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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 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 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 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 - 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 - 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 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 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]

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 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 - To examine the effect of pay-for-performance on distributive justice and the moderating effect of commitment performance appraisal in the case of Korean employees. Design/methodology/approach - Data were collected from 28 companies and 656 employees. Moderated regression analyses were employed. Findings - Findings show that pay-for-performance enhances employees' perception of distributive justice only when there is a commitment performance appraisal practice. Additional analysis shows that the commitment performance appraisal practices of a company influence employee perceptions of such practices in a U-shape fashion. Research limitations/implications - Since, data were collected from 28 companies, the results may need to be modified before being generalized to/for Korean companies. Practical implications - It is notable that only when accompanied by commitment performance appraisal does pay-for-performance enhance employee perception of distributive justice. Managers in Korean companies should consider implementing commitment appraisal practices when they want to utilize pay-for-performance. Originality/value - This paper notes the fundamental changes in the pay systems in Korean companies, and offers practical implications for managers starting out on a pay-for-performance system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — The main theme is to investigate whether the distinct classes of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) such as altruism and generalized compliance are shown in the Korean context, and whether public service motivation, job satisfaction and organizational commitment are predictors of OCB in Korean civil servants. Design/methodology/approach — Structural equation modeling (SEM) is applied to survey data of 1,584 civil servants in Korea to examine the relationships between the three predictors and the two dimensions of OCB. Findings — The results indicate the presence of the two dimensions of OCB in the Korean context, and support the relationships between public service motivation and OCB and the relationship between organizational commitment and OCB. However, the direct relationship between job satisfaction and OCB is not confirmed. Originality/value — This paper is the first to analyze the effect of public service motivation on OCB, and shows that public service motivation emerges as a more significant predictor of OCB in the public sector of Korea. It contributes to enhancing the applicability and meaningfulness of the concept of OCB across different cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of software has been growing rapidly owing to the development of various Internet and e-business applications. One of the active research areas in software involves its evaluation methods or models. The traditional approaches to software evaluation are based on the development process point of view, and their major concerns are not strongly related to user or customer-oriented evaluation of software. In this paper, a maturity model and a corresponding evaluation system are suggested that focuses on software customer satisfaction. As a case study they are applied to 18 software companies and their 180 customers in Korea to prove their practical values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on Korean auto producers entry into the European Union market. Information on Korea's car producers like Hyundai Motors Company, Kia Motors, and Daewoo; What an examination of the pattern of Japanese foreign direct investment in the European indicates; Indepth look at Korea's major car producers.

Purpose - This study sets out to employ a cross-cultural perspective to explore alternative explanations in the development of the online repurchase intentions model. Design/methodology/approach - The proposed constructs of alternative models deal with key online consumer behavior variables such as customized information, web use applications, online service and perceived interactivity which lead to the formation of purchase intentions. These variables form the theoretical foundation for four alternative models. To test these four alternative models 448 online consumers were surveyed in 2007. Structural equation modeling is used to test these models. Findings - The results demonstrate that the power of customized information lies in its ability to influence consumer satisfaction and perceived interactivity that are proximate to repurchase intentions. The results also show that the link of satisfaction → repurchase intentions provides a meaningful empirical representation of the hierarchical sequence in which the cycle of customer repurchasing process (satisfaction → attitude → repurchase intentions) is related. Research limitations/implications - One may examine applications of the findings in the travel industry in practice and reflect upon potential pitfalls when applying the findings of this piece of the present research. Although previous studies reveal the significance between the two constructs, further research can investigate the issue to be generalizable to the many types of e-B2C services. Second, particularly in terms of the ability to generalize the model, the study did not provide fairly consistent results for different service categories. Studies on other service classes, such as online bookstore and online banking services, may reveal findings that extend the authors' approach. Practical implications - Similarity of purchasing attitudes between Korean and UK consumers may allow e-tailors to design a systematic strategy for generating favorable attitudes toward their web sites, even though standardized online treatment of consumers is not the golden path of internet marketing. Further, the proposed research model (PRM) provides a means of identifying the underlying dispositions associated with the mediating variable. Originality/value - This is the first study to examine online repurchasing models using alternative explanations. By structuring such alternative models, McKenzie argues that researchers may be better able to judge how the evidence relates to each alternative view. The present approach can be viewed as a significant early step on the path toward a comprehensive understanding of online consumer behaviors in new information communication technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This study aims to investigate relationships among supplier capabilities, collaboration in new car development, and the competitive advantage of carmakers based on the resource-based view (RBV). Design/methodology/approach - A survey of first-tier suppliers in the Korean automotive parts industry was conducted, and pertinent hypotheses were tested by using the ordinary least squares (OLS) method and hierarchical multiple regression analysis (HMRA). Findings - It was found that suppliers' flexibility, engineering and modularization capabilities positively influence collaboration in new car development, which in turn positively affects the competitive advantage of carmakers. This result empirically verifies the RBV proposition that one motive for interfirm collaboration can be the opportunity to gain access to other firms' resources/capabilities. The theory of the RBV was further extended by demonstrating that suppliers' quality improvement and modularization capabilities directly contribute to the competitive advantage of carmakers and that the influence of quality improvement and modularization capabilities on this competitive advantage are robust against technological uncertainty. However, the positive effect of collaboration in new car development on the competitive advantage of carmakers is decreased by the moderating effect of technological uncertainty. Research limitations/implications - The findings of this study were obtained from a limited population of the Korean automotive industry. This study not only empirically verified the proposition of the RBV but also extended the RBV theory by empirically demonstrating direct relationships between suppliers' capabilities and carmakers' competitive advantages. Practical implications - Suppliers must enhance flexibility, modularization and engineering capabilities in order to vitalize collaboration with carmakers in new car development. As technological uncertainty increases, carmakers should address in-house the problems caused by technological uncertainty or delegate related jobs only to suppliers with significant capabilities for quality improvement and modularization. Originality/value - This is one of the few studies to identify the moderating effect of technological uncertainty on interfirm collaboration [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study on auditor's conflict consists of three parts. The first is a discussion of the theory regarding auditor's role conflict From a theoretical basis, the causes for role conflict are distinguished by the structural inconsistency of roles, the "free engagement system" which is a kind of free market system of audit contracting between auditors and clients, and the expectation gap. The second part is a review of the Korean environment and a history of the audit in order to see what causes auditor's role conflict The results show that auditors in Korea face a substantial role conflict The conflict arises because auditors try to maintain their professional norms and at the same time consider the client manager's wishes. The third part is a proposed solution based on an empirical study conducted in Korea to resolve the auditor's role conflict This study stresses the need for a separation of the auditor's role into a service function and a monitoring function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information on a study related to the adoption of Japanese management techniques in the Korean manufacturing industry. Facing the recent unfavorable environment, Korean manufacturing industries must find a way to regain competitiveness in domestic and international markets. At this moment, the most affordable and practical alternative is to make innovations in the current manufacturing process in order to enhance productivity and competitiveness. This study shows that there is considerable room for Korean manufacturing firms to improve their competitiveness through adoption of Japanese manufacturing techniques and concepts. There is no doubt that Korean manufacturing firms can compete with the world's best in price, quality and delivery performance through adoption of these techniques and concepts. This has been proved by a number of successful Korean manufacturing firms, which employ new manufacturing management concepts including Japanese techniques. In order to encourage Korean firms, many incentives, such as tax exemptions and low-interest loans, should be given to Korean manufacturing firms to replace old production systems and adopt new manufacturing technologies and systems.

Illustrates the creation of a growth-oriented society in Korea. Semi-developed economy in the 1960s; Necessity for rapid industrialization due to the military threat from North Korea; Export-oriented industrialization of President Park.

Focuses on the role of the Korean government in the development of the domestic retailing industry. Theoretical model explaining how government interventions affect retailers; Deregulation of Korea's home market; Threat of foreign entrants.