• Korean small business review
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.19-37
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• 2009

The purpose of this research is to explore differences between small and medium-sized companies and large-sized companies in the impact of human resource innovativeness(HRI), learning orientation(LO), and HRI-LO interaction on innovation effect and business performance. Although learning orientation has long been considered as a key factor influencing good performance of a business, little research was devoted to exploring the effect of HRI-LO interaction on innovation effect and business performance. In this study, it is investigated whether there is a synergy effect between innovative human workforce and learning orientation corporate culture, in addition to each by itself, to generate good business performance as well as a success of new innovations in the market. Research hypotheses were as follows, including H1) human resource innovativeness(HRI), learning orientation(LO), and interactions of HRI and LO(HRI-LO interaction) positively affect innovation effect, H2) there is a difference of the effect of HRI, LO, and HRI-LO interaction on innovation effect between large-sized and small-sized companies, H3) HRI, LO, HRI-LO interaction, innovation effect positively affect business performance, and H4) there is a difference of the effect of HRI, LO, HRI-LO interaction, and innovation effect on business performance between large-sized and small-sized companies. Data were obtained from 479 practitioners through a web survey since the web survey is an efficient method to collect a national data at a variety of fields. A single respondent from a company was allowed to participate in the study after checking whether they have more than 5-year work experiences in the company. To check whether a common source bias is existed in the sample, additional data from a convenient sample of 97 companies were gathered through the traditional survey method, and were used to confirm correlations between research variables of the original sample and the additional sample. Data were divided into two groups according to company size, such as 352 small and medium-sized companies with less than 300 employees and 127 large-sized companies with 300 or more employees. Data were analyzed through t-test and regression analyses. HRI which is the innovativeness of human resources in the company was measured with 9 items assessing the innovativenss of practitioners in staff, manager, and executive-level positions. LO is the company's effort to encourage employees' development, sharing, and utilizing of knowledge through consistent learning. LO was measured by 18 items assessing commitment to learning, vision sharing, and open-mindedness. Innovation effect which assesses a success of new products/services in the market, was measured with 3 items. Business performance was measured by respondents' evaluations on profitability, sales increase, market share, and general business performance, compared to other companies in the same field. All items were measured by using 6-point Likert scales. Means of multiple items measuring a construct were used as variables based on acceptable reliability and validity. To reduce multi-collinearity problems generated on the regression analysis of interaction terms, centered data were used for HRI, LO, and Innovation effect on regression analyses. In group comparison, large-sized companies were superior on annual sales, annual net profit, the number of new products/services in the last 3 years, the number of new processes advanced in the last 3 years, and the number of R&D personnel, compared to small and medium-sized companies. Also, large-sized companies indicated a higher level of HRI, LO, HRI-LO interaction, innovation effect and business performance than did small and medium-sized companies. The results indicate that large-sized companies tend to have more innovative human resources and invest more on learning orientation than did small-sized companies, therefore, large-sized companies tend to have more success of a new product/service in the market, generating better business performance. In order to test research hypotheses, a series of multiple-regression analysis was conducted. In the regression analysis examining the impact on innovation effect, important results were generated as : 1) HRI, LO, and HRI-LO affected innovation effect, and 2) company size indicated a moderating effect. Based on the result, the impact of HRI on innovation effect would be greater in small and medium-sized companies than in large-sized companies whereas the impact of LO on innovation effect would be greater in large-sized companies than in small and medium-sized companies. In other words, innovative workforce would be more important in making new products/services that would be successful in the market for small and medium-sized companies than for large-sized companies. Otherwise, learning orientation culture would be more effective in making successful products/services for large-sized companies than for small and medium-sized companies. Based on these results, research hypotheses 1 and 2 were supported. In the analysis of a regression examining the impact on business performance, important results were generated as : 1) innovation effect, LO, and HRI-LO affected business performance, 2) HRI by itself did not have a direct effect on business performance regardless of company size, and 3) company size indicated a moderating effect. Specifically, an effect of the HRI-LO interaction on business performance was stronger in large-sized companies than in small and medium-sized companies. It means that the synergy effect of innovative human resources and learning orientation culture tends to be stronger as company is larger. Referring to these result, research hypothesis 3 was partially supported whereas hypothesis 4 was supported. Based on research results, implications for companies were generated. Regardless of company size, companies need to develop the learning orientation corporate culture as well as human resources' innovativeness together in order to achieve successful development of innovative products and services as well as to improve sales and profits. However, the effectiveness of the HRI-LO interaction would be varied by company size. Specifically, the synergy effect of HRI-LO was stronger to make a success of new products/services in small and medium-sized companies than in large-sized companies. However, the synergy effect of HRI-LO was more effective to increase business performance of large-sized companies than that of small and medium-sized companies. In the case of small and medium-sized companies, business performance was achieved more through the success of new products/services than much directly affected by HRI-LO. The most meaningful result of this study is that the effect of HRI-LO interaction on innovation effect and business performance was confirmed. It was often ignored in the previous research. Also, it was found that the innovativeness of human workforce would not directly influence in generating good business performance, however, innovative human resources would indirectly affect making good business performance by contributing to achieving the development of new products/services that would be successful in the market. These findings would provide valuable managerial implications specifically in regard to the development of corporate culture and education program of small and medium-sized as well as large-sized companies in a variety of fields.

• IE interfaces
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.418-426
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• 2007

This study is to suggest the government's support direction for the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by examining the relations among technology level, innovation factors, entrepreneur's characteristics, and start-up reasons. The management bottlenecks and the necessary fields of government's support are also investigated across the company's growth stages. Empirical analysis was conducted based on the 318 Korean SMEs' data receiving the Venture and/or Inno-biz certification. Results show that managing difficulties of the company have typical pattern according to the stage of growth. The characteristics of an entrepreneur such as age, education background and past experience affect the early stage of starting business. We also found that the technology level is closely connected with operational innovation activities and circumstances, entrepreneur's characteristics, start-up motives, and technological innovation activities.

• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.459-476
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was designed to identify whether organizational characteristics of Korean companies can make differences in innovative capability and Malcolm Baldridge management quality standard. In addition, based on the results and by verifying the influence of the innovative capability to management quality activity, it was to investigate the relations between the two factors. Methods: The subjects of this study were workers at major companies and small-and-medium sized companies. T-test was used to identify differences in innovative capabilities of industrial and age, position classifications, and regression analysis was employed to verify the influences of the innovative capability to the management quality activity. Results: The size of company caused some differences in market innovative sector regarding innovative capability. Management quality activity showed differences because of the sizes of companies and their supply types, while innovative capability influenced on all sectors of management quality activity. Conclusion: In this study Malcolm Baldridge management quality standard was applied to Korean companies. The results verified the meaningful influence of innovative capability to management quality activity. This means that the management quality activity can make a better performance when the innovative capability is good enough. Thus, the enhancement of management quality activity requires the boost of innovative capabilities of organization members.

• Fourth Industrial Review
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2021

Purpose - This case study analyzes the internationalization strategy and innovation strategy as key factors contributing to the business success of CAP, a small and medium-sized manufacturing company in Korea producing auto parts such as wipers. This study describes the diversification strategies conducted by CAP Corporation and highlights the company's core competencies that have largely contributed to their global competitive success. Research design, data, and methodology - This paper provides in-depth case study on how CAP was able to grow into a hidden champion company, focusing on their strategies since its establishment. In particular, by analyzing the success factors centering on CAP's aggressive innovation strategy and internationalization strategy, it presents guidelines for small and medium-sized enterprises in Asian countries to become a Hidden Champion company. Result - CAP's product technology has successfully established innovative system on their product called 'vertebra spring' to distribute uniform pressure to the rubber to ensure performance as well as durability of their products. In order to continue benefiting from utilizing core competence and to continue pursuing technological advancement in the wiper industry, CAP has launched a wide range of products (flat blade, conventional blade, hybrid blade) applicable to 95% of the vehicle in the market. Conclusion - Taken together, CAP has many aspects of a hidden champion company by investing in R&D up to 8% of its annual sales to R&D investment even during the crises situation. This number is about 3.36 times higher than the average ratio of listed companies in Korea. Furthermore, the leadership of the management team as well as their vision toward the global market and strong commitment to innovation enabled CAP to become the world's fifth-largest wiper and Asia's No. 1 wiper manufacturer.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.205-244
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• 2015

In response to the recent rapid technological and market changes, the importance of the design of ambidextrous organization has been increasingly emphasized as one of the dynamic capabilities. Firms that show a high performance in the rapid technological and market changes appear to design and implement ambidextrous organization successfully. They have achieved both exploitative competence for continuous innovation with product development and exploratory competence for discontinuous innovation with new market and new technologies. We have examined why and how to design and operate ambidextrous organizations and the effects of ambidextrous organizational characteristics on the performance from structural, contextual and leadership perspectives. We conducted case studies on 3 Korean firms that showed different characteristics of industrial product, company size, etc. Longitudinal case studies exhibit different processes of design and operating ambidextrous organization according to innovative strategy and industrial characteristics.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.527-536
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• 2018

This study examined the success factors of six sigma innovation in small- and medium-sized venture companies. The findings are summarized as follows. The importance of 20 items in a total of 4 factors showed that corporate vision was number one in the manager's support, followed by program composition, passionate support, high performance guarantee, and quality activity continuity. This suggests that all members can operate the program by the structured system with a sense of united goal under the company-offered vision as a community when the goal, idea or vision of six sigma activities are shared to members of the entire organization. In addition, high success can be achieved when supported by company-wide enthusiasm and high compensation for sharers' innovative efforts of six sigma at the same time. Small- and medium-sized venture companies should develop brisk six sigma activities of advanced precision parts in such an environment that the technology competition is becoming increasingly fierce. The six sigma movement should be developed as a niche strategy for small organizations with united vision sharing by company-wide operational commitment and high self-esteem for the organizational characteristics of small- and medium-sized venture companies run by key minority organizations and members.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.3-24
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• 2010

This study aims to identify the determinants on the implementation level of e-Trade of Chinese exporters in Shandong Province, China. From the review of previous studies, a research model and six hypotheses were set up and tested by the multiple regression analysis with total 127 effective survey data. Among the company characteristics, the company size was statistically significant to the utilization range and the utilization level. But unlike former studies in Korea, the utilization range showed the (-) mark. On the other hand, the innovative attitude of CEO didn't show statistical significance to both the utilization range and the utilization level. Among the information characteristics, the IT infrastructure was not statistically significant to both the utilization range and the utilization level. On the other hand, the education and training of technical personnel didn't have a significant effect on the utilization range, but it had a statistically significant effect on the utilization level. Among the external environment, the intensity of competition had a statistically significant effect on both the utilization range and the utilization level. In summary, the implementation level of e-Trade of Chinese exporters in Shandong Province, China is still behind that of Korea. But the fact that the small and medium-sized Chinese exporters are using Internet more actively than large companies suggests some implications for those of Korea.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.217-231
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• 2018

In Korea, small and medium sized domestic enterprises(SMEs) play an pivotal role in the national economy, accounting for 99.8% of all enterprises, 87.9% of total employment, and 48.3% of production. and SMEs were driving a real force of the development of national economy in many respects such as innovation, job creation, industrial diversity, balanced regional development. Despite their crucial role in the national development, most of SMEs suffer from a lack of R&D capabilities and equipments as well as funding capacity. Government-Supported Research Institute(GRI) can provide SMEs with valuable supplementary technological knowledges and help them build technological capacities. so, In order to effectively support SMEs, government and GRI must be a priority to know about the factors influencing the performance related to technology transfer and technological collaborations. The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of Innovative competences and CEO's entrepreneurship on Organizational performance in ICT small and medium enterprises, including the moderating effect of Social capital. This study adopted research variables such as Innovative competence, CEO's entrepreneurship as independent variables, with Organizational performance as a dependent variable, including the moderating variable of Social capital. 1,200 companies data which in the field of ICT SMEs were collected from the survey. The result of this empirical study is summarized as follows, First, CEO's entrepreneurship was confirmed to have a significant effect on organizational performance, and social capital variables were confirmed to have a moderating effect between entrepreneurship and organizational performance. Second, it was found that the company's Innovative competence was significantly affected the organizational performance. and also that social capital variables moderating effects. From these findings, it was confirmed that the Innovatibe competence plays an important role in influencing corporate performance.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.203-219
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• 2020

This study attempts to empirically analyzes whether the establishment of a company-affiliated research institute affects corporate performance and innovation-oriented enterprises, and suggests implications for policy establishment. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze if the establishment of an affiliated research institute and internal competency variables affect innovation and innovative performance-type companies. As a result, the establishment of an affiliated research institute was found to have a positive effect on the probability of belonging to an innovation-oriented company group, and it was found that it had a significant effect on business performance. In particular, there was significant effect on the production capability among internal competencies and the inclusion of innovative business groups is analyzed to have a mediating effect. Based on the research, the policy directions for encouraging the establishment of an affiliated research institute of small and medium-sized enterprises and revitalizing the research institute were suggested, and limitations and future research directions were suggested.

• Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.845-858
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• 2019

The most serious problem company facing in today's business environment is the failure of new product development outcomes. Statistically, almost half of the new products released each year failed. Despite the innovative technological advances, consumers' expectation level become much higher and global competition is intensifying. In addition, the new product life cycle is becoming shorter and shorter. It is difficult for a company to survive without developing long-lived products. The most important issue in a company's success and failure is the successful development and introduction of new products. Previous research has presented many determinants to achieve a successful new product development. This study focuses on dynamic competence as an important determinant, and identifies the constituting elements. Enterprises need to acquire, absorb, integrate and reconfigure their resources to survive and develop continuously. It is necessary to hold a dynamic ability switching resource bases in order to adapt to changing environments. The results of this study are as follows: First, the effect of learning, reconfiguration, and alliance capabilities on the new product development of small and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises seems to be positive. Second, the integrative and reconfiguration capabilities positively affect a new product development under high environmental turbulence.