• Information Systems Review
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.59-77
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• 2016

Although various recommendation techniques have been applied to the e-commerce market, few studies compare the intent to use these techniques from the customer's perspective. In this paper, we conduct a comparative analysis of customers' intention to use five recommendation techniques widely adapted by online shopping malls and focus on the differences in purchasing electronic goods and apparel products. The recommendation techniques are as follows: best-seller recommendation, merchandiser recommendation, content-based recommendation, collaborative filtering recommendation, and social recommendation. Additionally, we examine which factors influence customer intent to use the recommendation services. Data were collected through a survey administered to 220 e-commerce users with prior experience with recommendation services. Collected data were examined using analysis of variance and regression analysis. Results indicate statistically significant differences in customers' intention to use recommendation services according to the recommendation technique. In particular, the best-seller recommendation technique is preferred when purchasing electronic goods, whereas the content-based recommendation technique is preferred for apparel purchases. Factors such as personal characteristics and personality, purchasing tendency, as well as perception of the product or recommendation service affect a customer's intention to use a recommendation service. However, the influence of these factors varies depending on the recommendation technique. This study provides guidelines for companies to adopt appropriate recommendation techniques according to product categories and personal characteristics of customers.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.117-144
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• 2008

Lots of virtual communities and online businesses presently derive their primary sources of revenues through advertising, but nevertheless are plagued with marginal profitability though they might possess a significant user base. In the light of the need for an efficacious business model, there have been recent insights of an online community in particular reaping profits through an innovative and lucrative revenue generation method that earns by selling digital items. There have been some obvious evidences (e.g., Cyworld, SecondLife, Habo Hotel, etc.) that online communities can be profitable through their unique business model of selling digital items. However, there is lack of understanding about the motivation of purchasing digital items. This study tries to identify the main motivators of digital item purchases based on social/individual identity theory and self-presentation theory. "Digital items", otherwise known as "virtual assets", may include online avatars, accessories for the avatars, decorative ornaments like furniture, digital wallpapers, skins, background music and virtual weapons used for Internet games. These digital items are employed by users for representation and articulation in the online space, especially to create and enhance their online profiles in web pages and games. Prices for digital items typically range from a few cents to a few dollars each. Based on the theoretical framework like social identity theory and self-presentation theory, we developed the research model and proposed seven hypotheses. An analysis of 225 members of Cyworld found that digital item purchase intention in virtual world is affected by both members' need for self-presentation and need for affiliation. We also found that the need for self-presentation is significantly increased by innovativeness of members, community group norm, and community involvement. We concluded that the need for self-presentation could be a key variable for profitable business model in online community service industry. However, neither individual self-efficacy nor the need for affiliation significantly influenced the need for self-presentation which triggers purchase intention of digital items. In term of the theoretical and practical contribution, this study can be a pioneering empirical research that investigates the purchase intention of digital items based on social identity theory and self-presentation theory in the online context. Also, the findings of our study are valuable and practical for practitioners in the market who wish to adopt or improve the business model of selling digital items in an online community. From the findings, it can be seen that innovativeness of users, community group norm, and community involvement are three significant factors that influence need for self-presentation of users which ultimately leads to their intentions to buy digital items. These findings put forth that virtual community providers and online businesses selling digital items should prioritize their efforts and focus on these three factors if they want to increase the sales of these digital items and generate greater revenues. This study provides important implications for academic researchers and practitioners to understand why the community members pay money for their digital items in virtual world and how the practitioners can increase the sales of digital items in an online community. A couple of limitations of the study and future research directions are also discussed.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.57-68
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• 2008

With the shift of consumer’s spending behaviors further into emotionally-driven purchases, the role of brand is becoming even more important, which in turn, expands design’s role in the brand image strategy. The contact point between the consumers and the brand is the primary channel for building strong brand image through experience. Therefore, it is critical to comprehensively plan and manage the consumer contact point for any brand. Given the changing market conditions, the objective of this study is to define and structure an integrated design development and management system for building successful brand image. In order to do so, the research analyzed the characters of brand image, the conditions for consumer experience and the roles of emotion. The analysis into the correlation between images and emotion process model yields three natures of an image. The image 1) is based on empirical decisions, 2) expresses and conveys emotional aspects and 3) builds mental values through a sense of sympathy. Through case studies of successful designs that meet all three characteristics, the roles of a brand icon in building strong brand image and the needs for integrated design approach for implementation are defined. The methods for integrated design include 1) providing a focal point through brand image positioning, 2) utilizing visual themes based on brand image plot, 3) building a Total Identity Program to holistically manage brand images and 4) developing brand icons for brand image reinforcement.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.52-63
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• 2016

This research was conducted about four weeks from April 1, 2016 until April 30. Data collection for customers who visit the restaurant franchise in Seoul. Results shown that choose a restaurant franchise result sync conducted a regression analysis to analyze the impact on consumers' purchase intention. Kindness was the influence of B=0.597 (p<.001), is a unique B=0.210 (p<.001), cleanliness is B=0.230 (p<.001) significant information on the degree of consumer purchases (+). Second, choose a restaurant franchise motivation verify the moderating effect of consumer attitudes between the purchase intention of consumers eating out analysis. In the first stage determining factor model to 0.630, F=128.612 (p<0.01) emerged as significant. In the second stage of the explanatory models increased by the addition of an additional 6.1% of consumer attitudes consumer attitudes to F=58.656 (p<0.01) for it came out significantly. In Step 3 of Select synchronization options* and the increase in explanatory power due to the additional input of consumer attitudes 0.6%, so for F=1.585 (p<0.01) emerged as a significant moderating effect.

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.13-24
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• 2016

This research was conducted over four weeks from February 1, 2016 until Februay 29. Results were as follows. First, the effects of dietary lifestyle on the purchase intention of consumers was significant and postive, while food flavors (B=0.019 (p<.001)) and convenience (B=0.055 (p<.001)) had a significant and negative effect. To determine the coefficient to measure the adequacy of the model was explained 64.9% of variation in 0.649 premise, the model with F=187.244 (p<.001) to verify the significance level. Second, the moderating effects of consumer culture on the proposed realtionship was examined in 3 stages. The Stage 1 model found a significant effect (0.649, F=18.244 (p<0.01)). The Stage 2 model increased predictive power with the addition of "consumer culture" and was also significant(65.1% and F=142.119 (p<0.01)). The Stage 3 model increased the explanatory power due to the addition of 'lifestyle and found a significant moderating effect of 'Eating consumer culture' (65.9%, so for F=84.469 (p<0.01)).

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.873-883
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• 2008

In this study, we assessed consumers' recognition of frozen foods via a survey study, and monitored the contamination levels of total aerobic bacteria and Escherichia coli in imported and domestic frozen seafoods obtained from five whole sale markets in Seoul. A questionnaire used to assess the perception of frozen food safety and the attitude towards frozen food usage was developed and distributed to 350 adults. A total of 324 questionnaires were subjected to frequency analysis and a chi-square test, using SPSS for Windows. The results of our survey study demonstrated that 44.6% of the respondent consumed frozen processed foods two to three times per month, with dumplings being the most frequently purchased. 70.5% of the respondents selected "convenient cooking" as the principal reason for their frozen food purchases. 58% of the respondents believed that frozen processed food is not safe to eat as the result of food additives and changes in quality during the shelf life period. Consumers most profoundly preferred frozen seafood originating from America, and preferred that from China least profoundly (81.2%). Microbiological analyses demonstrated that the aerobic plate counts of frozen seafood, regardless of origin, fulfill the standard requirements except for one frozen clam (6.6 Log CFU/g), which was a heated-frozen domestic product. In addition, E. coli was isolated from frozen cooked mussels, frozen raw clams and squids, thus indicating that more strict hygienic regulation for frozen seafoods will be necessary to protect the consumer in both domestic and foreign markets.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.206-217
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• 2016

This study was conducted to assess the recognition and consumption of health functional food (HFF) of the college students in the Northern Gyeonggi-do area (Republic of Korea). To accomplish this, a survey was conducted to investigate 360 college students (183 males and 177 females) regarding their general characteristics, as well as the recognition, knowledge, considerations, purchases and consumption of HFF. Most male and female students (68.9% and 61.6%, respectively) were unaware of the HFF certification mark, however, more females(58.8%) were aware of the legal HFF definition compared to males (36.6%). The HFF advertising routes for males and females were 'TV radio' (43.2% and 43.5%, respectively) and 'internet smart phones' (19.7% and 27.1%, respectively). The main factor considered for selection and the most serious problem concerning HFF by males and females were 'effectiveness' (36.1% and 43.6%, respectively) and 'hype (exaggerated advertisement)' (35.0% and 55.9%, respectively). The main purchase route by males and females was 'pharmacy' (35.2% and 27.8%, respectively). The main reason for HFF product purchase by males and females was 'health promotion' (38.8% and 29.4%, respectively) and the main reason for not purchasing an HFF product was 'no health problem'(34.8% and 36.7%, respectively). The percentage of HFF consumption was 46.0% in males and 69.8% in females. The main HFF product consumed by males and females was 'vitamin mineral' (36.9% and 43.5%, respectively). The main reason for HFF consumption by males was 'health promotion' (31.0%) and females was 'recovery from fatigue' (21.8%). The main reason for not consuming HFF by males and females was 'no health problem' (38.4% and 41.5%, respectively). These results suggest the need to provide correct information concerning HFF to college students. Based on these results, greater efforts should be made to provide meaningful information regarding factors affecting purchase and consumption patterns for college students related to the research and development of HFF in the Northern Gyeonggi-do area.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.41-52
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• 2015

Purpose - Given globalization, the new niche market of medical tourism is likely to experience sustainable growth for various reasons, such as aging populations and a shift in the medical consumerism paradigm toward prevention. Importantly, understanding medical customers' behavior is necessary to benefit from a competitive advantage in this industry. The existing research primarily accessed the key factors of medical quality and costs to explain health customers' behavior but is limited in terms of enabling an understanding of the decision process. This limitation exists because, given the intangibility and greater associated risks in the highly professional industry of international medical tourism, most customers lack the knowledge and experience needed to evaluate the central factors-such as the medical competence of health care countries-before purchases. Therefore, they actively search for useful information through various distributions to reduce uncertainty and to make better choices. Interestingly, most of these information channels are associated with word-of-mouth (WOM). However, no evidence is found in the literature to estimate the effect of WOM in the medical tourism field. Thus, this study focuses on WOM to explore its interaction with key medical characteristic factors and the attractiveness of destinations referred to by sources. This study also affects customers' evaluations and, in turn, influences their intention to seek health care services abroad. Research design, data, and methodology - The literature review addressed an interesting research model for estimating the relations among WOM, medical characteristics, attractiveness, and customers' choice intention regarding international health care. In the key economic regions in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Guangdong, 2,500 survey questionnaires were distributed to potential customers of different ages, education, and income levels. A resulting 1,717 (68.68 percent of the original 2,500) usable surveys were obtained for analysis. Moderated regression analysis was used to determine the effects of WOM in the decision process regarding international health care destinations. Results - The results indicate that WOM is a good moderator of the relationships between the factors evaluated by sources and customers. More importantly, the WOM effects reflect the factors of tie strength, credibility, and vividness. The results also reveal that, given the moderating role of WOM, the intention of potential Chinese customers to seek the referred health care country varies according to the medical characteristics of medical competency and reputation as evaluated by customers. In contrast, the travel attractiveness of the attractions, facilities, accessibility, and social environment are critical determinants of destination choice intention. Conclusions - The moderating role of WOM has been confirmed through the international healthcare destination selection process. Medical tourism managers should user WOM as an effective marketing tool for industry development. Specially, marketers should consider the effects of WOM determinants, such as tie strength, credibility, and vividness, to develop an effective strategy. Furthermore, this study estimates the factors that affect customers' selection of medical tourism destinations. Health care managers or policy makers should consider a broad variety of variables that may attract more Chinese customers to international health care.

• Journal of Convergence Society for SMB
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.27-32
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• 2015

Recently, service-related products have gained more attention than general products on the existing social commerce sites. Based on the situation, the effect that the service quality of social commerce has on customer satisfaction was analyzed in this study. It is a study that analyzes how much the service quality affects the customer satisfaction after the purchase, targeting consumers who have made purchases of social commerce products. In the case of social commerce, it is well-known that the diversity and convenience of products have a significant effect on customer satisfaction. Social commerce is currently being dumped beyond the 900 sites and dozens of cases of news, real-time searches of popular portal sites appeared not to be bored enough to related sites to drive the popularity coming quickly dug into our everyday lives of human beings. Yet the perception of social commerce seems not properly established because of the new concept was suddenly going to go through penetration without a collective interpretation and acceptance process. Most of the companies that often mimic the syoseol commerce is large, the blame did not depart from the forms of social shopping. We believe that personal and exhibit their skills and talents, and to wonder to see the social rather than the individuals who make unilateral companies.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.99-116
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• 2014

Domestic PB products have emerged and been distributed by hypermarkets, department stores, convenience stores, as well as TV home shopping channels and Internet shopping malls. However, the fierce competition among the distributors due to the emergence of the PB products have caused the diversion of consumers' recognition to be reduced weight and volume as well as had the effect of misleading consumers about the prices. The width of the PB product price's up and down is larger than the width of the NB product. Thus, following consumers' purchases of PB products, there has been an increasing number of consumer complaints. In order to research consumers' recognition of PB products and to examine how consumers' recognition and information search comparative to PB products affect consumers' dissatisfaction, an online survey targeted consumers with experience purchasing PB products. This study was conducted and analyzed using SPSS 19 Statistics. The findings can be summarized as follows. Even though more consumers who frequently purchased and used the PB products, the more they compared with information search comparative to the NB product and then purchased the PB product. We investigated the result that the relevant variables of consumer complaints have some relative influence in the purchasing of PB products. There will be a higher probability o the group having high recognition about price and safety not making consumer complaints in comparison with the probability of other consumers making complaints after the purchase of a PB product. Therefore, based on the results of this study, companies need to build a system so that they can figure out consumers' needs in order to prevent the occurrence of consumer complaints related to the products of distribution companies' brands. By means of the system, it is also necessary for companies to collect consumer complaints and analyze them by category. Then they eventually should develop a consumer-centered management system which may contribute to quality improvement, product development and the reduction of consumer complaints.