the absolute and relative fit indexes. From the hypothesis testing results, overall, four assumptions have not been supported. The ultimate affective relationship of service quality, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty is demonstrated in Figure 2. On the whole, the service quality of the communication industry not only has a direct positive significant effect on customer loyalty, it also has an indirect positive significant effect on customer loyalty through service quality; the affective mechanism and extent of customer loyalty are different, and are influenced by each dimension of service quality. This study used the questionnaires of existing literature from home and abroad and tested them in empirical research, with all questions adapted to seven-point Likert scales. With the SERVQUAL scale of Parasuraman, Zeithaml, and Berry (1988), or PZB, as a reference point, service quality was divided into five dimensions-tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy-and the questions were simplified down to nineteen. The measurement of customer satisfaction was based mainly on Fornell (1992) and Wang and Han (2003), ending up with four questions. Based on the study’s three indicators of price tolerance, first choice, and complaint reaction were used to measure attitudinal loyalty, while repurchase intention, recommendation, and reputation measured behavioral loyalty. The collection and collation of literature data produced a model of the relationship among service quality, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty in mobile communications, and China Mobile in the city of Harbin in Heilongjiang province was used for conducting an empirical test of the model and obtaining some useful conclusions. First, service quality in mobile communication is formed by the five factors mentioned earlier: tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy. On the basis of PZB SERVQUAL, the study designed a measurement scale of service quality for the mobile communications industry, and obtained these five factors through exploratory factor analysis. The factors fit basically with the five elements, indicating the concept of five elements of service quality for the mobile communications industry. Second, service quality in mobile communications has both direct and indirect positive effects on attitudinal loyalty, with the indirect effect being produced through the intermediary variable, customer satisfaction. There are also both direct and indirect positive effects on behavioral loyalty, with the indirect effect produced through two intermediary variables: customer satisfaction and attitudinal loyalty. This shows that better service quality and higher customer satisfaction will activate the attitudinal to service providers more active and show loyalty to service providers much easier. In addition, the effect mechanism of all dimensions of service quality on all dimensions of customer loyalty is different. Third, customer satisfaction plays a significant intermediary role among service quality and attitudinal and behavioral loyalty, indicating that improving service quality can boost customer satisfaction and make it easier for satisfied customers to become loyal customers. Moreover, attitudinal loyalty plays a significant intermediary role between service quality and behavioral loyalty, indicating that only attitudinally and behaviorally loyal customers are truly loyal customers. The research conclusions have some indications for Chinese telecom operators and others to upgrade their service quality. Two limitations to the study are also mentioned. First, all data were collected in the Heilongjiang area, so there might be a common method bias that skews the results. Second, the discussion addresses the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty, setting customer satisfaction as mediator, but does not consider other factors, like customer value and consumer features, This research will be continued in the future.