• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.287-300
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• 2005

The globalization of services is closely related to other economic problems facing the world today. These are: 1) the globalization of economic activities, 2) the servicization of economic activities. The world economy is now move interconnected than at any time in its history. Investment decisions, production processes, labor market regulations and even environmental legislation made by one country or company affect other economies, other companies and the lives of individuals. In fact, it is nearly impossible to think of a country that is not connected to the world economy in some form or another and it is no exaggeration to state that globalization is already an unassailable fact. The fabric of our economy and the way we do business are changing. This change is the transformation from a marketplace on goods to one focused on services. That is to say, we live and work in a service-centered, service-sensitive economy. As a result of the globalization an servicization of economic activities, services require the globalization, and services are increasing their international trade, foreign investment, agreements, alliances, mergers and collaboration networks. It is quite obvious that services are affected by globalization ; but raising the question by how much leads us to the paradox of service globalization, services represent 70% of the most advances economies but only account for less than 25% of international trade and almost half of direct investment; mergers and takeovers. These figures create a paradox that can be explained by two reasons. First; the natural(the service relationship) and artificial difficulties(barriers to trade) faced by the service sector that inhibits globalization. Second, the non-inclusion in official statistics of the share of internationalized goods that are due to services, for example intra-firm trade or the service value incorporated into exported goods. If these were taken into account the service trade figures would be extremely different. The first explanation can be subdivided into a number of elements. The OECD identifies six reasons:services cannot be stored; client-supplies interaction requires local presence; most service firms are SEMs; products are highly differentiated; cultural differences are especially important in this field; and, finally, trade barriers and restrictions on local operations exist. However, despite all of this, globalization produces clear advantages to suppliers. Therefore, the objective of this study is to explore the main forms of service globalization and differences between that of goods, and is to identify distinctive aspects of service globalization within the framework of the global economy.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.524-546
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• 2019

Product-service systems (PSS), integrating physical products and services, currently play a crucial role in sustainable economies. In addition to the highly competitive global economy, the emergence of new digital paradigms is supporting the shift toward servitization. Although the great potential of such paradigms is recognized by both practice and research, their implications for PSS are not yet clear. In particular, features of Internet of Things (IoT), such as total connectedness and ubiquity of smart sensors and actuators, provide various new opportunities for PSS. This study explores such opportunities by conducting structured literature review and 13 interviews. We organize the findings in two folds: First, we introduce four degrees of IoT involvement in PSS business models and elaborate the opportunities that they create for different types of PSS. Second, we present the key technologies and approaches that IoT provides concerning PSS lifecycle management.

• KDI Journal of Economic Policy
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.75-114
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• 2010

This paper examines empirically whether information and communication technology(ICT) has improved total factor productivity at industry level in Korea, considering time lag between ICT capital accumulation and improvement of productivity. To evaluate if ICT is pervasive enough to raise productivity, ICT capital stock of Korea is compared with those of advanced economies. From the perspective of aggregate economy, the ICT capital in Korea has increased fast since the mid-1990s and became comparable with advanced economies. However it is mostly attributed to rapid growth of ICT-producing industries. In other industries, ICT capital are still less accumulated than advanced economies. Growth accounting results exhibit that the productivity has risen faster since 2000 in industries using ICT intensively, but looking into specific industries, it is not likely for ICT to be the main factor of productivity improvement except in business service industry. Regression results provide some evidence that ICT is useful in raising productivity only after considerable amount of time allowed. To fully exploit the positive effect of ICT on productivity, it may be necessary for the Korean economy to create institutional environment facilitating complementary innovations as well as ICT captial accumulation.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.79-106
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• 2005

This study, by adopting case study methodology, is focused on examining the present state and analyzing the cause of the digital divide, and suggesting policies for bridging the divide, specifically in view of SMEs. We have taken cases of manufacturing companies, visiting and interviewing 18 SMEs in 10 APEC member economies which show sharp difference in usage of ICT. In order to analyze the digital gap among SMEs, we used 5 variables that are composed of computer hardware, computer software, Internet, readiness of ICT, and performance of ICT adoption, while categorizing the cases into low and high tier based on the national ICT index. From a computer hardware perspective, the high tier (0.66) has almost double the number of PC’s per employee, compared with the low tiers (0.34). This gap can be explained by financial availability of low income and high tariff in the developing economies. In the computer software perspective, the SMEs in the low tier had some restrictive use of computer applications such as financial and accounting management and document management, while those in the high tier enjoyed more diversity in the use of applications such as inventory management, sales management, financial and accounting management, procurement management, CRM, and ERP. In view of the readiness of ICT, the difference in ICT infrastructure and financial status between the low and high tier was far wider than any other variables. As a result of ICT adoption, SMEs benefited in view of learning and growth, internal business processes, customer service, and financial affairs. To effectively bridge the digital divide between the low and high tier, actions such as setting up a secondary market of used computers among cooperating developed and developing countries, developing and diffusing good business applications, and building speedy, low-cost telecommunication infrastructures should be taken.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.107-122
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• 1994

Many alternatives have been discussed to reduce the medical expenditure and to use the medical resources effectively. Many studies about the economies of scale have been done for the last several decades. This study has analyzed the relationship between the number of beds and the mean expense per hospitalization day in Korea. A Cost Function Model was identified and we wanted to see the minimum optimal size with the cheapest mean expense per hospitalization day. The result is as follows; 1. In the Cost Function Mode, (the number of beds)$^{2}$, the number of personnel, productivity and training institutions are the factors that statisticaly influence the mean expenses. 2. By the univariate analysis the mean expense proved to be the smallest as the level of 150-200bed, The breaked down of the components of expenses shows that the mean labor cost is much different from the mean value of material and administration costs, and that hospital with 150-200 beds also have the minimal expense. The mean expense goes up dramatically in hospitals of 450 beds or more. 3. When the other conditions are constant, according to the multiple regression analysis of the mean expense per adjusted hospitalization day the minimum optimal size with the cheapest expense is a hospital with 191 beds and the hospital with 230 beds takes the lowest mean labor cost. The material or administration costs are not influenced by hospital size. This research has limitation in measuring the variables that influence hospital xpenses, in estimating hospital output by the number of beds in considering outpatient cost and in securing representativeness of hospitals because many hospitals made no responses to the research questionnare. But it is valuable and helpful for development of health policy to figure out the number of beds with the cheapest expense per hospitalization day.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.152-164
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• 2015

Enhancing clarity and transparency of the pricing guide for technical services for public construction works enables the prediction and reimbursement of the service cost for project owners and bidders, while it would also yield benefits for engineers who carry out the construction tasks. In order to improve the global competitiveness of construction service industry, the government revised its pricing guide for techical services for construction works recently, moving away from its previous percentage-of-construction-cost method towards the Cost Plus a Fee Method. However, since the Cost Plus a Fee Method results in the rise of the service price by 153%~197%, there is the need for a review on the method and basis of the adjustment in order to avoid controversies regarding the application of the revised method. In this context, this paper analysed the 2014 revision of the pricing guide for technical services for public construction works through comparison with foreign cases including those of the US and the UK. The analysis yielded the conclusion that, while the shift towards Cost Plus a Fee Method which is widely used in advanced economies is a very meaningful change in large measure, certain aspects still remain problematic. Unlike in advanced economies, the detailed break-down shows the direct labor cost includes certain indirect expenses. Also, indirec expenses are admitted so comprehensively as to include overhead costs and technology royalties. These problems results in redundant estimation of certain expenses, and obstructs transparency in spending details. This paper proposes various improvement measures to address these issues.

• Journal of Korea Port Economic Association
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.3-26
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• 2001

Competitive and reliable maritime transport services benefit the economy as a whole, and are key efficiency factors for the production of both goods and services. Although maritime transport sector is very liberalized compared to many other service sectors, certain obstacles must be overcome before full liberalization of the maritime transport can be realized. Particularly, maritime transport services in Northeast Asia are regulated by a complicated and outdated system. To remove these barkers two approaches can be used: a regional trading arrangement approach and a multilateral approach via WTO. However, multilateral efforts are not likely to be successful in achieving any concrete progress towards maritime transport liberalization in the short- to medium-term in Northeast Asia. Consequently, it may be the best to take the following two progressive approaches and to make them work towards liberalization of the maritime transport market: a bilateral approach and a trilateral approach. A gradual process of liberalization would expand the market, help operators achieve economies of scale, promote the international division of labor and specialization, enhance the effective management of shipping services, and promote the long-term interests and welfare of the user by improving service quality and diversifying services. A liberalized and integrated maritime transport market in Northeast Asia should achieve both of these long-run policy objectives by benefiting both the transport service users and the transport service providers. In order to move the maritime transport liberalization programs as quickly as possible, it is desirable to establish a "Regional Maritime Transport Liberalization Committee." We suggest it to be a Tripartite (China, Japan and Korea) Committee initially, which can later expand its membership to include other Northeast Asian countries.

• Korean Management Science Review
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.11-30
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• 2013

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute an important part of current industrial economies. Information technologies can be useful strategic weapons for SMEs by enhancing their competitiveness. Categorized as one kind of cloud computing, SaaS is a computing resource and software sharing model which can be accessed via the Internet. Based on virtualization technology, SaaS is expected to improve the efficiency and quality of the IT service level in SMEs. This study attempts to identify the determinants of SaaS adoption intention among Korean SMEs. Through the lens of the theory of planned behavior, this study adopts technological, organizational, environmental factors to explore the determinants of cloud computing adoption intention. The research population is the SMEs that have been funded by the Korean government. Partial least square method was used for empirical analysis of 190 samples collected through on-line survey. The results show that the positive attitude is influenced by business process improvements. Vender support and top management support are positively associated with subjective norm. Vendor support, top management support can relieve perceived behavior control factors. Government support directly influences adoption intention of cloud computing. These findings can provide useful strategy for both SMEs and vendors of SaaS.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.181-186
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• 2018

Car-sharing services are one of the successful model of sharing economies. The car-sharing service is a kind of car rental service that can pay the cost per minutes, also can makes it easy to book and return by smart phone at any time. Experts predict that the car-sharing services will likely dominate the auto market in the future by reducing the burden on consumers' purchasing cost of car and resolving the environmental issues caused by the vehicle. Therefore, a differentiated service strategy is needed to establish a competitive caching service among these companies. In this study, we surveyed differentiation cases by comparing and analyzing domestic caching companies, And customized service tailored to the situation and effective vehicle type infotainment. As a result of this study, the proposed service method change, customized service provision, and new platform application are expected to be detailed and in depth.

• Journal of Service Research and Studies
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.1-23
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• 2018

This study suggests a way through Hong Kong as an alternative strategy for Korean companies to enter Chinese service market which is rapidly expanding due to China's recent policy switch toward service economy. Service market is generally more regulated, labor-intensive, and domestic demand-oriented than goods market, which makes opening of domestic markets to foreigners slow. In case of China, market control and regulations by the State is tighter than other economies. Therefore, it is important to find ways to avoid regulations from the Chinese government if possible. In this sense, this study investigates the China-Hong Kong CEPA and draws its strategic value for entering Chinese service market by comparing it with the Korea-China FTA service sector. In addition, utilizing the difference in tax agreements between Korea-China and China-Hong Kong, and the human network of Hong Kong entrepreneurs in China may play an important role in reducing the risk that might arise in China.