Ik-Whan G. Kwon

Trust, commitment and relationships in supply chain management: a path analysis

Purpose – The primary purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between the level of trust and several relevant constructs drawn from transaction cost analysis (such as asset specificity, behavioral uncertainty, and partners opportunism) and social exchange theory (informational sharing).Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive questionnaire based on various theories on trust and commitment was mailed in 2001 to supply chain practitioners in the Midwest region. A total of 171 valid returns were received out of 1,800 mailings (9.5 percent). A path analysis was used to estimate parameters or relationship between relevant constructs and trust, and trust with the level of commitment.Findings – A firms trust in their supply chain partner is highly associated with both parties’ specific asset investments and social exchange theory. Information sharing has a primary impact on reducing (improving a partners uncertainty behavior which, in turn, would improve the level of trust. Finally, the lev...

Relationship between supply chain performance and degree of linkage among supplier, internal integration, and customer

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the relationship between supply chain linkages and supply chain performance (cost‐containment and reliability of supply chain partners).Design/methodology/approach – Multivariate regression models are developed in order to identify the characteristics of determinants of linkages in the supply chain stakeholders (suppliers, internal stakeholders and customers). The survey was administered to individuals identified from a list of US executive officers, directors, presidents, or vice presidents. Among four hundred respondents, 122 were considered as valid from those who practice supply chain management for their business operations.Findings – Internal integration is the most important contributor to cost‐containment while integration with the supplier is the best strategy to achieve supply chain reliable performance. Availability of electronic ordering systems for customers is an important strategy in cost‐containment. Fast and easy ordering is the best strat...

Globalization and reluctant buyers

This study attempted to empirically test a debatable hypothesis that globalization entails homogenization in consumers’ mind and behavior. Using samples from two countries (USA, n = 120 and Korea, n= 128), this study explored a path model centered on consumers’ reluctance to purchase foreign goods. The findings indicated that, in the US sample only, consumer ethnocentrism plays a mediating role between global openness and the reluctance to buy, although it is on the decrease with the increasing level of global openness. Consumer ethnocentrism is still an important factor in determining the magnitude of reluctance to buy a foreign product in both samples, while product judgment also plays an important role, but only in a certain cultural context (i.e. the USA). It is concluded, therefore, that consumers in a different culture, who are different in their attitudes and perceptions, tastes and preferences, and values, are still different even after being exposed to the massive wave of globalization.

Examining RFID applications in supply chain management

Technology infrastructure, business process, and managerial issues must be addressed by IT practitioners as they adapt to the business changes associated with the diffusion of RFID technology in the supply chain.

Factors related to the organizational and professional commitment of internal auditors

Much has been written about organizational and professional commitment; however, little has been directed toward the internal auditing profession. Given the recent decline of Enron, WorldCom, etc., and new regulations (eliminating the outsourcing of internal auditing) the internal auditor is likely to gain more responsibility in the firm. It will benefit employers and the professions to better understand what leads the internal auditor to become committed to his/her organization and profession. This study addresses that need. Results show that factors influencing organizational commitment are different from those influencing professional commitment. Multiple linear regression models show strong relationships between organizational commitment and job meaningfulness; however, task identity has a strong positive relationship with professional commitment while gender and organization size (services sector and internal auditor certification) have a positive (negative) influence on organizational commitment. Internal auditor certification also shows a positive impact on professional commitment. Management implications of these results are discussed.

A pilot study on normalized weighted approach to citation study

The results from citation studies of journals have often been used as a benchmark in evaluating a faculty members productivity for tenure, salary adjustment, teaching load reduction and other areas. It is also often used in ranking academic programs of particular disciplines in universities. This paper attempts to rank the leading journals in the logistics and transportation discipline using three different approaches: total weighted score, total weighted score on citations provided by journals other than the journal in question, and standardized weighted score. A different weight is assigned to each citation depending on whether the article in question is written by single or multiple authors, there are multiple citations of the same study, or the citation is from author/s’ own work. The ranks of journals differ depending on the citation study methods used. A sample of 19 journals in the logistics and transportation field for the year, 1999 was used as a sample space. The results of the study using the most objective and rigorous criterion, standardized weighted score, indicate that the top five journals in the logistics and transportation field are in order of their ranks, the Journal of Business Logistics, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Transportation Journal, Production and Inventory Management Journal, and Journal of Supply Chain Management. Although this study reveals that the top three ranked journals remain stable regardless of the method used, there is strong evidence that the rankings of journals fluctuate widely based on volume and numbers of pages of the journals in question as depicted by the wide movements in Transportation Quarterly, Transportation Science and International Journal of Logistics. Standardized approach is a unique method to neutralize such bias in the citation study. Study limitations including study period of one year are discussed.

Attributes Affecting Computer-Aided Decision Making--A Literature Survey

Abstract In spite of the ever-increasing use of computers in decision making, few people consider the effects of human interaction on the efficacy of computerassisted decision making. This article provides a comprehensive review of current literature relating to those personal, demographic, situational and cognitive attributes that affect computer-aided decision making. In addition, the overall effectiveness of computer-aided decision making is explored as it relates to decision quality, decision effectiveness, and decision confidence. Prior studies relating to the effects on computer-aided decision making of attributes, such as age, anxiety, cognitive type, attitude toward computers, gender, and prior computer experience are discussed. Although many of the studies provide significant empirical evidence as to the importance of these attributes, this article provides a balanced presentation by also presenting opposing results.

The Impact of Mission Fulfillment on the Internal Audience: Psychological Job Outcomes in a Services Setting

The way a firm fulfills its mission statement may play a role in internal marketing and affect important psychological job outcomes of employees. The conceptual model proposed herein argues that mission fulfillment influences key psychological states related to motivation (i.e., employee engagement), social identity (organizational identification), and emotional resources (emotional exhaustion). These psychological states in turn drive affective commitment and turnover intentions, two variables of continued interest to researchers and managers. The authors test this model empirically using data from 3,999 employees of a health care service system. The findings provide support for the hypothesized model rather than an alternative and shed light on an important tool for internal marketing. Besides suggesting avenues for future research, such as refining the concept of employee engagement and uncovering the antecedents of employees’ perceptions of mission fulfillment, this study demonstrates the importance of exploring the psychological processes that comprise the mechanisms by which contextual variables affect key outcomes. For managers, the results imply the importance of aligning an organization’s actions with its stated mission, given that employees are attuned to and affected by such an alignment. Further, managers should actively communicate to employees the organization’s efforts and accomplishments in fulfilling its mission.

Supply chain integration in developing countries for foreign retailers in Korea: Wal-Mart experience

Wal-Mart entered into the Korean market in 1997 after regulations governing foreign retailers were completely lifted. Since Wal-Mart began its retailing operations in Korea, it made every effort to incorporate the principles of supply chain integration in Korea. Currently, many supply chain integration attempts made in Korea have made some contributions to the development of the Korean distribution system, even though the results are not completely satisfactory. Two reasons might be cited. First, there is no noticeable competitive supply chain infrastructure in Korea to support the principles of supply chain integration. Highly competitive and aggressive supply chain strategies that Wal-Mart has been accustomed to using in the United States are directly in conflict with the existing distribution channels in Korea. Second, a relationship building process among supply chain partners (internal as well as external) has been painfully slow at best and in many instances non-existent. However, there is an opportunity in Korea for many foreign retailers to reduce the supply chain cost if it is properly implemented. This paper closely examines some of the reasons why the supply chain integration process for foreign retailers in Korea has been slow, and the attempts to provide possible solutions.

Leadership and power relationships based on culture and gender

Leadership and power are often used to influence people’s behavior. However, little is known about the degree and directional relationship between these two constructs and gender. Equally unknown is the degree of impact that culture and gender together may have on such a relationship. This paper attempts to establish an empirical relationship between these two constructs and culture along with gender. Baba and Ace’s modified instruments on leadership and Hinkin and Schriesheim’s instrument on five sources of power were used in surveying 486 students from four business schools in Korea and the USA to derive functional relationships between leadership and power. Results suggest there is a statistically significant relationship between power and leadership and that gender has an impact on that relationship. However, this study does not support the contention that gender plays an important role in cross‐cultural environments; instead, it plays an important role only when considered within a specific culture.