- Apply for Authority
- P-ISSN1738-3110
- E-ISSN2093-7717
- SCOPUS
ISSN : 1738-3110
Vol.10 No.12
Abstract
Purpose - This paper proposes measurement models to evaluate the management performance of small and medium-sized retail businesses on the basis of a trading area analysis that compares their proposed revenue to actual revenue in the trading area. Research design, data, methodology - The study proposes measurement models consisting of five stages, namely: (1) district background survey, (2) customer survey, (3) competitor survey, (4) business district survey, and (5) business performance analysis. Results - To identify business districts easily, this study preferred a minor-adjusted method based on the Euclidean distance, as it is simple to employ for the small and medium-sized businesses. This model was applied to select coffee shops in Daejeon. Results indicated that although the targeted shop was not located in an appropriate location, actual sales were higher than expected. Conclusions - Small- or medium-sized retail businesses face difficulties regarding the economies of scale and brand recognition and must choose an appropriate location to ensure management stability. However, such businesses will find it difficult to evaluate their competitive edge accurately using a trading area analysis.
Abstract
Purpose - The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum has evolved and is actively facilitating free and open trade. It is debated whether APEC has effectively reduced trade barriers in a preferential manner to encourage liberalized trade and whether increased trade between member countries has reduced trade with nonmember countries. Research designs, data, methodology -This paper empirically tests whether APEC creates or diverts trade, using an extended gravity model with tariff rates, exchange rates, and dummy variables to analyze how APEC affects intra-trade between members.The model utilizes the annual panel data between 1990 and 2007 of 16 selected APEC members and nonmembers. Results - Results reveal the changing role of APEC only between 2002 and 2007 has it created trade, fostering increased trade among trading partners and between members and nonmembers. Conclusion - APEC can be expected to demonstrate a stronger trade creating effect once its advanced and developing members complete tariff reductions by 2010 and 2020, respectively.
Abstract
Purpose - This paper discusses the heterogeneous fixed fleet vehicle routing problem with pick-up and delivery (HFFVRPPD), for vehicles with different capacities, fixed costs, and travel costs. Research Design, data, methodology - This paper made nine assumptions for establishing a mathematical model to describe HFFVRPPD. It established a practical mathematical model, and because of the non-deterministic polynomial-time hard (NP-hard), improved the traditional simulated annealing algorithm and tested a new algorithm using a certain scale model. Result - We calculated the minimum cost of the heterogeneous fixed fleet vehicle routing problem (HFFVRP) with a single task and, on comparing the results with the actual HFFVRP for the single task alone, observed that the total cost of HFFVRPPD reduced significantly by 46.7%. The results showed that the new algorithm provides better solutions and stability. Conclusions - This paper, by comparing the HFFVRP and HFFVRPPD results, highlights certain advantages of using HFFVRPPD in physical distribution enterprises, such as saving distribution vehicles, reducing logistics cost, and raising economic benefits.
Abstract
Purpose - This study examines college students' perceived choice attributes in traditional markets and the relationship quality. We study the relationships between attributes that common people look for while choosing a store (e.g., product, service, advertising, and atmosphere), consumption emotion, consumer's value, and relationship quality. Research design, data, methodology - In order to verify the relationship between choice attributes and relationship quality, and moderating (i.e., consumption emotion) and mediating effects (i.e., customer value), we collected data from 202 consumers in Gyeonggi province to test the theoretical model and its hypotheses. For this purpose, this study, utilized an empirical methodology. Results - First, contrary to the previous research findings involving college students, this study observed that four factors of store choice attributes at a traditional market were important to consumers in heightening the relationship quality. Specifically, product (β = .608, p < .01), service (β = .351, p < .01), advertising (β = .237, p < .01), and atmosphere (β = .425, p < .01) are significantly related to relationship quality. Second, consumers selected product (β =. 521, p < .01) as the most important attribute. Atmosphere (β = .254, p < .01) and service division (β = .148, p < .05), in this order, are the other important factors in this regard. However, advertising (β = -.112, p = .100) is not statistically significant. To improve and develop the relationship quality with consumers, traditional markets should ensure supply of suitable products and goods, improve store atmosphere by modernizing facilities, and educate merchants to improve their services. Third, the results of the moderating effects, although marginally statistically significant, suggest that for the consumers with low consumption emotion for traditional markets, an affirmative experience of products and store atmosphere heightens their values. In addition, the consumers having low consumption emotion who could promote consumer values were found to improve and develop a marginally significant relationship quality. Finally, the study revealed that the consumer's value exhibited a complete mediation effect in the relationships between service and relationship quality, and advertising and relationship quality and a partial mediation effect in the relationships between product and relationship quality, and atmosphere and relationship quality. Conclusions - Consumer satisfaction is important to increase the competitiveness of traditional markets, and products and store atmosphere are important attributes to increase the relationship quality. Specifically, merchants should supply different products, modernize their facilities, and improve store atmosphere to compete in traditional markets. In addition, traditional markets should provide value and competitive prices to attract consumers, and should maximize the consumer's value and promote the consumption emotion. Traditional markets should evolve to accommodate changes in the consumer's value and invest in not only functional elements but also symbolic elements.
Abstract
Purpose - This study analyzes the effects of types of leadership on the employees of Italian restaurants, its efficacy, and organizational citizenship behavior, utilizing a causal assessment model. In this study, independent variables such as the type of leadership perceived in the manager or chef by an Italian restaurant's employees, and its efficacy were parameters, and the organizational citizenship behavior and organizational effectiveness were the variables representing the results in the hypothesis. The study aimed to draw implications by verifying the leadership via efficacy and the impact on organizational citizenship behavior of Italian restaurants. Research design, data, methodology - For the purpose of this analysis, specific questionnaire items were configured according to the theory and efficacy of the study. From a questionnaire used in organizational citizenship behavior comprising 22 questions, six were modified to suit the research purpose of this study. The configured questionnaire comprised 5 parts and 40 items. A Likert (Likert) 5-point scale was utilized to measure responses to the questionnaire items from the employees of an Italian restaurant in Seoul who participated in the survey. For data collection, 400 questionnaires were distributed, and 344 collected. Factor analysis and reliability verification were conducted using SPSS18.0 and AMOS18.0. A covariance structure analysis was conducted to test the research hypotheses. Results - Based on the results of the analyses, the summary and suggested implications of the research are as follows: The covariance structure analysis used to analyze the kind of effect transformational and transactional leadership styles in Italian restaurant employees had on self-efficacy, group-efficacy, and organizational citizenship behavior, indicated that among the characteristics of transformational leadership (such as, idealized influence, inspirational motivation, individual consideration, and intellectual stimulation), idealized influence and individual consideration had a positive influence on self-efficacy. Idealized influence, individual consideration, conditional reward, and management by exception also positively influenced self-efficacy and altruistic and conscientious behavior (organizational citizenship behavior). Conclusions - Results suggest that with regard to self-efficacy and group efficacy, managers in different departments and chefs should provide team members with a vision for the future, increase their confidence in their abilities, and build their trust in the organization. By evaluating employee performance and experiences, management can demonstrate leadership and encourage organizational citizenship behavior through enjoyable, voluntary participation. Transformational and transactional leadership is effective in group processes that include social-exchange relationships, self-efficacy and group efficacy, and organizational citizenship behavior. However, as this research study utilizes only self-reported data, it has several limitations, such as a vulnerability of errors caused by the various experiment types. A significant limitation of this study is the lack of potential for the duplication of results. The covariance structure analysis, however, provides complementation to limit the impact of errors from self-reporting studies. A future study can extend this research by utilizing different data collection methods.