• Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.296-310
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• 1995

Classification of spatial units into meaningful sets is an important procedure in spatial analysis. It is crucial in characterizing and identifying spatial structures. But traditional classification methods such as cluster analysis require an exact database and impose a clear-cut boundary between classes. Scrutiny of realistic classification problems, however, reveals that available infermation may be vague and that the boundary may be ambiguous. The weakness of conventional methods is that they fail to capture the fuzzy data and the transition between classes. Fuzzy subsets theory is useful for solving these problems. This paper aims to come to the understanding of theoretical foundations of fuzzy spatial analysis, and to find the characteristics of fuzzy classification methods. It attempts to do so through the literature review and the case study of urban classification of the Cities and Eups of Kyung-Nam Province. The main findings are summarized as follows: 1. Following Dubois and Prade, fuzzy information has an imprecise and/or uncertain evaluation. In geography, fuzzy informations about spatial organization, geographical space perception and human behavior are frequent. But the researcher limits his work to numerical data processing and he does not consider spatial fringe. Fuzzy spatial analysis makes it possible to include the interface of groups in classification. 2. Fuzzy numerical taxonomic method is settled by Deloche, Tranquis, Ponsard and Leung. Depending on the data and the method employed, groups derived may be mutually exclusive or they may overlap to a certain degree. Classification pattern can be derived for each degree of similarity/distance $\alpha$. By takina the values of $\alpha$ in ascending or descending order, the hierarchical classification is obtained. 3. Kyung-Nam Cities and Eups were classified by fuzzy discrete classification, fuzzy conjoint classification and cluster analysis according to the ratio of number of persons employed in industries. As a result, they were divided into several groups which had homogeneous characteristies. Fuzzy discrete classification and cluste-analysis give clear-cut boundary, but fuzzy conjoint classification delimit the edges and cores of urban classification. 4. The results of different methods are varied. But each method contributes to the revealing the transparence of spatial structure. Through the result of three kinds of classification, Chung-mu city which has special characteristics and the group of Industrial cities composed by Changwon, Ulsan, Masan, Chinhai, Kimhai, Yangsan, Ungsang, Changsungpo and Shinhyun are evident in common. Even though the appraisal of the fuzzy classification methods, this framework appears to be more realistic and flexible in preserving information pertinent to urban classification.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.33-60
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• 2007

This study alms to analyze the entrepreneur characteristics of founder on enterprise performance from the strategic viewpoint as well as features of founder of small firms such as background feature of founder, psychological features and management skill. As considered by Background features of founder include educational background of founder, his experience in business creation, consultation or course related to business creation. This study verified the effects of factor which business performance (financial, non financial) on small firms. Also, this study considered psychological features of founder include achievement desire, risk-free propensity, level of patience on vagueness and control position. And it analyzed that between such factors and performance of small firms were examined in related. In the mean time, management ability of founder, entrepreneur ability, technical and function ability were considered for management skill of founder and alalyzed effect of the factors on performance of small firm were examined. Effects of strategic intention of founder of small firm were analyzed by the strategic viewpoint. At this time, strategy of small firm was divided into product-service reform differentiation strategy, marketing differentiation strategy and cost leadership strategy. This study distributed questionnaire on CEO of small firms in Daejeon and Chungnam area for accomplish the study objective and it collected a total of 145 copies of questionnaires. As a result of analyzing collected questionnaire, this study deduced the following study results and suggestions. First, results different from those of existing studies were found Since sales, net income and profit rate of small firm were not high cause economic depression on the whole. Second, entrepreneur ability was found to be required for success of business creation. Entrepreneur ability of founder was the factor that affects both financial and non - financial performance of small firm. As such, entrepreneur ability can be regarded as the most important factor for success in business creation of small firm. Accordingly, entrepreneur ability is the most important source for success in business creation of small firm. Third, strategy of small firm was found to be the important factor that affects the non-financial performance even if it could not give significant effects on financial performance. Thus, product service reform differentiation strategy, marketing differentiation strategy and cost leadership strategy have significant effects on non - financial performance of small firm. Accordingly, it is required to operate small firm with strategic mind - set for small firm to achieve success. This study analyzed the effects of feature of founder and strategy of small firm on business performance of small firm through practical analysis on small firms in Daejeon and Chungnam area, and deduced meaningful results. However, Since this study collected data on small firms in Daejeon and Chungnam only, there is a limit in generalizing the results of this study to all small firms in Korea. Companies answering to this questionnaire process were mainly wholesale and retail service companies. In addition, there is a limit in that it failed to analyze feature of representative type of industry due to limit in number of sample, it is required to divide representative type of industry and to compare and analyze types of industry in future studies.