- P-ISSN1738-3110
- E-ISSN2093-7717
- SCOPUS, ESCI
ISSN : 1738-3110
Vol.11 No.2
Abstract
Purpose - The current research examines the effect of life cycle stages on capital structure of listed companies in Tehran Stock Exchange. Research design, data, methodology - By aid of 685 year-company data, which collected from financial statements of companies during 2006-2012, first, the companies, are classified into three groups including companies in growth, maturity and decline stages. After removing the companies, which were not in accordance with life cycle model, 86 companies were selected to test two main hypotheses of the research. Results - The results show that the capital structure of the sample companies is different in various life cycle stages. More investigation by LSD test also revealed that the total debt to total assets ratio means of the companies in growth stages were significantly different from those companies in maturity stages and those in growth stages had high level of debt to assets ratio. Conclusions - The result showed the average amount of the working capital for companies in three stages are significantly different and due to high level of operation of the companies in maturity and decline stages, these companies held high amount of working capital than those in the growth stages.
Abstract
Purpose - The purpose of the study is to promote the adoption of traditional liquor product contents in order to revitalize the market and to increase consumer awareness of traditional liquor. Research design, data, methodology - In this study, the 4P relationship model was evaluated that included the self-supporting business of traditional liquor, continuous business, diversification of the types of the liquor, and discovery of preliminary social enterprises for the distribution of the liquor. Results - The study suggested a 4P relationship model that consisted of traditional liquor as the product, traditional market as the place, promotion within traditional market, and payment of labor costs. In other words, selection of the traditional liquor product, place, rental supports, distribution and delivery strategies, operations, public relations and training, foundation of social enterprises, and discussion between departments. Conclusions - The central government, local governments, and merchants (the market association) should actively cooperate with each other to revitalize the market for traditional liquor. Social enterprises that rely on a non-profit business model are likely to revitalize the traditional liquor market.
Abstract
Purpose - Numerous studies have tried to assess the role of a warranty as an explanatory instrument for product quality. While one study argued that manufacturers signal their superior quality to consumers by extending the duration of a warranty, quality is not necessarily related to warranty and a warranty for a short duration is a sign of high product quality. However, there are limitations to measuring product quality in terms of a single variable such as a warranty. Some other studies have evaluated the influence of brand power or value and price on the supposed quality of a product while the influence of warranty was found to be insignificant. Research design, data, methodology - The study analyzes the influence of brand power and the country of origin effect on consumers' perception of product quality in line with warranty and establishes a priority strategy. Especially, consumer experience has a significant influence on state of the art technology products like applied home electronics as these goods are generally quite expensive and consumers expend significant energy in purchasing them, so the associated warranty and brand can have a critical role in the decision making process. The price of the product was excluded in this discussion as it continually varies with the market share of the product. Results - The results of the analysis are as follows: First, each of the factors such as the standard of the warranty, brand power, and country of origin effect influences the degree of satisfaction of an individual. Second, the factors brand power and quality of the warranty interact both complementarily and synergistically at a time, depending on the brand power. As brand power is more significant, the degree of satisfaction is greater in case of products with low quality warranty compared to those with high quality warranty. Third, the brand power and country of origin effect present a complementary interaction. Fourth, the country of origin effect and quality of a warranty interact synergistically. Conclusions - Thus, the higher the quality of warranty, greater is the increment in the degree of satisfaction. The comprehensive study on the effect of the country of origin on the purchase decision process and the degree of satisfaction compared to the other elements shows that in case of Japanese and Korean markets the brand power of a company is desirable in sustaining the quality of warranty to the industrial average. Also, there is no significant improvement in the perceived quality of the product when the quality of the warranty is lowered. Therefore, the warranty effect diminishes when the value of the brand is known, while it perishes when both the brand power and the country of origin effect are strong enough.
Abstract
Purpose - Until recently, studies on customer values for restaurants recognized two path structures; the SERVQUAL model, that is, service quality? perceived value? customer satisfaction? behavioral intention, and the customer value? customer satisfaction? behavioral intention path that categorizes customer values into functional value and hedonic value. This study, instead, classifies the consumption values of fast-food restaurants based on the consumption value system provided by Sheth, Newman and Gross (1991) and illustrates the new path structure, consumption value? customer satisfaction? behavioral intention, targeting college students for a generalization of the consumption value system of fast-food restaurants. Research design, data, and methodology - This study establishes five hypotheses based on the relationship between each type of consumption value (functional, emotional, social, and epistemic) and customer satisfaction, and the relationship between customer satisfaction and behavioral intention. For this analysis, data was collected by conducting a pre-test and administering a survey to 213 college students who are regular customers at fast-food restaurants in Seoul, Korea. The data collected was then analyzed using SPSS 15.0 and AMOS 6.0 statistical packages. Results - The study showed that: First, the consumption values of fast-food restaurants are classified into the following four categories: functional value, emotional value, social value, and epistemic value while consumption value can be applied to customer value of fast-food restaurants. Second, the functional and epistemic values had a positive impact on customer satisfaction. The resulting satisfaction is attributed to the intrinsic characteristics of fast-food restaurants like the consistent quality of food, reasonable prices, fast service, and unique or new experiences on every visit. On the other hand, emotional and social values did not affect customer satisfaction. The results on emotional value differed from the general studies on restaurants while the results obtained for social value were not consistent with the studies on high-end restaurants. Third, customer satisfaction had a positive impact on behavioral intention. The survey showed that college students reflected behavioral intention - repurchase intention and word-of-mouth - if they were satisfied with the food quality and employee services provided. Simultaneously, it was seen that the impact of functional value on customer satisfaction of fast food restaurant goers was more than that of epistemic value. Conclusions - The consumption values of fast-food restaurant users could be classified into four categories, functional, emotional, social and epistemic values, based on the consumption value system provided by Sheth, Newman and Gross (1991). It proved that the customer values of restaurant goers can be extended to the path structure of consumption value? customer satisfaction? behavioral intention to confirm its generalization. The study also showed that marketing managers need to focus more on the factors that influence functional value as the fast-food restaurant users consider timely services with the consistent quality of food at a reasonable price and at a convenient place more important than the new experiences or uniqueness.
Abstract
Purpose - The development and implementation of OSS (Open Source Software) led to a dramatic change in corporate IT infrastructure, from system server to smart phone, because the performance, reliability, and security functions of OSS are comparable to those of commercial software. Today, OSS has become an indispensable tool to cope with the competitive business environment and the constantly-evolving IT environment. However, the use of OSS is insufficient in small and medium-sized companies and software houses. This study examines the need for OSS Intermediaries in the Software Distribution Channel. It is expected that the role of the OSS Intermediary will be reduced with the improvement of the distribution process. The purpose of this research is to prove that OSS Intermediaries increase the efficiency of the software distribution market. Research design, Data, and Methodology - This study presents the analysis of data gathered online to determine the extent of the impact of the intermediaries on the OSS market. Data was collected using an online survey, conducted by building a personal search robot (web crawler). The survey period lasted 9 days during which a total of 233,021 data points were gathered from sourceforge.net and Apple's App store, the two most popular software intermediaries in the world. The data collected was analyzed using Google's Motion Chart. Results - The study found that, beginning 2006, the production of OSS in the Sourceforge.net increased rapidly across the board, but in the second half of 2009, it dropped sharply. There are many events that can explain this causality; however, we found an appropriate event to explain the effect. It was seen that during the same period of time, the monthly production of OSS in the App store was increasing quickly. The App store showed a contrasting trend to software production. Our follow-up analysis suggests that appropriate intermediaries like App store can enlarge the OSS market. The increase was caused by the appearance of B2C software intermediaries like App store. The results imply that OSS intermediaries can accelerate OSS software distribution, while development of a better online market is critical for corporate users. Conclusion - In this study, we analyzed 233,021 data points on the online software marketplace at Sourceforge.net. It indicates that OSS Intermediaries are needed in the software distribution market for its vitality. It is also critical that OSS intermediaries should satisfy certain qualifications to play a key role as market makers. This study has several interesting implications. One implication of this research is that the OSS intermediary should make an effort to create a complementary relationship between OSS and Proprietary Software. The second implication is that the OSS intermediary must possess a business model that shares the benefits with all the participants (developer, intermediary, and users).The third implication is that the intermediary provides an OSS of high quality like proprietary software with a high level of complexity. Thus, it is worthwhile to examine this study, which proves that the open source software intermediaries are essential in the software distribution channel.
Abstract
Purpose - The objective of this paper is to explain the successful methods for the revitalization of distribution and logistics of the least developed FEZs (Saemangum, Yellow-sea, and Deagu-Kyengbuk) in Korea. With the recent changes in the economic terrain of Northeast Asia as with the rise of China, Korea has developed a logistics hub concept for improving the efficiency of logistics and distribution industry and its distribution and logistics policy has received positive worldwide evaluation. Therefore, we face severe competition and must always look for ways to address these problems. Research design, Data, Methodology - This study adopts two methods to propose successful revitalization of distribution and logistics in the least developed FEZ. The first method investigates the limitation of these FEZs by analyzing the statutes, and the second one follows comparable cases. Thus, we first reviewed the efficient strategic political alternatives for the least developed FEZ, Yellow-sea, Seamangum-Gunsan, and Deagu-Kyeongbuk, through the relative institution system, law, and future plans. Next, we studied the Bin-hai Economic Free Section (Zone) in China as a comparable example. In order to analyze the competitiveness of logistics in the three FEZs (Yellow-sea, Seamangum-Gunsan, and Deagu-Kyeongbuk), the total factor productivity growth of regional manufacturing industries is divided into three sources: the external trade effect, scale effect, and technical change effect. However, this paper does not test for a positive contribution of external trade, which is a reason of non-building on these FEZs. A FEZ that shows a larger external trade effect than the others will have a comparative advantage in the logistics infrastructure and policy support. This study presented the newly applied Bin-hai FEZ in China, in order to make the studied FEZ as successful by applying the strategy of its distribution and logistics center. Results - In Korea, there is an increased focus on the benefit of the regional development of regions such as the Free Economic Zones (FEZ). We have six FEZs, Inchon, Busan-Jinhae, Guangyang, Yellow-sea, Seamangum-Gunsan, and Deagu-Kyeongbuk. However, our FEZs do not have various supporting factors needed for the logistics and distribution industry. Korea designated the above six places as FEZ and has operated to enhance national competitiveness and ensure a balanced regional development since 2003. However, most FEZs did not receive favorable feedback in the first business performance evaluation and it is necessary to take action for substantial improvements. Conclusions - Especially, over the past 10 years, even though the FEZ policy has been implemented in an effort to promote success in distribution and logistics, there are still many underdeveloped industries in logistics. The main problem is the absence of revitalization of the high value added performance in the distribution and logistics industry. However, there is a limitation to this study. We have used non-empirical method based on a case study to arrive at our findings. Future studies should use appropriate statistical methods to supplement our results and provide a solution to this problem.
Abstract
Purpose - The TOEIC test has been leading the change in the quality and the globalization of companies for about last 30 years. The TOEIC test is taken by about two million people each year and is used as a criterion to select new employees in companies or government offices, for performance ratings, and for overseas posting selections. Universities also use TOEIC test in various ways. Since the TOEIC test is used for the selection of new students for admission, transferring extra credits, scholarships, graduation certification, and admission of international students studying abroad, many universities all over the country provide students with TOEIC study lectures through their own language institutes. Despite the fact, there has been no research on the service quality or even the current situation of these institutes. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the factors that impact TOEIC lecture service quality and analyzes the effect of the expectation related to the education service quality and the result of education on intentional behavior. Research design, data, methodology - Data was collected by administering a survey to current TOEIC students from different university language institutes. The survey questionnaire comprised of a five-point Likert scale. The demographic analysis was conducted using the frequency analysis method and the factor analysis was conducted to verify the validity of questionnaire over any variable. The reliability analysis was conducted to verify the reliability of the results. Besides, multiple regression analysis, regression analysis, and mediated effect verification were also conducted. For education service quality, four different independent variables such as reliability, response, conviction, and sympathy were considered using the SERVQUAL survey model. Based on the research models, the study hypotheses below were formulated in order to recognize an effect relationship between the variables. The four hypotheses are, "the hypothesis on education service quality and TOEIC study result expectation," "the hypothesis on education service quality and behavioral intention," "the hypothesis on study result expectation and behavioral intention," and "the hypothesis on study result expectation and mediated effect." Results - The results are as follows. First, the factors like response, conviction, and sympathy have a positive influence on TOEIC study result expectations. Second, the TOEIC study result expectation has a positive influence on the factors of behavioral intention such as re-sign up, positive word-of-mouth, "loyalty towards school." Third, it was verified that the mediated effect on behavioral intention was influenced by education service quality at university foreign language institute, while the study result expectation has only a partial mediated effect. Conclusions - The implications of this study are summarized as follows: First, it suggests a new research model for the effect of the expectation related to the education service quality and the result of education in the university language institutes on the behavioral intention. Second, it has established a relationship between the education service quality and study result expectation by verifying the mediated effect on them.