Search

Purpose: This paper aims to provide a case study of complex conflict management within the arms race on the Korean Peninsula. Exploring the complex nexus of nuclear weapons, asymmetry and a qualitative arms race, the study explains how the arms race between Seoul and Pyongyang has promoted stability on the Korean Peninsula. Design/methodology/approach: Presenting the limits of arguments that the US security guarantee is the factor that saved the two Koreas from going to war again, this paper explores the utility of the inter-Korean arms race as a stabilizer that promotes indirect negotiations. While presenting Korean anomalies, this paper analyzes the three stages of the inter-Korean arms race – especially its nuclear weapons, its asymmetry and the nature of arms races – and provides extant explanations on the causes and consequences of the qualitative arms race. These key elements drive the states' strategic motives. Findings: Using the case of the inter-Korean qualitative arms race and US extended nuclear deterrence on the Korean Peninsula, the study shows the complexities of conflict management today. This paper identifies three contributing factors – US nuclear weapons, asymmetry and the qualitative characteristic of the arms race – to explain the enduring stability on the peninsula despite the arms race's intensification. The paper finds that although US nuclear-extended deterrence plays a critical role, it does not capture the full context of the ongoing, dynamic inter-Korean arms race; a prolonged arms race between the two Koreas has become a new regularity; the qualitative characteristic of the inter-Korean arms race, which is driven by technological advancement, contributes to stability in the arms race; and as the constant mismatch in priority technologies becomes more severe, the changes to the existing asymmetry could increase instability. Originality/value: This paper offers a diverse perspective to the literature on conflict management and captures the complexities of 21st-century conflict management. Through a thorough examination of the inter-Korean arms race, it brings readers' attention to the nested dynamics within the arms race and shows how an intensifying arms race can promote stability. Furthermore, the paper explains the implications for potential instability – fueled by the comprehensive mix of a dynamic qualitative arms race and the US extended nuclear deterrence – in the Indo-Pacific region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Technology is the property of Emerald Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose ? The purpose of this paper is to report an International Symposium on Occupation, Education, and Inequality in Japan and Korea. Discusses earn of the papers of the seven speakers. Design/methodology/approach ? The SRC and the CSSI cosponsored the symposium. Findings ? The papers presented various aspects of Korean society in terms of occupation, education and inequality. Originality/value ? Some of the papers revealed subtle interactions between economic factors and traditional and cultural factors in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to derive crucial insights from multi-scale analysis to detect equity return co-movements between Korean and emerging Asian markets.Design/methodology/approach Wavelet correlation, wavelet coherence and wavelet clustering measures are used to uncover Korean equity market interactions which are hard to see using any other modern econometric method and which would otherwise had remained hidden.Findings The authors observed that Korean equity market is strongly integrated with Asian equity markets at lower frequency scales and has a relatively weak correlation at higher frequencies. Further this correlation eventually grows strong in the interim of crises period at lower frequency scales. The authors, however, do not found any significant deviation in dendrograms generated in data clustering process from wavelet scale 2 to 6 which are associated with four and 64 weeks period, respectively. Overall the findings are relevant and have strong policy and practical implications.Originality/value The unique contribution of this paper is that it introduces wavelet clustering analysis to produce a nested hierarchy of similar markets at each frequency level for the first time in finance literature [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the patterns and determinants of intra-industry trade (IIT) in manufactures between Korea and selected ASEAN countries in the period of 1997-2011. Design/methodology/approach -- The effects of country-specific determinants of IIT in manufactures are examined using panel data approach. Findings -- The results show that the IIT of Korea-ASEAN manufactures is positively correlated with the average income levels and foreign direct investment inflow, while it is negatively correlated with the differences in factor endowments between Korea and selected partners. Overall, market size, income dissimilarity and factor endowments are indicated as most relevant determinants of IIT in manufactures between Korea and ASEAN countries. Originality/value -- Despites the importance of Korea-ASEAN IIT, studies on this subject are limited. This paper examines the pattern and determinants of IIT and its components in Korea-ASEAN manufactured trade. The paper also suggests the policy implications for the development of IIT between two parties. Paper type Research paper [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore unequal dividend payment policies called differentiated dividends (DDs) in Korea. The characteristics of firms are examined which allocate higher dividends to small shareholders than large shareholders within the same share class. Design/methodology/approach – Logit analysis is used to compare firms that initiate DDs with those that pay conventional equal dividends. The abnormal market reaction to news of initiation of DDs is also examined. Findings – Managers of firms facing cash insufficiency are more likely to initiate DDs. The DD scheme is used as a method to cater to high dividend demands in the market. The stock price reaction to the initiation of DDs is positive when the total dividend payments are increased, signifying that the market interprets it as good news. Practical implications – Firms facing cash insufficiency can avoid an increase in the cost of capital by retaining extra cash from DDs rather than borrowing external funds. Additionally, managers can foster favorable market reactions by using DDs which helps firms in attracting new capital investments. Finally, regulatory bodies can consider encouraging managers to adopt unequal dividend schemes to allow higher dividend payments to small shareholders, especially in countries with weak legal protection for minority shareholders. Originality/value – Similar unequal dividend policies exist in European countries but there is a lack of research conducted on those policies. The paper provides implications for the strategic use of unequal dividends to maximize firm value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of gender on the effectiveness of transformational leadership. Drawing on role congruity theory, it elucidates the moderating effects of leader gender, subordinate gender, and leader-subordinate gender dyad on the relationship between transformational leadership and psychological empowerment.Design/methodology/approach Employees of companies in Korea responded to a paper-pencil survey, rating their psychological empowerment and leadership behaviors of their direct leader on a five-point Likert-type scale. The analysis includes 339 responses.Findings The results indicate that a leader’s gender has no significant moderating effect on psychological empowerment, but the gender of the subordinate has a significant moderating effect, with male subordinates more strongly influenced by transformational leadership than female subordinates. Notably, the findings show that the effectiveness of transformational leadership is contingent on the leader-subordinate gender dyad. Specifically, transformational leadership has as significant an effect on female leader-male subordinate dyads as on male leader-male subordinate dyads.Research limitations/implications This study contributes to leadership and gender studies in the management field by investigating the effect of gender roles on the effectiveness of transformational leadership. Future research should extend this study and explore whether these findings are generalizable.Practical implications The remarkable finding of the effect of female leadership on employee empowerment suggests organizations should use more female leaders.Originality/value This is the first empirical study to shed light on gender issues in relation to transformational leadership in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Charting the earnings numbers reported by Korean firms produces a bell curve, but for a sharp discontinuity in the area surrounding zero. The purpose of this paper is to investigate if and how a large segment of Korean managers might manage accounting numbers to produce the observed result.Design/methodology/approach This study adopts an empirical research method using Korean listed firms as a sample. The primary focus of investigation is on major income statement variables that might produce the observed results in earnings from operations and net income.Findings Managers of Korean firms opportunistically use almost all income statement variables to influence earnings numbers. They manage revenues and selling, general & administrative expenses to report small positive earnings from operations, but manage non-operating gains (losses) to report small positive net income.Research limitations/implications This paper does not answer several questions related to loss avoidance. First, the paper did not examine which actions, such as discretionary accruals, opportunistic business decisions, or bogus transactions, were employed to affect line items on the income statement. Second, the paper did not investigate what specific incentives trigger Korean managers to report small positive earnings. Korean firms have traditionally raised capital by borrowing funds from creditors and governmental agencies. Thus, they may be concerned that reporting losses would reduce their borrowing capacity. Finally, corporate governance, such as CEO tenure and option grants may influence the extent of earnings management to avoid losses, but most corporate governance data for Korean companies must be manually collected. Accordingly, these subjects are left for future studies as well.Originality/value This study contributes to accounting literature by reporting how managers of Korean firms artificially coordinate major income statement variables and report small positive earnings figures, noting the differences between earnings management investigating methodology and ones used in previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose |!|#8211; The purpose of this paper is to examine a development model of the Korean IT industry based on the concept of open and cluster innovation and reveal the synergistic effects between the textile and electronic industries. Design/methodology/approach |!|#8211; The analytical data on the Gumi Cluster are panel data mostly from the 1970s-2000s. The specific case studies are based on the field research and in-depth executive interviews for four firms. Findings |!|#8211; Through analysis of the innovation structure of the Gumi Cluster, the paper found that the Korean electronics industry has successfully caught up with first movers like the Japanese and US electronics industries. In this catch-up process, industrial clusters of the Korean electronic industry took on an open cluster and sought open and cluster innovation through collaborating with foreign firms and the other industries like the textile industry for making a rapid catch-up. Research limitations/implications |!|#8211; The contribution of this study is to highlight the essential characteristics of cluster innovation and the practical growth patterns in the context of Korea which has achieved rapid technological catch-up. Future studies may involve the innovation patterns of other industries. Originality/value |!|#8211; Prior cluster research does not necessarily integrate the two streams of research: development of national industries; open innovation processes within the clusters. This paper represents a unique approach to integrate two streams through analyzing the electronic industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reveal the core determinants and adoption patterns of the major enterprise information systems. Design/methodology/approach – This study incorporated the core representative and meaningful explanatory variables in the major previous literatures and analyzes the core determinants of businesses' adoption of the essential information systems and the substitutionary patterns among them, using a Bayesian multivariate probit model, which is based on McFadden's random utility model and capable of handling multiple response data. Findings – It was found that not only factors from the classical technological diffusion viewpoint but also factors such as organizational tools and strategic behaviors play an important role in firms' adoption of information systems. Specifically, epidemic effect generally outweighs size effect, and putting more effort into the intensity of information strategy planning is more influential than the hiring of a professional chief information officer. On the other hand, such variables as age of the firm, labor intensity, and number of PCs per person generally have no significant impacts. Finally, a relatively strong complementary relationship exists between enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management adoption, and between e-buy and groupware adoption. Originality/value – The results presented in this paper have important implications for firms on a minimal budget that want to maximize their productivity through the adoption of information systems. They also provide important information for government policymakers whose job it is to design strategies for the successful deployment of information systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to present a new way of manufacturing process in the plant of the leading weedicide manufacturing company in Korea, Dongbu. Design/methodology/approach - This paper explains a design of Auto-ID based weedicide manufacturing process, introduces new mechanism for assembly machine and presents simulation approach to understand potential benefit. Findings - In Dongbu, there was no information matching among bottle, box and pallet levels. Another issue was error propagation. Because, the allowance range for weight difference is different depending on the level of unit, the small weight difference (i.e. deviation) within allowance range in bottle level can create errors when accumulated for boxing. The proposed method improved performance measures such as cycle time and cost of raw materials by introducing Auto-ID technology. As in the simulation results, it is considered that adoption of radio frequency identification together with this automatic module will improve manufacturing performance drastically. Originality/value - The research was based on the real world implementation of Auto-ID based manufacturing in weedicide manufacturing company and discussed a new approach which addresses the current issues of industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the sources of inefficiency in the Korean banking sector. The present study focuses on three different approaches: intermediation approach, value-added approach, and operating approach, to differentiate how efficiency scores vary with changes in inputs and outputs. Design/methodology/approach - The paper utilizes the non-parametric data envelopment analysis methodology to measure the efficiency of banks operating in the Korean banking sector. The method allows for the decomposition of technical efficiency (TE) into its mutually exhaustive components of pure technical and scale efficiencies. Findings - The empirical findings suggest that estimates of TE are consistently higher under an operating approach vis-à-vis the intermediation and value-added approaches. On the other hand, banks are characterized by a relatively low level of TE under the intermediation approach. Research limitations/implications - Further analysis on the performance of the Korean banking sector performance will examine the efficiency changes over time by employing the parametric stochastic frontier analysis method. Investigations into productivity changes over time, as a result of a technical change or technological progress or regression by employing the Malmquist productivity index could yet be another extension to the paper. Practical implications - The findings from this study are essential not only for the managers of the banks, but for numerous stakeholders such as the central banks, bankers associations, governments, and other financial authorities. Knowledge of these factors would also be helpful to the regulatory authorities and bank managers who formulate going forward policies for improved efficiency of the Korean banking sector. Originality/value - Unlike the previous studies on the efficiency of the Korean banking sector, the paper focuses on three different approaches: intermediation approach, value-added approach, and operating approach to differentiate how efficiency scores vary with changes in inputs and outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to compare the competitiveness of the economies of Taiwan. and Korea. Design/methodology/approach - The comparison between Taiwan and Korea is based on the average value of the data over five years (2000-2004). It applies a generalized double diamond model approach to analyse the overall competitiveness of these two small open economies. Findings -- Taiwan surpasses Korea in all decisive factors with the exception of the demand condition in the domestic diamond in the years 2000-2004, which is due to Korea's population being more than double Taiwan's. As to the international diamond, Taiwan enjoys comparatively high competitiveness, and its international diamond is better than Korea's in all four parts. Research limitations/implications -- The data sources include: Indicators of Science and Technology, Taiwan, 2004 and 2005, Korean National Statistical Office and related statistical data obtained from various government agencies, including data on factor, demand, firms strategy, structure, and rivalry covering the period from 2000 to 2004, whereas related and supporting industries only covered the years 2000-2003. Originality/value -- This is the first paper to apply a generalized double diamond model approach to analyse and to compare the competitiveness of the economies of both Taiwan and Korea. Its empirical evidences and policy implications is of interest to academicians, government officials, and business managers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — The purpose of the paper is to distinguish features of m-commerce from those of e-commerce and identify factors to influence customer satisfaction (m-satisfaction) and loyalty (m-loyalty) in m-commerce by empirically-based case study. Design/methodology/approach — First, based on previous literature, the paper builds sets of customer satisfaction factors for both e-commerce and m-commerce. Second, features of m-commerce are identified by comparing it with current e-commerce through decision tree (DT). Third, with the derived factors from DT, significant factors and relationships among the factors, m-satisfaction and m-loyalty are examined by m-satisfaction model employing structural equation model. Findings — The paper finds that m-commerce is partially similar in factors like "transaction process" and "customization" which lead customer satisfaction after connecting an m-commerce site, but it has unique aspects of "content reliability", "availability", and "perceived price level of mobile Internet (m-Internet)" which build customer's intention to the m-commerce site. Through the m-satisfaction model, "content reliability", and "transaction process" are proven to be significantly influential factors to m-satisfaction and m-loyalty. Research implications/limitations — The paper can be a meaningful step to provide empirical analysis and evaluation based on questionnaire survey targeting actual users. The research is based on a case study on digital music transaction, which is indicative, rather than general. Practical implications — The paper meets the needs to focus on customer under the fiercer competition in Korean m-commerce market. It can guide those who want to initiate, move or broaden their business to m-commerce from e-commerce. Originality/value — The paper develops a revised ACSI model to identify individual critical factors and the degree of effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate diversity management in an under-researched country by merging theoretical insights developed in the Western literature with cultural aspects of a traditionally homogeneous country, South Korea. Design/methodology/approach: This study integrates theory and research on why diversity can have either a positive (i.e. the information/decision-making paradigm) or a negative (i.e. the social categorization paradigm) effect on performance with different diversity perspectives (i.e. integration-and-learning, access-and-legitimacy, and discrimination-and-fairness). This study develops a model of when and how gender diversity affects organization performance and test the model with a sample of 177 South Korean organizations. Findings: This study finds that gender diversity is negatively related to organization performance in South Korea. This study also finds that the effect of gender diversity is contingent on organizational diversity perspectives. Organizations with high gender diversity perform better to the extent that they have a discrimination-fairness perspective, but not a business-oriented perspective. On the other hand, a discrimination-fairness perspective is unrelated to performance for organizations that are low in gender diversity. Originality/value: Although gender diversity in the South Korean workplace continues to increase, the relationship between gender diversity and organization performance has rarely been studied in the aspect of Korea's traditionally homogeneous culture. This study highlights the importance of cultural-contingencies in understanding the consequences of diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- This paper aims to identify and compare the nature of decentralization that has emerged in three important Asian societies after a decade of their involvement in the decentralization movement. Design/methodology/approach -- Data from the first cycle of the program for international student assessment were analyzed to investigate educational decentralization in three Asian societies: Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea. Cluster analysis was used to reveal the nature and extent of decentralization of the schooling systems in the three societies. Findings -- The results revealed four models of decentralization: highly centralized, school-driven, teacher-driven, and highly decentralized. Whilst the school-driven model was dominant in Hong Kong, indicating that the school itself is largely responsible for making school-related decisions, the centralized model was dominant in both Japan and Korea, indicating that authorities outside the school are largely responsible for making school-related decisions. Research limitations/implications -- The study is based on cross-sectional design and focuses mainly on secondary schooling systems in the three Asian societies. Originality/value -- OECD/PISA constitutes one of the most comprehensive and rigorous international databases about different aspects of educational systems. It provides a unique opportunity to assess the distribution of decision-making responsibilities between the different stakeholders in different education systems. This enables for the first time a country-wide comparison on issues of decentralization of various decision areas in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the feature and mechanism of a new type of documentary credit fraud that victimizes banks’ issuing letters of credit (L/C), harming neither the importer nor the exporter and seeks to suggest possible measures to tackle it. Design/methodology/approach – This study analyzed 30 cases of documentary credit fraud against banks that were detected by the Korea Customs Service (KCS) and interviewed three key customs investigators to interpret the case reports more accurately and gain a deeper understanding into the mechanisms governing the fraud. This study draws on routine activity theory and crime pattern theory to analyze the opportunity structures of this fraud. Findings – This study found that the importer that engaged in the fraud cases had established a solid business relationship with the exporter and had established trust with the victimized banks; the banks, despite the fact that they had their own risk management systems to screen out unqualified L/C applicants, were defrauded by the offending importers and exporters. Unlike ordinary documentary credit fraud, fraud against banks can be tackled by customs because the offender and the victim typically operate in the same jurisdiction, and this type of fraud often results in trade-based capital flight and money laundering, which is the target of customs enforcement. Research limitations/implications – As this paper is based on case reports of the KCS, it is inappropriate to generalize the findings or to apply the findings to other contexts. Nevertheless, the opportunity structure elaborated upon in the course of this paper may prove useful in devising measures to tackle this type of fraud elsewhere. Originality/value – Documentary credit fraud against banks is relatively unexplored, in particular from criminological perspective. This study can contribute to a refinement of the application of opportunity perspective to white-collar crime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that motivate Korean baseball fans to support Korean Major League Baseball (MLB) players and to identify the effects of the motivations on identification and behavioral loyalty. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire at three Korean universities. A model was designed to see which three motivations (commitment to Korean baseball, interests in MLB and ethnic identity) affect loyalty behaviors to support Korean MLB players. In the model, the mediating effect of player identification is set to the relation between the three motivations and behavioral loyalty. The moderating effect of team identification is also set to the relation between player identification and behavioral loyalty. Collected data (n=294) were first analyzed via confirmatory factor analysis to ascertain the factor structure of the study model. Then, the study performed a structural equation modeling which finds the magnitude and significance of each causal path among designed factors. Findings: All the effects were found to be significantly positive except team identification whose moderating effect was not significant. Interests in MLB had the greatest impact on the fan's player identification followed by commitment to the Korean baseball league and their ethnic identity. It was also found that the influence of player identification was positive on behavioral loyalty. Originality/value: This work can help MLB expand their fan base internationally, especially in Asian countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate gender differences in the relationships between job demands, job control and distress with the moderation effects of family status (i.e. marriage and parenthood) in the patriarchal cultural context of Korea. Design/methodology/approach: The authors formulated hypotheses on the grounds of stress and role theories and tested them using a hierarchical regression analysis. A sample of 403 Korean employees (230 males; 173 females) was used for the analysis. Findings: Family status moderated the relationship between job demands and distress for both males and females, whereas family status significantly moderated the effect of job control on distress for only males. Regardless of gender, marriage and parenthood were associated with distress affected by job demands, while only males exhibited significant distress in interactions between family status and job control. Originality/value: This exploratory study is one of few that explicitly addresses the concepts of the job demands-control model dealing with the unique characteristics of demographic groups. By incorporating data from the single, the married and parents, this study identified applications of the conservation of resources and role theory for various family statuses in a non-Western culture. Particularly, this study is meaningful in that it highlighted the impacts of family roles on distress that can be observed in any culture, but is salient in a highly hierarchal, patriarchal and work-centered culture, like Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- This paper aims to examine the association between financial reporting quality in target companies and acquisition profitability in a sample of 280 acquisitions in South Korea between 2002 and 2011. Design/methodology/approach -- Using the accruals quality measure developed by McNichols (2002) as a proxy for financial reporting quality, it was found that high-quality financial reporting in target companies is associated with more profitable acquisitions for the acquirer, as measured by the acquirer's announcement returns. Findings -- It was found that high-quality financial reporting in target companies is associated with more profitable acquisitions for the acquirer, as measured by the acquirer's announcement returns. This finding suggests that higher-quality accounting information leads to better decision-making during acquisitions. It was also found that the importance of financial reporting quality increases when information about the target company is scarce. In addition, it was found that the financial reporting quality of target companies is less important when the agency costs of the acquirer are high. Practical implications -- This analysis also complements several recent papers that examine target firm accounting information and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) returns (Shalev and Martin, 2009; McNichols and Stubben, 2012). By expanding this analysis, the authors help to provide a more complete understanding of how target firm's accounting quality relates to the valuation of the target company and future expected synergies in M&A deal practice. Originality/value -- This study is one of a growing body of literature on the relations between financial reporting quality and investment decisions (Bens and Monahan, 2004; Biddle and Hilary, 2006; Hope and Thomas, 2008; McNichols and Stubben, 2008; Biddle et al., 2009; Francis and Martin, 2010). These results extend and generalize the results of prior studies, in that data pertinent to acquisition profitability of M& As in South Korea are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of individual logistics-related factors, namely, supplier involvement (SI), length of supplier relationship (LSR), use of information technology (IT), and logistics integration (LI) on a firm's supply chain performance (SCP) and test for the mediating effect of LI in a multi-country survey conducted in Brazil, Korea and India. The paper also develops a composite variable, supply chain competency (SCC), as an overall measure of the quality of a firm's supply chain and demonstrate its effect on a firm's SCP. Design/methodology/approach -- The research methodology was based on designing and administering a survey instrument. Data collected from 187 organizations in Brazil, Korea and India were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling methodology. Findings -- Results show that for the combined data, the direct effects of SI, LSR and IT on SCP are insignificant while LI has a very significant direct effect on SCP. On the other hand, except for SI, LSR and IT have significant effects on SCP through LI establishing the mediating role of LI. The paper also finds that SCC has a significant effect on SCP. Further, when countries are considered individually the paper finds that IT has a significant indirect effect on SCP in the case of all the countries while LSR has a significant indirect effect on SCP, both in the case of Brazil and Korea. Additionally, in the case of Korea SI has a significant indirect effect on SCP. Research limitations/implications -- Like other survey-based research, the findings of this paper are also limited by the sample size. Especially, the observations specific to individual countries are as good as the respective sample sizes. Also, since all the respondents belonged to manufacturing firms, the findings of this paper are relevant for the manufacturing sector. Practical implications -- This paper establishes the mediating effect of LI in assessing the impact of logistics-related factors on a firm's SCP. It confirms that although logistics-related factors are necessary for a firm's superior SCP, they are not sufficient unless their interactions are taken into consideration, as evidenced by the significant positive relationship between SCC and SCP. Originality/value -- To the best of the authors' knowledge, this paper is the first paper to study the effect of logistics-related factors on a firm's SCP and establish the mediating role of LI in a multi-country setting. This paper also develops a composite variable SCC and examines its effect on SCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Using data from a sample of new high technology manufacturing start-ups in Korea, the purpose of this paper is to examine the multinationality-performance relationship of international new ventures (INVs) which are born regional in terms of exporting activities. Design/methodology/approach – The paper estimates econometric models as both cubic and quartic fits between the degree of multinationality and firm performance of Korean INVs using a feasible generalized least square (FGLS) regression method. Findings – It is found that the relationship between the INVs' degree of multinationality and firm performance is M-shaped, supporting the augmentation from the traditional S-curve fit applied to multinational enterprises (MNEs). In addition, in terms of performance implications, high technology manufacturing INVs perform better in their home region than in non-home regions when the degree of multinationality is mediocre or becomes very high. Finally, these findings hold for diverse performance measures. Originality/value – This paper assesses if it is really needed to go beyond the S-shaped curve with a sample of INVs, and how much the addition of the fourth degree polynomial term may increase the empirical model's explained variance between the two model specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose In order to understand the influence of technology innovation on market demand diffusion in the ICT service market, the purpose of this paper is to examine technology innovation in the mobile product market, which keeps a complementary relationship with the mobile communication market.Design/methodology/approach This study collected mobile communication user information of four leading countries in the ICT market – the USA, the UK, Korea, and Japan from 1981 to 2014. This study applies the Bass diffusion model to analyze the form of market demand diffusion and conducts white noise test to verify the hypotheses.Findings Technology innovation of mobile communication leads to an increase in innovation effect and a decrease in imitation effect. Thus, technology innovation of mobile communication needs to be promoted continuously for the purpose of increasing adopters in the early stage. Besides, mobile product’s technology innovation leads to an increase in imitation effect and a decrease in innovation effect, because individuals were aware of the usefulness of the products and services. Hence, the increase in the number of imitators caused a higher increase in imitation effect than in the mobile communication’s innovation effect.Originality/value Based on the results of this study, the role that product and service technology innovation plays in renewing the form of market demand diffusion in the ICT service market was defined. Also, since the strategies and plans to acquire competitive advantage of business were understood, it may help both companies and policy decision makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of main parameters and their interactions on the workers' Lifting Index in a steel rolling mill. Design/methodology/approach – NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) lifting equation has been used to evaluate the risk of lifting tasks with respect to low back injury under varying load (10, 15, 20 kg), frequency (2, 3, 4 lifts/min), and twisting angle (0, 30, 45 degree). Findings – The level of importance of the parameters on lifting index at origin and destination has been determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA).The analysis draws on lifting parameters and uses both main effects and interactions to describe the variation in Lifting Index and to identify the social influence associated with back injury. The interactions between object weight and twisting angle and object weight and lifting frequency turn out to be significant (p<0.05), whereas the interaction between twisting angle and lifting frequency is less significant (p=0.061). Research limitations/implications – The study includes a specific location (steel rolling mills located in Jammu region of India) only. Practical implications – The findings suggest that focus should be made on all lifting parameters, rather than sole emphasis on the load to be lifted. Originality/value – The paper supports the view that load, twisting angle and lifting frequency greatly influence the physical stressfulness of the task. It is suggested that the workplace should be designed for negligible twisting and moderate lifting frequency, so as to have minimum Lifting Index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to be the first to explicate the determinants of customers' cross-buying intentions in the banking services of Korea and Taiwan, and then explore the influence of cross-cultural values, such as "Collectivism", to the relationships between these determinants and customers' cross-buying intentions. Design/methodology/approach – The authors employed a triangulation approach of structured surveys to 700 actual customers, and six interviews with professional senior managers engaged in customers' cross-buying activities of banking services in two countries – Korea and Taiwan. Confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchal multiple regression were conducted on these data using AMOS 10.1 and SPSS 12.0. Findings – "Perceived value", "Trust", "Image", and "Satisfaction" were found to be the determinants of customers' cross-buying intentions in the banking services of Korea and Taiwan, out of which "Trust" and "Satisfaction" were significantly influenced by "Collectivism". The research also confirms that, even between countries with similar level of "Collectivism", its influence can differ according to the determinants of cross-buying intentions in banking services. Originality/value – The conceptual model presented in this paper could be extended and tested on customers in an "Individualistic" culture, in future research. The analysis in the research could also be further elaborated for specific segments of customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper seeks to explore such questions as: "What are the impacts of foreign investors and what are the channels through which foreign investors contribute to or detracts from firm value in Korea?" It aims to discuss how foreign investors and foreign outside directors interact to enhance firm value. Design/methodology/approach – Using longitudinal data from the KOSPI200 index in Korea during 2004-2007, the study examined the direct and interaction effect of foreign blockholders and foreign board members. To address the representativeness of foreign investors, the authors verified the mandates of foreign board members though telephone interviews. Findings – Foreign block shareholders and foreign outside directors respectively provide expertise and independent monitoring over management. Foreign blockholders' management control via board membership is likely to mitigate leverage of value enhancement when foreign outside directors represent private interests of foreign blockholders. The moderating effect is also supported since foreign ownership concentration has an inverted U-shaped relationship with value enhancement. The paper confirms that board independence reinforces the positive impact of foreign outside directors on firm value. Research limitations/implications – This study offers a key to understanding corporate governance in that mutual monitoring and a balance among various types of stakeholders are crucial to value enhancement. Originality/value – The paper provides clues to the extant diverse findings concerning the impact of foreign investors on firm value. It applies an integrated perspective to the empirical analyses of the impact of foreign investors by giving consideration to the agency – foreign outside directors – to implement management control on behalf of foreign blockholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The objective of this paper is to determine whether international entry-order strategies by Korean chaebols affect the exit of their foreign subsidiaries. Design/methodology/approach - The sample consists of a set of 61 parent firms and their 500 foreign subsidiaries. The sample includes 27 Korean business groups, called chaebols, and spans 51 markets, during the period from 1999 to 2004. The study employs resource- and knowledge-based views, and is based on the Cox's proportional hazard model. Findings - This study leads to two main findings: in the context of Korean business groups, latecomers in international markets have greater survival rates than pioneers do because latecomers have stronger resource commitments; and, nonetheless, if chaebol pioneers have greater competitive advantages than chaebol latecomers, the pioneers' subsidiaries have better survival rates than do those of latecomers. Originality/value - The analysis advances order-of-entry research by exploring the international order-of-entry strategies of chaebol multinationals and their impact on international exit and the interrelationship between the order-of-entry and core competencies of chaebol multinationals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Disabled people have the same information needs as non-disabled people. Nevertheless, only 5 per cent of the world's publishing output is made accessible in alternative formats for people who cannot access and use printed materials. This paper aims to suggest the strategy for a national development plan, role models for production and distribution of the alternative format materials for the equitable library service for Koreans with print disabilities. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a series of pre-research studies and discusses arguments for and principles of an alternative format materials development plan in terms of protecting access to information, eliminating the knowledge and information gap, the role of libraries and their social responsibilities, the inadequacy of materials currently available, production plans at the national level, and the advent of an era of digital distribution. Findings – This research presents a strategic development plan as well as a role division model concerning the production of alternative format materials based on the mid- to long-term plan and a nation-wide cooperative network centring on the National Library Support Center for Disabled People in Korea. Originality/value – The strategic development plan and a role division model concerning the production of alternative format materials presented in this study will improve consciousness about the gap in information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to measure trust that logistics/supply chain management (SCM) managers of supplier firms perceive toward inbound SCM managers of buyer firms, and investigate the effect of trust on supply chain collaboration and logistics efficiency. In doing so, two trust forms are introduced: affective trust and trust in competency. Besides, supply chain collaboration includes the three dimensions: joint decision making, information sharing, and benefit/risk sharing. Design/methodology/approach - A path analysis was used to test whether the two trust forms affect the three dimensions of supply chain collaboration, and then, the three dimensions of supply chain collaboration, in turn, affect the logistics efficiency of supplier firms. An empirical analysis was conducted with Korean firms. Findings - Affective trust has a significant influence on collaboration in information sharing and benefit/risk sharing, whereas trust in competency affects collaboration in joint decision making and benefit/risk sharing. Regarding supply chain collaboration, joint decision making and information sharing are found to affect logistics efficiency. Insignificant relationships are detected between affective trust and joint decision making, between trust in competency and information sharing, and between benefit/risk sharing and logistics efficiency. Originality/value - By classifying trust into affective trust and trust in competency and by incorporating the three dimensions of collaboration, this paper analyzes the causal effect of suppliers' trust at the inter-personal level on supply chain collaboration and logistics efficiency, and discusses the results compared to those focusing on buyers' trust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyze the jobs and duties involved in Korean academic libraries and to provide a clear picture of relative issues. This research will assist universities with the HR management and institutional development that are essential for appropriate role division, organizational diagnosis and rational reform, and increasing the expertise of librarians. Design/methodology/approach - All of the various duties being executed in academic libraries were identified. Korean academic libraries were requested to assist with the survey. Questionnaires were collected surveying the level of awareness of all the duties involved in the academic libraries and survey responses analyzed to determine the importance, difficulty, and professionalism of 189 library duties. Findings - Through this study, perceived levels of frequency, importance, and difficulty of duties related to academic libraries were surveyed and average values for each duty were compared and analyzed to formulate a duty model and action plan. Originality/value - This paper presents a basic library duty model reflecting the rapidly changing information technologies and information types of Korean academic libraries based on the job analysis. Through this process, university libraries will be able to optimize human resources management and achieve efficiency in organizational management, as well as creating materials to support education/training and performance management, thus ultimately helping with the rationalization of their operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper examines the relationships that social and economic exchanges, two elements of the employee-organization relationship (EOR), had with affective commitment, turnover intentions, employer trust, and altruism. The paper also aims to determine whether reciprocation wariness, reflecting fear of exploitation in reciprocation, moderated relationships that exchange elements had with outcomes. Design/methodology/approach - A total of 453 employees of a large Korean electronics organization completed a survey on their work attitudes, behaviors, and demographic characteristics. Findings - Results showed that reciprocation wariness moderated relations that social exchange had with commitment, turnover intentions, and trust, and that economic exchange had with turnover intentions. Research limitations/implications - The significance of examining social and economic exchange and of developing conceptualizations of the EOR that incorporate individual differences is discussed. Practical implications - Organizational leaders need to consider how individuals may differ in responses to exchange elements of the EOR. Common assumptions about the EOR that social exchange is universally beneficial and that the necessity of economic exchange is accepted by all employees may not be accurate. Originality/value - New theorizing and testing of the role of reciprocation wariness in the EOR contributes to an emerging literature on social and economic exchanges and how individuals may respond to these elements of the EOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper seeks to examine the impact of labor-management partnership on organizational performance and industrial relations quality at Korean firms. Design/methodology/approach - Data were collected from 139 firms for organizational-level research. Hierarchical regression analyses were employed. Findings - The research showed that the partnership principle and the five practices of management efforts to secure jobs, information sharing, fair financial rewards, investment in employee training, and worker participation in management were significantly and positively associated with the quality of industrial relations. The partnership principle and two of these practices (investment in training and fair financial rewards) had significant and positive effects on organizational performance. Practical implications - The results suggest that the partnership principle on its own does not necessarily lead to improved organizational performance or industrial relations quality, and that a company needs not only to adopt the principle of partnership but also to implement it effectively through specific practices. Originality/value - The paper examines the impact of the partnership model in Korean contexts and offers practical implications for managers seeking effective implementation of the labor-management partnership model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The paper seeks to examine cross-cultural differences in how consumers evaluate "scratch and save" (SAS) promotions (which are characterized by uncertainty of savings outcomes) between Canada and Korea, where the promotion tool is widely used but the countries have different cultural values. Design/methodology/approach - An experiment was conducted to examine cross-cultural differences in SAS promotion evaluations between Canada (n = 77) and Korea (n = 78). Findings - SAS promotions effectively stimulate favorable shopping intentions in Canada, a country with a low uncertainty avoidance culture, more so than in Korea, a country with a high uncertainty avoidance culture. However, subjects in Korea show consistently higher savings expectations from SAS promotions than subjects in Canada. Thus, the results report that consumers with the highest savings expectations do not necessarily have the highest intention to shop. In addition, in Korea, a SAS promotion with guaranteed minimum savings is found to be very effective due to reduced ambiguity about its outcome. Research limitations/implications - The study suggests cross-cultural differences in the applicability of the disjunction effect. Practical implications - The findings suggest that when SAS promotions are presented in a country with high uncertainty avoidance, retailers should explicitly indicate the value of the guaranteed minimum savings. By promising guaranteed savings, retailers can reduce consumers' relatively high concerns about unknown SAS outcomes, which results in a greater advantage in building favorable perceptions. Originality/value - Very little work has been undertaken into SAS promotions and no known empirical research has been undertaken into cross- cultural differences. This paper fills some of the gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to examine antecedents of employee quality commitment at two Korean auto firms. Design/methodology/approach -- Data were collected from 644 employees at two auto plants; 331 at the high lean plant and 313 at the low lean plant. Hierarchical regression analyses were employed. Findings -- This research showed that intrinsic rewards factors were significant determinants of quality commitment in the high lean plant sample, whereas those relating to extrinsic rewards were major antecedents in the low lean plant sample. The study finds that the tested antecedents to quality commitment differ in relative importance at different stages of lean production implementation. Research limitations/implications -- Since data were collected from 644 employees at two Korean firms, the results may need to be modified before being generalized for other national contexts. Practical implications -- The results suggest that the relative importance of the antecedent variables of employee quality commitment changes as lean implementation progresses, shifting in the general direction of rewards intrinsic to the job itself. Managers sensitive to the dynamic nature of the antecedents to employee quality commitment will be the most effective in fostering it. Originality/value -- This paper examines antecedents of employee quality commitment at two Korean auto plants, and offers practical implications for managers starting for the effective fostering of employee quality commitment in terms of different stages of lean production implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The growth of telecommunications spending is the single most vital factor for continuity of the virtuous circle in the overall in formation communications technology (ICT) industry. This article aims to attempt to gauge the future telecommunications expenditure potential of Korean households by adopting the Kuznets curve which considers the income turning point. Design/methodology/approach - This study begins by examining the structural pattern of household telecommunications expenditures, and then analyzes them using the fully modified least squares estimation method. Household survey raw data collected on a quarterly basis between 1982 and 2005 were used. Findings - The paper finds that the Korean telecommunication market has grown at a high pace and adopted new technologies quickly. Most previous studies on the Korean telecommunication market have predicted that growth will continue on the basis of the past trend of continuous growth in consumer communications service expenditure, and the technological innovations which have rapidly taken place in the industry over recent years. However, the research paper finds various interesting points that contradict the prediction. Research limitations/implications - The main research limitation is the range of telecommunication expenditures. The main idea was to examine the relationship between household income and communications expenditure based on the concept of Kuznets hypotheses and to calculate an income turning point to measure spending potential. Practical implications - The case of Korea offers implications for other countries that are putting in special efforts to manage the telecommunications service market. Originality/value - The Kuznets hypotheses have never before been utilized in gauging consumers' expenditure potential in the ICT industry, and therefore the process and results discussed in this paper can be classed as pioneering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine whether cultural differences could explain differences between Korean and American apparel web sites. Design/methodology/approach - The contents of American and Korean apparel web sites are compared. The chi-square test of independence is used to determine significant differences between the contents of the two countries apparel web sites. Findings - The paper finds that American web sites provide specific information related to products and online purchase of products, while Korean web sites provide information related to consumers' relationships to the larger community. This difference could be due to cultural differences: the Korean culture tends to reflect collectivism while the American culture tends to reflect individualism. Research limitations/implications - The fundamental limitation of this research is that it is descriptive. Practical implications - This research suggests that transcultural web sites may not be appropriate and that e-tailers need to be sensitive to cultural differences. Originality/value - The primary contribution of this paper is the identification of clear differences between Korean and American apparel web sites and that Hofstede's collectivism/individualism cultural value is a possible explanation of the difference between the two countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to identify demographic variables affecting consumers' perception of fashion web site attributes. Design/methodology/approach - Descriptive analysis, factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha, t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Scheffe test for post hoc tests were used for data analysis. The online and offline survey conducted in 2004 resulted in a total of 1,026 usable responses. Findings - The paper finds that there were significant differences in the consumers' demographic variables (gender, marital status, age, education, monthly income, and occupation) on their perception of fashion web site attributes (6C: commerce, customization, contents, community, connection, and communication). Research limitations/implications - The findings implied that the fashion e-retailers should reformulate their current strategies by focusing on personalization to satisfy individual customer. However because the research was conducted in Korea, the findings may not be generalizable to other countries. Originality/value - This research takes into consideration the opinion of both online and offline consumers. This study is in the forefront of examining e-consumer behavior in the fashion industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the Korean consortia models generally and discuss how the consortium governing body, Korea Education & Research Information Service (KERIS), manages the e-book consortium effectively from the Korean perspective. Design/methodology/approach - This research is conducted with overall consortia models of online resources by KERIS. Over several years of modeling it has contrived to develop a few consortia modeling patterns in Korea and assess their effectiveness on collection management. The e-book consortium modeling process entailed the following: identifying the appropriate consortium model, sampling the consortium size for pricing models and selecting the criteria for e-book title selection. Findings - Two types of e-book consortium models are presented. One is the subscription model and the other is the purchasing model. Both sharing and purchasing options are quite cost-effective for Korean universities since they try to balance the digital and paper collections. The consortium model for e-books in Korean universities was successful and fit into the conservative collection management in Korea for academic use. Also, perpetual access and purchase model is preferred rather than annual access and lease model. Originality/value - Online resources including e-books need a sustainable model for continuous access due to budget constraints. Considering the life-span of information we need to find the appropriate business and service models for all the resources available online, Various criteria for consortia have been presented. No previous research has been conducted on the nationwide consortium model in Korean universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The key purpose of the present research is to learn whether businesses use web site metrics to support business strategies and how web site metrics used differ by web site categories. Design/methodology/approach - A combination of a preliminary telephone survey and an e-mail questionnaire survey was used to gather data. Potential respondents were contacted by phone to find firms measuring web site success. An e-mail survey was conducted to learn how metrics were used to measure the success of a corporate web site. Responses were examined to study not only purposes and net benefits of measurement but also metrics measured. Findings - Findings of the study indicated that a majority of businesses which took part in this survey were using the metrics more for operational than for strategic purposes. This observation is to some extent consistent with the normative view highlighted by the literature that organizations should measure how successfully their web sites support business objectives and, therefore, the web metrics to measure web site success should differ by web site categories. Research limitations/implications - This explorative research is not based on a large sample, thereby limiting its academic contribution. Since the data analysis is over eight web site categories, future research will need to employ a sample large enough to eliminate any potential bias. Practical implications - A key managerial implication is that businesses need to measure the success of their web site using web metrics tied to their business objectives, if they want their web site to effectively support business strategies. Originality/value- This paper is the first attempt to explore the way that Internet-dependent businesses measure the success of their web site via web metrics, for the purpose not only of observing some patterns between web metrics measured and site categories, but also of examining whether metrics were used for strategic or merely for operational purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Worldwide Web has recently emerged as a highly effective technology to permit individuals to exchange and share information from around the globe. This paper investigates the applicability of the Web-based technology to the support of team meet ings in Korean corporations. We first examine key cultural characteristics of Korean enterprises as they relate to the way the firms conduct team meetings, and discuss a few design issues in the context of the characteristics. We argue that the organizat ional culture of Korean firms calls for a merger of text-based electronic meeting support with video conferencing capability if meetings are to be productive. Ultimately, we envision an integrated team support system that meets the needs of Korean firms for collaborative tasks regardless of the time and location dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of non-profit service motivation (NPSM) as a cognitive dimension in the enhancement of managerial accountability of Korean NGO employees. Hypotheses and a research model were designed to determine the antecedent and consequence factors of NPSM from the perspective of the self-determinants theory, social learning theory, and social exchange theory. Design/methodology/approach – This study relies on quantitative data obtained from Korean NGO survey questionnaires. The sample consists of 400 employees working for NGOs. The performance evaluations were conducted within a one-year period. Findings – Results of the study demonstrate that training and development are the keys to leading employees’ value congruence and motivation. The authors also confirmed that person-organizational (P-O) fit is directly associated with NPSM. Finally, intrinsically motivated NGO employees would boost the level of managerial accountability among the Korean NGO employees through organization and socialization. Research limitations/implications – Through applying Perry’s original public service motivation (PSM) scale including rational, normative, and affective values, the exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis results confirmed that the constructs of NPSM were valid and reliable in the Korean NGOs. Additionally, it might also explain the locus of causality of self-determination theory, and how it changes people’s motivation. Finally, the authors confirmed that organizational systems are notable in terms of increasing P-O fit, strengthening intrinsic motivation, and increasing organizational consequences. Practical implications – This study confirms that human resource development (HRD) practices and performance management system (PMS) act as very effective managerial tools for nurturing positive and constructive social exchange relationships between organizational constituents, and for developing human resources in the NGOs. This is evident in cases of individuals being given extensive participation rights when it comes to decision making (Leana et al., 1992; Mayer and Schoorman, 1998). The benefit of this reality is twofold: it strengthens individuals’ perceptions of self, fostering intrinsic motivation, and it also acts as a buffer of sorts between individuals and external pressures, weakening extrinsic motivation. Social implications – There exists a notion that well-made organizational systems and policies should be regarded as more important because certain informal or relational social interactions and communications (e.g. HRD programs) or PMS policies (e.g. service monitoring systems, finance monitoring systems, and HR and organizational monitoring systems) prevail in the cultural characteristics of NGOs. Based on this notion, allowing P-O fit, intrinsic motives, and accountable behaviors to function as invisible but very persuasive norms, rules, and informal regulations for leaders and subordinates will help make NGOs successful. Originality/value – Given that most Korean non-profit organizations are very small and lack formal HR departments or functions, it is possible that this lack of formality has been somewhat responsible for the shortage of research on the outstanding aspects and issues surrounding non-profit HR management and the motivation of non-profit employees. However, as the non-profit sector has become more professionalized and specialized in terms of training, development, and identity, the need to understand HR issues and employee motivation is vital to improve both employee management and organizational strategies. The aim of this research is to further the understanding of what makes the non-profit workforce distinct. The authors believe that the similarities in terms of motivation for public and non-profit employees allowed us to use a modified version of Perry’s (1996) scale in the study to examine NPSM. However, drawing on these various and diverse perspectives on PSM and NPSM, especially in the Korean context, the authors define NPSM as “intrinsically and voluntarily driven attitudes and dispositions that lead to more service delivery, fundraising, and volunteering activities in the non-profit agencies.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to, first, examine gender differences in response to the presence of diversity management and in the level of organizational commitment, second, to investigate the influence of diversity management practices on organizational commitment, and third, to examine the relationships among gender, diversity management, organizational commitment, and job performance in a more highly male-dominated culture. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a review of the literature, this empirical study uses a survey and statistical analysis, including t-tests and regressions, to test the hypotheses. Findings – The major findings are as follows: first, female workers reported a more favorable perception of diversity management practices than did male workers. However, there was no difference between female and male workers in organizational commitment. Second, diversity management was positively and significantly related to organizational commitment. Finally, the results show that gender was not related to in-role performance, while diversity management and organizational commitment were positively related to in-role performance. Originality/value – The significance of this study lies in its investigation of the effect of diversity management on employees’ attitude and behavior and the gender differences in the perception of diversity management and organizational commitment in a highly male-dominated society. In addition, since Korean companies have become more performance oriented (House et al., 2004), finding the positive relationship between diversity management practices and job performance can also suggest one way for all organizations to increase their employees’ task performance for their continuous development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to examine whether culture impacts the execution of financial services advertising (FSA). Specifically, this study investigates how cultural values are reflected in FSA by comparing magazine ads in the USA and Korea. Design/methodology/approach – This study analyzed the content of a total of 1,889 (USA = 1,486; Korea = 403) FSA in print business/news magazines from 2005 to 2009. Findings – The finding of this study showed significant cultural differences of FSA in terms of collectivism, high and low cultural contexts, human models/celebrity presence and time orientation between the USA and Korea. However, the difference in individualistic cues between the USA and Korea was not significant. Research limitations/implications – Using the integration of multiple cultural frameworks will better explain cultural differences reflected in marketing communication in the financial services (FS) sector. Future research is needed to generalize how such frameworks are reflected in different settings, such as different media or different countries. Practical implications – The findings of this study suggest that FSA reflect cultural values, providing further implications for FS companies targeting the global market. Originality/value – This study extends the understanding of impact of cultural values on advertising by exploring the FS industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe culture- and context-specific suicidal behaviours among Korean-Canadian immigrants as a means to guiding the development of targeted culturally sensitive suicide prevention programmes. Design/methodology/approach – Fifteen Korean-Canadian immigrants who had experiences with suicidal behaviours (e.g. suicidal ideation, suicide attempts) participated in this qualitative research study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for 30-90 minutes individually and constant comparison analysis methods were used to inductively derive recurrent prevailing themes from the interview data. Findings – The study findings reveal that causes and triggers for suicidal behaviours among Korean-Canadians most often emerged from academic and work pressures, estranged family and altered identities. Permeating these themes were deeply embedded cultural values, which according to the participants, could afford protection or heighten the risk for suicide. Research limitations/implications – By focussing only on first-generation Korean-Canadian immigrants, the results are limited in what they can reasonably say about other Canadian immigrant sub-groups. Practical implications – In light of the current research findings, mental health care providers should be cognizant of immigrant patients’ cultural backgrounds and life circumstances as a means to further understanding what underpins their risk for suicide. Originality/value – Notwithstanding the aforementioned limitation, this study contributes important empirical insights about Korean-Canadian immigrants’ suicidal ideation and risk/protective factors. This not only adds to the wider literature connecting culture and suicidality, it affirms the need for culture-specific research as a means to developing culturally sensitive mental health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop an adoption model to identify the critical factors that affect firms' intention to adopt mobile enabled supply chain systems (mSCM) in retail industry. This study focuses on inter-organizational dimension since mSCM is an inter-organizational system that provides both inter- and intra-organizational linkages for firms across the supply chain. Design/methodology/approach – A survey method was used to test the proposed model. Data from this study were obtained from South Korean firms. Findings – Supply chain awareness was shown to be a strong predictor of both inter-organizational dependence and inter-organizational trust which positively affects firms' long-term relationship with their trading partners. Institutional pressures, long-term relationship, and top management support also had a significant influence firms' mSCM adoption intention. Research limitations/implications – First, only executives and managers in retail industry of South Korea were surveyed, thus, the results may not be generalized to retail industry in other countries. Second, the current study focuses on a firm's mSCM adoption intention rather than actual adoption. Practical implications – This study provides useful insights for practitioners to better manage institutional pressures and nurture long-term relationship in order to promote co-adoption of mSCM. Originality/value – This study provides useful insights for supply chain members on how to overcome barriers to adopting an innovation and to increase the chance of successfully adopting mSCM in the retail supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate the development and current usage status of dCube, the first electronic document delivery application in Korea; identify the effects of electronic document delivery; and present references to institutions that are considering the creation of similar systems. Design/methodology/approach – dCube development reports, usage manuals, and interview reports with field experts who were in charge of dCube's development were collected; and statistics data from 2007 to 2012 were analyzed. Findings – dCube, an open and user-friendly system, was developed through benchmarking of similar systems and in response to requests from member institutions. Since its development, regular mail use has decreased as dCube usage has highly increased. dCube's turn-around time is less than one day, compared to three to four days for regular mail. Originality/value – This study represents a thorough investigation and analysis of the development process and utility of the largest-scale electronic document delivery application in Korea, whose openness and convenience are good models for other ILL/DDS applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The study aimed to test the antecedents and consequences of emotional labor (EL) acting strategies in the hotel industry. More specifically, the purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of emotional intelligence (EI) on the relationships among EL acting strategies, emotional exhaustion (EE) and service recovery performance (SRP). Design/methodology/approach – The survey was administered in five-star hotels in Korea. Frontline employees of the hotels participated in the survey and a total of 353 returned questionnaires were used for data analysis. Findings – The research confirmed the importance of EI in the context of EL. The paper provided empirical evidence that EI affected the EL acting strategies and their consequential behavioral outcomes. Practical implications – The study suggests that hospitality managers must find ways to elevate employees' EI level. Performance management processes should incorporate identification and positive reinforcement of EL acting strategies that enhance SRP and customer satisfaction. Originality/value – This study explored the under-researched subject of EL and its role within a hospitality industry context. The study is among the first to examine EI as an emotional resource, EL acting strategies, EE and SRP as a form of job-related performance simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose |!|#8211; The purpose of this paper is to develop research frameworks for two types of green supply chains based on Fisher|!|#39;s seminal work. In spite of Fisher|!|#39;s contribution to the literature, his study has rarely been extended into green supply chain contexts, except in a few conceptual arguments. The current study explores how Fisher|!|#39;s perspective of efficient versus responsive supply chains can be a stepping stone to the development of two green supply chains: eco-efficient and eco-responsive supply chains. Design/methodology/approach |!|#8211; Toward the above end, a case methodology is employed (Yin). Two Korean global companies, Pohang Iron and Steel Company (POSCO) and Samsung Electronics (SEC), are selected to explore eco-efficient and eco-responsive supply chains. POSCO (steel products) is selected to enable the understanding of how efficient and eco-efficient supply chains work. SEC (mobile phone products) is chosen to understand responsive and eco-responsive supply chains. Findings |!|#8211; The findings suggest that POSCO tends to stress process technology innovation as a means to address green pressures, while SEC accentuates the green product strategy; while an eco-efficient supply chain focuses on keeping to an environmental standard across the supply chains, an eco-responsive supply chain centers on the collaboration of suppliers and distributors in greening the supply chain; and SEC takes more initiatives to educate and encourage consumers to engage in recycling activities than POSCO does. Originality/value |!|#8211; Few studies have examined the green supply chain using the perspective of Fisher|!|#39;s framework (efficient vs responsive supply chains). By addressing the timely topic, this study fills a research gap in green supply chain literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose |!|#8211; The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of personal characteristics (proactive personality and performance goal orientation) and contextual characteristics (organizational learning culture and leader-member exchange quality) on employees|!|#39; career satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach |!|#8211; Data were drawn from 232 employees in a Fortune Global 500 company in Korea. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted for measurement model assessment. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to explain the variance in career satisfaction. Findings |!|#8211; As a result of correlation analysis, all the constructs were found to be significant predictors of career satisfaction. Accounting for 22 percent of the variance in career satisfaction, employees exhibited the highest career satisfaction, when they had higher performance goal orientation, and when they perceived higher learning culture and better relationship with supervisor. LMX turned out to moderate the relationship between performance goal orientation and career satisfaction. Research limitations/implications |!|#8211; The contributions of this study to theory lie in the fact that it: took an integrative approach encompassing both personal and contextual factors; examined little researched constructs in career development, organizational learning culture and goal orientation; and was an international study, based on the Korean cultural context. Practical implications |!|#8211; To support employees|!|#39; career satisfaction in the Korean cultural context, the contextual factors (i.e. organizational learning culture and LMX quality) are more important than the personality factors. HR/OD practitioners can play a pivotal role in improving career satisfaction by adopting such practices as cultural change and leadership development using coaching/mentoring. Originality/value |!|#8211; This paper is original in that it takes an integrative approach encompassing both personal and contextual factors, examines organizational learning culture and goal orientation, which have previously been the subject of little research, and has an international dimension, being based on the Korean cultural context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose |!|#8211; The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of national culture on the acceptance, and online interaction, of management education and training online using Hall|!|#39;s cultural classifications and Hofstede|!|#39;s cultural framework. Potential differences in perceptions of personal innovativeness and levels of online management education acceptance were examined. Design/methodology/approach |!|#8211; Factor analysis, structural modeling techniques and independent sample t-statistics were used to analyze samples collected from online management classes in the USA and Korea. Findings |!|#8211; Results suggest that high-context and collectivism cultures are more conservative to the adoption of online management education and training and participation in online interaction. A second interesting finding is evidence of the significant difference of adoption likelihood of learning innovation and changes. It was clear that a nation|!|#39;s culture directly affects the manner in which participants engage, relate and benefit from online management education/training. Originality/value |!|#8211; These insights may help multinational companies predict adoption of online management education and the appropriateness of online training across regional differences so as to formulate more effective online management education and training strategies by accommodating their cultural influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]