This paper presents a cast study on import process reengineering and web-based import information system for small and medium companies. At the moment, most Internet EDI and B-to-B solutions, actively promoted by bit companies, have been built based on process standardization and require to buy ERP and bulky eMarketplace solutions, Thus, it is very difficult for small and medium companies to adopt those solutions, based on process reengineering proposal, an Internet based import information system without adopting high-cost ERP and eMarketplace solutions is proposed. Bye analyzing import processes from order request to delivery, various problems in import processes are examined on exceptional cases and the complexity of import information systems. The system and the resulting reengineered import processes will provide an infrastructure for the buyer side of integrated B-to-B systems.

This paper examined the effect of venture capital reputation on the short-term returns of IPOs in KOSDAQ. 62 venture businesses are selec ted as samples, which were backed by venture capital and listed on KOSDAQ. The result of Mann-Whitney statistic indicates that venture businesses which are financed by more reputable venture capital show less short-term cumulative excess returns. The results of regression analysis show significant negative relation between venture capital reputation and the short-term returns of IPOs. We find that IPOs supported by more reputable venture capital are associated with less short-run underpricing.
The result requires a long-term analysis which includes the hot and cold issue markets.

This study analyzed effects of channel management and distribution information on marketing performance of small and medium sized manufacturers in Pusan, Korea. The research model consisted of characteristics of channel management including channel levels, incentive type of channel members, intensity of channel, relationship with channel members, etc. and characteristics of distribution information including POS, EDI, homepage, etc., Sales per employee was used as marketing performance of the company. One hundred and sixty six questionnaire were completed through direct interview. As the multiple regression results, management costs for channel members, POS system, the number of channel members, intensive distribution policy, personal incentives for channel members influenced on marketing performance. Implications of the study and further research issues were discussed.

This study compares the start-up success factors (SSF) for the successful business in the USA and Korea. In particular, this study focuses on the personal background of the consultants and entrepreneurs and the relative perception of importance placed on the start-up success factors.
Results from statics on the demographic variables showed not only significant differences between the two countries but also differences in SSF. The overall tenor of the results obtained in this investigation might be not surprising. Especially, Financial and managerial factors were found to be perceived as critical by entrepreneurs in Jamaica(Huck and McEwen, 1991), as well as in singapore(Gosh, Kim, and Meng, 1993), Taiwan(Lin,1998) and in the USA(Hess,1997). Some of these differences might be related to economic, geographical, and cultural differences.

With the Internet, many enterprises have been able to improve their productivity, gain opportunity to get competitive power and access to potential global customers. Although small and medium enterprises(SMEs) in Korea play significantly important role in the national economy, they are very limited in materializing these opportunities due to scare resources and fragile foundation.
Despite the increasing interest in Internet, very few studies have attempted to historically examine adoption and diffusion of Internet in the SMEs. In recent years, some test-bed projects to further Internet applications focus on issues such as adoption of electronic commerce, technology diffusion, virtual business network, social influences and E-commerce applications. Also there is a growing body of literature about small business and Internet commerce. Although research topics and approaches vary, authors agree with the fact that small businesses' utilization of Internet is increasing and this will radically change the way small businesses operate.
This study examines factors affection the diffusion of electronic commerce in SMEs assuming that this is an innovative phenomenon for SMEs. This study proposes and tests a research model which consists of five variables such as environmental factors based on the literature on diffusion of inter-organizational systems such as EDL. The results would provide insightful suggestions for dynamic application of information technologies and diffusion of electronic commerce in SMEs.

Using cross-country evidence, this paper explains the impacts of initial inequality (measured by land or income gini index) on democracy and average tariff rate from 1960 to the present time. It is found that a country's initial inequality has a strong and significant effect on its democracy and average tariff rate over time. (The effect on democracy is confined to a small sample of developing countries.) This implies that a country's initial inequality has a positive effect on its average tariff rate, which leads to more trade protection. However, the effect on a country's democracy is a matter of controversy. Furthermore, we estimate that the negative impacts of democracy and the level of the economy (denoted by GDP per capita) on average tariff rate have a greater impact in larger economies.

This paper analyze the behavior of conditional heteroscedasticity in stock returns to find the small firm effect in volatility. Size-portfolios are composed of Korea Stock Exchange stocks according to the market value of the firm from 1995 to 1999. Using AR(1)-EGARCH(1,1)-M model, estimation of the conditional heteroscedasticity in daily excess returns of size-portfolios is performed. And using EGARCH(1,1)-M model, estimation of the conditional heteroscedasticity in weekly excess returns of size-portfolios is also performed. Then conditional heteroscedasticity difference between size-portfolios is examined.
Empirical results show that there is statistically significant volatility difference between size-portfolios. That is, the volatility of the small firm portfolio is significantly higher than the volatility of the large firm portfolio. These results indicate than there is the small firm effect in stock returns volatility.

End users exhibit different computing abilities and behavior. Assessing individual's capabilities with respect to end user technologies is central to both research on end user computing(EUC) and management of EUC. The capability is composed of an individual's knowledge of end user technologies, and his or her ability to creatively apply these technologies. The study uses results from a survey of 255 users in small firms to test a structural model examining the hypothesized relationships among the following constructs: task environment, support environment, knowledge environment, decision satisfaction and system usage. The finding indicated that degree and creativity of knowledge are the dominant factors affecting the success of EUC. The results also indicate that exogenous variables influence the success of EUC, particularly management support, external support, and task autonomy. Inconsistent with prior research in large firms, no support was found for the influence of internal support and task variety. Reasons for the implications of these observed relationships are discussed.

This paper aims at identifying the factors contributing to the performance of small and medium-sized firms during Korean economic crisis. In perspective of resource-based approach, it is assumed that firm characteristics and strategy will be the determinants for the performance. The data is collected from the small and medium sized manufacturing firms located in the area of YongIn city. The result reveals that (1) export ratio and international orientation strategy is positively related with the firm performance and (2) technological capability is not a source of firm performance, although it is positively concerned with export ratio as well as international orientation strategy.

The purpose of this research is to survey the degree of satisfaction of the microbusiness owners for the microloan system in Korea. Among the respondents, 70.1% said "satisfied" and only 5.0% indicated "dissatisfied". Areas of service which need improvement include decrease of interest rate, increase of credit loan, and simplification of issue procedure for credit guarantee certificate. Causes of satisfaction include low interest rate, credit loan, simplified procedure, and long grace period. Effects of the microloan include increase of sales, employment generation, and help for start-up and management.