• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2011

Since a distribution market was opened in 1993 after the conclusion of the Uruguay Round (UR), various new businesses emerged in the Korean retail industry, such as convenience shops, supermarkets, specialty stores, non-store marketing methods, and cyber shopping malls, in addition to traditional markets and department stores. Competition among these retail businesses has intensified. According to the National Statistical Office (NSO), the growth rate of the total retail industry has shown a 32% increase in the past 5 years. While department stores, supermarkets, specialty stores, and other non-store retailing venues have shown signs of stagnation at a growth rate of 20-30%, which is similar to the growth rate of the entire retail industry, convenience shops and non-store marketing have shown 60-70% growth over the same period. By comparison, the growth rate of cyber shopping malls has nearly tripled. When applying development aspects of retail businesses through the competition to the retail life cycle, mom-and-pop stores and traditional markets have already entered the decline phase as specialty stores reach their maturity phase and demonstrate their limit of growth. Department stores are now in the latter part of the growth phase, which is still considered to have some growth potential. Big super markets are still in the early part of their growth stage although they were introduced 20 years ago. Meanwhile, retail businesses such as convenience stores, supermarkets, mail order houses, and warehouse stores are entering the middle growth phase and are expected to continue with their quantitative growth. At a time when most retail businesses in Korea are in a state of development or in the full growth stage, what kind of new innovative retailing will appear and develop? Moreover, what growth engine will drive it? This study analyzes the appearance of innovative retailing and its development process by establishing a discussable consumer's choice model through the interlocking mutual behavior of differentiated competitiveness and consumers' choice based on an awareness of this issue. The analysis of the results of this study can be summarized as follows. First, if a new vacuum zone emerges at the retail market level, innovative retailing such as low price/low service or high price/high service will emerge simultaneously. Second, if the number of new businesses in the vacuum zone increases, this will create competitiveness among the businesses, and each retailer will develop raising of level. Third, if a new business that raises the level develops, competition between the new and the existing retailer will occur, and an assimilation process between the existing retailing and the new retailing will be unfolded. Fourth, each retailing will promote distribution innovations in order to break the frontier of the existing distribution technology, and other retailing will follow the innovator. On the basis of an analysis of the abovementioned results, this study presents the following three suggestions. First, responding to the consumer's decision-making process on the attributes of retail shops that promote differentiation in strategies, this study established a consumer's choice model that can be discussed in relation to changes in market share. Second, this study provided an analysis of the emerging and developmental processes of innovative retail businesses using a more precise logical structure on the basis of the consumer's choice model described in this study. Third, the development process of retail businesses discussed in this study presented retailing solutions regarding management aspects on how to compose a strong retail mix that can help retail businesses gain competitive advantages in the market.

• Korean Business Review
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• v.13
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• pp.107-132
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• 2000

The entry of large discount stores such as E-mart, LG mart, Magnet etc. into small cities have had a profound impact on the business of small-sized retailers. Now, it becomes the matter of survival for small-sized retailers and it is almost impossible to reverse those trends. Without satisfying consumers' various needs and wants, retailers can not survive. Therefore, it is extremely important to understand retail competition from the perspective of consumers in order for retailers to survive in the turbulent environment. The previous research studies on retail competition have focused on the comparison among different types of retailers with respect to strategic retail mix variables. However, they do not consider the competitive aspects of consumers' sides. In addition, we do not fully understand the meaning of "shopping." Shopping means hedonic shopping as well as utilitarian shopping. Utilitarian aspects are important but consumers also prefer' hedonic aspects too. That is the reason that traditional retailers such as small-sized retailers can not compete with modem and large retailers. We use three different methods to identify the macro and competitive structure. of retailing with respect to shopping. Factor analysis, multidimensional scaling, and multiple correspondence analysis are used to produce perceptual mapping of retail competition. Department store and large discount store are identified as close competitors but both might have an indirect impact on small-sized retailers through demand shift toward high end retailers.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.25-37
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• 2013

Purpose - The structure of retailing has changed as retailers develop markets in response to business environment changes. This study aims to analyze the general situation of retailers in order to predict future global strategy using case studies of overseas expansion strategy and the Metro Group's global strategy. Research design, data, and methodology - The backgrounds to the new retail business model and retailer classification are analyzed as theoretical data. In addition, the key success point of the Metro Group's "cash and carry" strategy is analyzed as is the Metro Group's global CFAR (collaborative planning, forecasting, and replenishment) strategy. Finally, the plan for cooperation and precise forecasting under the Metro Group's supply chain management are analyzed from the promotion environment viewpoint. Related materials analyzed included the 2012 annual report, the Metro Group's web page, and a video interview with the executive in charge of global strategy and the new market development department. Some data were revised to avoid disrupting essential aspects of the case studies. Results - The important finding was that the Metro Group could be a world-class retail company with its successful global expansion strategy. The Metro Group's global strategy's primary goal is to have a leading business position in Eastern and Western Europe. The "cash and carry" strategy is highest priority in its overseas expansion strategy. Moreover, the Metro Group has standardized product planning capacity, which could be applied in various countries with different structural and cultural backgrounds. This is the main reason that the Metro Group could rapidly become successful in the Eastern Europe and Asian markets through its structural overseas expansion strategies. In addition, the Metro Group emphasizes the importance of supply chain management. Conclusions - First, retailers should create additional value through utilizing the domestic market, market power, and economies of scale to launch a global strategy to maximize benefits from diversification. Second, the political, economic, and cultural background of the target country needs to be understood to successfully implement the overseas expansion strategy. Third, the main factor of successful cooperation with a local partner is how quickly the company gains total understanding of the business resources and core competence of its partner. All organizations should focus on the achievement of goals in order to successfully operate the partnership. Fourth, retailers should improve their business, financial and organizational structure. Moreover, the work processes and company culture should also be improved to respond strongly in the competitive global market. Fifth, the essential point of a successful retail business is the control capacity of its branding and format. The retailer could avoid forecasting errors through supply chain management by perfectly distributing the actual amount of its inventory. In addition, the risks along the supply chain are effectively shared between the supply chain partners. Finally, the central tendency of the market is to gain in strength with this taking place across all parts of the business.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.63-71
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• 2015

Purpose - The characteristics of the modern management environment in Korea clearly involve the limitations of knowledge management, globalization, changes in industrial structures, polarization of the economy, consumption, and education, and the demand for creative management. To achieve a continuous competitive advantage for individuals as well as organizations, Wisdom Management can be said to be a paradigm for the current environment. The Research is an alternative to environmental management in the early study of the need to conceptualize the theoretical approach to wisdom management. In other words, it presents a new management paradigm for a business environment of uncertainty and unpredictability. Furthermore, it aims to propose Wisdom Management as an alternative in the modern management environment as well as a topic of discourse. Its purpose is to provide basic knowledge to people who study and practice in this field to strengthen the competitiveness of individuals and companies. Research design, data, and methodology - This paper first provides six characteristics of the current management environment at home and abroad. It then attempts to emphasize the necessity of wisdom based on such characteristics by classifying wisdom according to recent management study research. This allows the derivation of definitions of wisdom management, suggesting its components and properties. Results - The six characteristics of the modern business environment are: 1) limits of knowledge, 2) intensifying globalized competition, 3) changes in industry structure - IoT (Internet of all Things) trend, 4) serious polarization and social unrest diffusion, 5) personal and organizational competitiveness creativity requirements, and 6) domestic special national and social situations. Therefore, accordingly, wisdom can be defined and classified as: wisdom that offers potential integration beyond knowledge, practicing and maintaining knowledge wisdom as an efficient strategy for an organization wisdom as a decision-making process that addresses ambivalence wisdom as the pursuit of common goods based on ethics; and, wisdom as creativity that involves intuition and insight. This paper attempts to define Wisdom Management in accordance with these definitions of wisdom. Wisdom Management is a management system that is awareof the current environment given in the multidimensional perspective, achieves the efficiency of the organization and the goals of common good through an uncertain decision-making process, based on the organization of individual and organizational knowledge, and the internal experiences and resources. Wisdom Management components include human beings, virtue, knowledge, creativity, and ambivalent thinking. Its properties include intentionality, self-destructiveness, creative and ethical reflexivity, complexity, insight, unpredictability, ambivalence, and wholeness. Conclusions - Since all organizations face the limitations of their environment, crises, and opportunities, applying wisdom in management to develop as Wisdom Management can be an inevitable alternative to the uncertainties of the management environment faced by modern society. The conceptualization of Wisdom Management forms a valuable context to further advance knowledge management theory into practice. It is also a cornerstone of strategic management and can provide insight into its potential for success and implementation.