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The role of logistics service provider (LSP) is essential for efficient logistics service quality (LSQ) and supply chain management, especially in multimodal transport. Multimodal transport routes that use the Trans-Siberian Railway (TSR) play an important role in the supply chains of Northeast Asia. This paper aims to identify current conditions of TSR LSQ and propose improvements to enhance the competitiveness of traditional routes. Therefore, this study sheds light on and provides recommendations for various managerial strategies to LSPs in the context of the TSR. This study utilizes Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) to measure levels of importance and performance of the logistics service of LSPs that provide multimodal transport services via the TSR from South Korea to Europe. This study identifies capabilities on the basis of five criteria (price, timeliness, reliability, equipment systems, and customer service) from a customers’ perspective. The results of the research indicate that operational improvements should be considered to activate TSR multimodal transport for northern logistics routes from the perspective of Korean shippers. Specific findings show that balanced development strategies are needed for logistics routes that have not yet been significantly activated, while implying that logistics costs could be reduced initially to satisfy shippers. This study presents an operational strategy for LSPs using the TSR in northern logistics through IPA methods. Furthermore, this research can help policymakers propose specific policies to revitalize the northern logistics of Korean logistics companies and to provide incentive supports for shippers.

This study aims to examine how the modern marketing expectation of treating the customer like a king can become a source of power differential in societies that already have a predisposition for hierarchical structures. The authors explore how this marketing-generated power differential might have an adverse impact on service providers in Eastern cultures with high power distance.

Four studies involving receivers and providers of services in Canada and South Korea were conducted. The experiments required participants to read service scenarios and respond to survey questions.

The authors find that practicing the “The Customer is King” philosophy does produce a power differential between the customer and the service provider in Eastern cultures. In such cultures, customers may feel superior in social hierarchy compared to the service providers, may develop a sense of entitlement that infringes on the rights of the service providers and may carry over that expectation from service to non-service contexts. The power differential is also a source of stress for the service provider.

The use of scenarios in our experiments may limit the generalizability of the study’s findings.

Although sharing of best practices across cultures can be a worthwhile goal for managers, blind copying of some Western practices in Eastern markets can be problematic. The cultural context of markets calls for caution. In their quest for excellent customer service, managers should not let customers expect the service provider to become subservient and servile.

This study is the first attempt at examining the social impact of a marketing philosophy (customer is king) and how the outcomes might be different depending on the culture in which the philosophy is practiced.

This paper employs choice‐theoretic models to study the impact of the 1986 Tax Reform Act on firms' issue behavior and the determinants of corporate capital structures. Choice‐theoretic models allow researchers to examine firms' leverage decisions at the margin. Both parametric and semi‐parametric estimations are employed to perform a more precise statistical inference. The results show that firms tend to issue more debt after the 1986 Tax Reform Act. The results also support the theories based on the trade‐off between tax shields and financial distress costs, corporate non‐debt tax shields, and agency costs inclusive of those from free cash flows.

This study uses the balanced scorecard(BSC) framework to assess the business performance of information technology (IT) expenditures in the Korean banking industry. The relationship between IT expenditures and bank’s financial performance or market share was significantly different depending upon the level of IT. For banks that maintain high IT level, IT expenditures appear to have (1) increased labor productivity, (2) decreased payroll expenses and increased operating and total administrative expenses, (3) increased market share, and (4) increased revenue and profit. The evidence suggests two important practical implications. First, if banks effectively use IT strategy to improve competitive advantage, they are likely to reduce payroll expenses and increase market share as well as profitability. Second, this study posits that bank managers should consider using a balanced scorecard approach to measure business performance of both IT and management strategies. Thus, evidence of this study provides guidance for achieving competitive advantage in the banking industry.

This study aims to examine cultural differences between Easterners and Westerners in processing preference‐inconsistent information. The focal question that the study addresses is as follows: When faced with negative information about their preferred alternative, do Easterners and Westerners respond differently? If yes, how do these differences impact purchase intentions?

A total of 102 students from a major Korean university and 96 students from a major Canadian university participated in the study. The experiment involved reading fictitious but realistic product reviews about a new car model and responding to survey questions.

The authors find that, compared to Eastern consumers, Western consumers are affected differently by preference‐inconsistent information. They experience a greater level of cognitive discomfort, exhibit a stronger motivation to reduce that discomfort, and attempt to resolve the conflict between their original preference and inconsistent information. These factors lead to a significant reduction in their purchase intentions.

The use of student subjects may limit the generalizability of the study's findings.

Marketers can benefit by knowing that negative information about a product (as, say, in an online review) does not have a uniform effect across cultures. Consumers in Eastern cultures are more capable of handling negative information without reversing their product preferences. Western consumers, on the other hand, will strive to resolve the conflict between their preference (positive affect) and the negative product review (negative affect) by either changing their preference or discounting the review. Mostly, the damaging effects of a negative review are likely to be greater in Western cultures.

This study is the first attempt at examining the effect of cultural differences on processing preference‐inconsistent information. As organizations become more global, understanding culture‐based differences in information processing can help marketers create a more nuanced marketing strategy.

The pace of new regulation has been quite rapid in the United States during the past fifteen years. Consider the number of major pieces of legislation that have been passed during this time span and you immediately gain insight into this fast‐paced regulatory climate. It has been argued by some that oversight during the 1980s was lax and that regulations were much less enforced than in previous decades. This may be true in certain areas such as antitrust enforcement, but there can be no doubt that the total body of regulation has been expanding continuously.

This study examines the behaviors of eight Asian emerging market Single Country‐Closed End Funds’ (SCCEFs) market prices, net asset values (NAV) and price to net asset value ratios from January 5, 1996 to February 25, 2000, bracketing the period of the Asian currency crisis. The purpose of the study is to discern the degree of change of SCCEFs’ market prices and net asset values (NAV) in conjunction with changes in certain objective economic factors as explanatory variables, particularly changes in exchange rates, that may shed light on the probable reasons for the stickiness of market prices and yet speedy adjustment of NAVs. Results of statistical analysis suggest asymmetric information holding explanation to be the major reason for the observed phenomenon that can be exploited for profitable SCCEF investment decisions.

Considers how non‐Thais can negotiate successfully withe business and government executives in Thailand. Gives an overview of Thailand’s geography, climate, population, religion and business practice. Discusses important aspects of the social‐cultural environment that have a significant effect on the way Thai’s negotiate. Includes further tips regarding body language, entertainment protocol, how to dress, and favourite negotiating tactics by buyers and sellers. Provides conclusions and directions for further research.

The purpose of this paper is to present an exhaustive review of research studies and activities in the inkjet printing of conductive materials.

This paper gives a detailed literature survey of research carried out in inkjet printing of conductive materials.

This article explains the inkjet printing process and the various types of conductive inks. It then examines the various factors that affect the quality of inkjet printed interconnects such as printing parameters, materials and substrate treatments. Methods of characterising both the inkjet printing process and the electrical properties of printed conductive materials are also presented. Finally relevant applications of this technology are described.

Inkjet printing is currently one of the cheapest direct write techniques for manufacturing. The use of this technique in electronic manufacturing, where interconnects and other conductive features are required is an area of increasing relevance to the fields of electronics manufacturing, packaging and assembly. This review paper would therefore be of great value and interest to this community.

The study sought to provide insight into the affective mechanisms that underlie the relationship between HRM practices and employee turnover intentions from the perspective of Korean employees. The study drew on social exchange theory and used compensation satisfaction, perceived job security and job autonomy to explain how perceptions of HRM practices affect employee turnover intentions.

The data were generated from a survey questionnaire administered to both white-collar and knowledge workers in different organizations in the Seoul Capital Area. The final sample consisted of 310 full-time employees.

The results show that compensation satisfaction and perceived job security have significant indirect negative effects on employees' intentions to leave their organization in the Korean context, which supports previous studies in Western contexts. However, the indirect effects of job autonomy on employee turnover intention were not significant in the current study.

This study continues the conversation about the important role HRM practices play in retaining valuable employees. This study offers a nuanced view of the relationship between HRM practices and employee turnover in a distinctive research setting. This study also provides realistic and practical suggestions on HRM so that organizations in Korea are able to implement HRM practices that help them retain competent employees.