Purpose - This research addresses the question of how an international retailer like Costco can succeed in a foreign mature market and satisfy the local consumers. Our study aims to promote our understanding of how foreign retailers influence local consumers in a mature market with differentiated business models. Research design, data, and methodology – Our study uses company publications, secondary sources of information and the results of a questionnaire survey consisting of 106 participants. Consumer responses were solicited through a questionnaire survey conducted in the city of Kobe in December of 2013. Results - Product differentiation from local retailers in a mature market like Japan gave Costco a competitive edge. Compared with local supermarkets, Costco was preferred by Japanese consumers for its variety of goods that it carries, as well as in-store promotion large package of selling units, in-store amenities, and customer services. Conclusions - First, a theoretical framework is proposed in this study that can aid in developing localization strategies in a mature market such as Japan. Second, it reveals that an international retailer can succeed in a foreign market by stimulating local consumers to change their purchasing behavior, without having to alter the prevailing format of operation.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to provide a formalized process of decision making for companies or organizations that need to make various decisions in the age of uncertainty. Therefore, this study aimed to proposes a strategic decision-making approach citing the relatively easily accessible using IPA(important-performance analysis) and SWOT/AHP analysis. Research design, data, and methodology - To be specific, the first step is to derive necessary attributes and conduct IPA. The second step is to subdivide the IPA results into internal strength and weakness factors and the external opportunity and threat factors, hierarchize those factors, and weight them accordingly. The third step is to build a causality model to propose a method of supporting a rational decision making. Results - The foregoing approach seems to facilitate the diversification of decision-making strategies by helping businesses or organizations to measure and analyze the attributes needed for certain decisions. Additionally, the perceived importance and satisfaction (or achievement) usage of those derived attributes can be used as the reference data for SWOT/AHP analysis. Conclusions – The proposed stepwise approach is applicable to businesses or organizations in need of making stepwise decisions in line with their retained competencies in comparison to conventional or intuitive decision-making practices.

Purpose – This study centers on field surveys aimed at deriving the customer satisfaction factors of customer support centers that are positioned between suppliers and consumers in the supply chain. They consists of manufacturing, sales, distribution, consumption and collection, and that are in charge of core functions for suppliers’ customer satisfaction management and consumers’ satisfaction with consuming activities. Research design, data, and methodology – The customer satisfaction factors of customer support centers were derived through literature review and expert opinion surveys, and a questionnaire was developed through a process of the refinement of variables using pilot tests and 330 questionnaire sheets were distributed. The questionnaire sheets were collected and opinions in them were analyzed using fuzzy AHP methodology. Results – Three factors, which are turnover intentions, motivation, and job satisfaction, were derived as customer satisfaction factors of customer support centers, and the ranking relationships of these three factors were analyzed. In addition, the ranking relationships among six execution variables of turnover intentions, 10 execution variables of motivation, and 10 execution variables of job satisfaction were analyzed using fuzzy AHP methodology to obtain quite significant results. Based on the results of this study, three implications in the three strategic aspects and an implication in the academic aspects are presented. Conclusions – Motivation and job satisfaction, job satisfaction and turnover intentions, and motivation and turnover intentions are not formed by independent or different factors or environments. They are in the same context with each other (maintaining high correlations) and are in the relationships of virtuous circles in which they complement each other.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the image similarity and attribute recognition of the top 10 rated spa destinations (Chungnam Deoksan, Chungnam Dogo, Busan Dongrae, Daejeon Yuseong, Chungnam Asan, Gyeongbuk Bomun, Chungbuk Suanbo, Gyeongnam Jangyu, Chungnam Onyang, & Gyeongbol Bugok) in Korea based on the visits to these spa places by the customers. Research design, data, and methodology – The survey of this study was conducted on the visitors to the top 10 spa destinations in Korea from April 8 ∼ April 21, 2017, and a total of 300 questionnaires were distributed. Of them, effective questionnaires used in the final study were a total of 241. In this study, empirical analysis was made through frequency analysis, factor analysis, and multidimensional scaling ALSCAL(spinning symmetry for image similarity and rectangle for attributes recognition) by using the Statistics Package SPSS 24.0. Results – According to the analysis result of spa destination image similarity, the stress level was 0.16453 and the level of the stress was good. Moreover, the coefficient of determination (RSQ) was, which had a description of each aspect of the spa destination, 0.79908. According to the results of attribute recognition, the stress value of 0.11805 represents a degree of conformity, and the coefficient of determination(RSQ) appeared at 0.98665. Therefore, the results of this analysis are that the similarities between spa destinations and the attribute recognition of the spa destinations is a suitable model that is properly expressed in two dimensions. Conclusions – First, according to the analysis result of image similarity, Deoksan & Dogo spa revealed similar images, as well as the Dongrae and Yuseong spa, while on the contrary Asan, Bomun, Suanbo spa has different images from the rest. Second, according to the results of attribute recognition, Asan and Onyang spa has competitiveness in terms of accessibility to spa destination; Yuseong, Dongrae, Jangyu spa in terms of spa facilities, spa tourism conditions, and service & shopping conditions. while spa water quality and spa costs showed low attribute reflection for all 10 spas. Therefore, the spa visitors cannot recognize the differentiation of spa water quality and spa costs.

Purpose - To meet the needs of various customers in an uncertain market environment, many companies use product modularization strategies. Modularization of a product means that one product consists of several components and that the type of product can be changed according to the combination of components. The greatest feature of modularity is that changes in one component do not significantly affect the physical changes in the other component to which they are connected. Modularization of products is recognized as a very important strategy to reflect increasingly complicated customer requirements to products and respond to the needs of various markets. Many studies have been made in connection with the concept of mass customer satisfaction. There are many prior studies that modularization of such products positively affects the operational performance (manufacturing cost, fast delivery, etc.) and innovation of the product. However, excessive modularization has been found to have a negative effect on this performance. However, there are very few studies on the nonlinear relationship between product modularization and customer satisfaction. Supplementing these academically insufficient parts is very necessary when considering the current market environment. Research design, data, and methodology - In order to make up for the shortcomings of academic research in Korea, this study collects data through questionnaires in electronic, auto, and defense industry. This is because these industries are using modularity of products. based on lots of previous studies and information overload theory, we made two hypothesis and verify with empirical analysis. All 108 data were used. We used the R program and SPSS program for statistical verification. Results - As a result of the study, modularization of products showed positive relationship with customer satisfaction to a certain level. However, it has been found that when the modularization is over and beyond a certain level, there is a negative relationship with customer satisfaction. Conclusions – Excessive modularization of products can have a negative impact on customer satisfaction. This result can be understood as a result of human limited rationality due to information overload. Therefore, it is important for companies to apply appropriate modularity to product design.

Purpose - This research examined the effect of hedonic and utilitarian eating-out motivations on the evaluation of restaurant selection attributes in a fashion premium outlet. Additionally, the influence of experimental and functional attributes on customers' preference for hedonic eating-out motives and utilitarian eating-out motives, and variation of moderating effects through the gender was examined. Research design, data, and methodology – A survey was conducted to verify the established research hypothesis. The questionnaire items for the research were modified to fit the situation of the present study. In order to elaborate the questionnaire, the literature of the previous researchers was reviewed and supplemented. The survey conducted 207 online questionnaires for consumers who have visited domestic fashion premium outlets from July 4, 2017 to July 27, 2017. A total of 207 questionnaires were collected, and a total of 206 questionnaires were used for the empirical analysis after excluding one inappropriate response. In order to verify the reliability and validity of the measured variables, exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis were performed using SPSS 20.0. Next, the structural equation model (SEM) statistical method was used to test the hypotheses of the study. Results - Hedonic motivation had more influence on experimental attribute importance than the functional attribute importance of the restaurant. However, this result was different depending on the gender. The effects of hedonic motives on empirical attributes were more influenced by female groups, and when influencing functional attributes, male groups were more influenced. However, it was statistically significant (p <0.05) in the female group only when the hedonic eating out motives influenced empirical attributes. Conclusions - This study analyzed the effect of eating-out motivation on the restaurant preference attributes and suggested practical implications. First, customers with hedonic eating-out motivations were evaluating experiential attributes to be more important than functional attributes. Second, for customers who are motivated to use practical eating-out habits, companies should provide services that meet practical and economic needs. In particular, female customers visiting restaurants need differentiated marketing strategies that make them feel new experiences rather than practical ones. In addition, it is necessary to study more complex and integrated studies which will influence restaurant selection attributes of premium outlets customers by adding various eating out motives and selection attributes.

Purpose – One of the biggest problems in the e-learning distribution process is the lack of quality content and learners' discredit in e-learning content. In order to respond to the various demands of the corporate education field appropriately, it is necessary to search for directions of new e-learning models that are out of traditional e-learning contents. The purpose of this study is to identify recent trend issues related to corporate e-learning and to suggest directions for development. Research design, data, and methodology – Based on the literature review, trend issues that should be considered important in corporate e-learning were derived. Online survey was conducted to evaluate the importance-feasibility of each issue to 13 experts on e-learning and corporate education. The contents of the questionnaire are as follows: 1) recognition of importance and feasibility of trend issues to be considered important in the future corporate education field; 2) factors to be considered in developing future e-learning contents. Results – Six trends derived from a comprehensive literature review. The most important e-learning trends for corporate education field were 'mobile learning', 'micro learning', 'blended learning', 'social learning', 'adaptive learning', ‘engaged learning'. As a result of evaluating the importance and feasibility of each issue, experts point out that 'mobile learning' and 'micro learning' should be actively considered for introduction and utilization at present. In addition, 'social learning' and 'blended learning' need to be actively considered in the near future. On the other hand, experts recognized that 'adaptive learning' and 'engaged learning' need to be prepared from a long-term perspective. Conclusions – There are two main reasons for this result. First, in corporate e-learning, it is important to 1) be able to update on time, 2) the connection with the workplace is important. Second, it requires realistic verification of the expected performance of the learning model. To be considered part of the future are as follows: First, the value and effectiveness of the new e-learning type should be studied. Seconds, e-learning contents should be developed through adopting SAM or Agile methodology. Through this process, we would be able to enhance the quality in e-learning content.

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to clarify the difference of store attributes of Korean consumers and to analyze it’s influence on consumer satisfaction in duty free stores which gain ground inch by inch in the distribution chanel. And it is to find discriminative result as compared with foreign consumer. Research design, data, and methodology - Subjects for the quantitative study, quota sampling was adopted in the Lotte, Shilla downtown and airport duty free stores from the first to 15th December 2016 and 177 questionnaires from Koreans who had purchasing experience in off line duty free store were analyzed. The data was analyzed by using factor and reliability analysis, descriptive statistics analysis, the independent sample t-test and multiple regression analysis. To test consistency, Cronbach’s alpha was used. Results - The result were as follows; 1. Korean consumers consider the importance of store attributes in duty free stores in order Product, Economic Feasibility, Convenience, Promotion, and Accessibility. 2. The meaningful impactive factors of duty free store attributes on consumer satisfaction turned out Product and Promotion. 3. These results show meaningful distinction between Koreans and foreigners in terms of consumer satisfaction in duty free stores. Conclusions – A marketer who is working for duty free store consider now that price benefit can not give strong impact to Korean consumers more and should concentrate on various brand assortment even including private brand. In terms of promotion, most duty free shops put special stress on foreign consumer’s wants now as highly increasing of Chinese travelers but Korean consumer’s sales portion and number of visitor also are steadily increasing. Therefore, a duty free marketer should prepare the Korean-oriented services with more enhanced promotion strategies for individual and group travellers, for example, a mileage service, VIP room and social network system to satisfy Korean consumers. In order to get satisfaction from Korean consumers, it makes effort on product and promotion than accessibility, price and convenience. Due to high level influence, further study is needed to enlarge to on-line market and to develop private brands for duty free stores.