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Integrating conceptual perspectives from social exclusion, thinking style and context effects, this study aims to examine how different types of social exclusion influence attraction and compromise effects.

Eight studies were conducted. To establish the causal relationship between social exclusion types and context effects, this study uses experimental designs in all studies.

The attraction effect is stronger when consumers feel rejected than ignored, whereas the compromise effect is stronger when they feel ignored than rejected. Consumers who feel rejected increase their propensity to think holistically, which in turn leads to their choice preferences for asymmetrically dominant options. Conversely, those who feel ignored increase their propensity to think analytically, which in turn leads to their choice preferences for compromise options.

The findings show that consumer preferences for one option over the other alternatives in choice contexts are susceptible to subtle differences in the manner that exclusion is communicated. The studies are limited to recall tasks and scenarios that previous research has shown to be effective. Future research may use actual exclusion to corroborate this study’s findings.

Marketing practitioners may benefit from this study’s findings when it comes to an increase in the relative share of their target brand against their competitor brands by introducing a third option.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first to provide evidence that exclusion communicated in an explicit manner produces the attraction effect, whereas exclusion communicated in an implicit manner produces the compromise effect. Given that threatening situations often influence individuals’ preferences and choices, how social exclusion shapes cognitive processes is an empirical question worthy of investigation.

Using the theory of planned behavior as its basis, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships among beliefs about electronic service quality (E-S-QUAL); consumers’ need for uniqueness (CNFU); and beliefs about perceived behavioral control, expectations of important others, and cross-border online purchasing behavioral intention. The effects of E-S-QUAL and CNFU on attitude are examined with data collected from Korean consumers who have cross-border online purchasing experience.

The authors evaluate the research model in this study and test the hypotheses using partial least squares, an OLS regression-based estimation method that focuses on predicting independent variables hypothesized to have a causal relationship that maximizes the explanatory variance of the dependent variable.

Analysis of the data emphasizes that beliefs about E-S-QUAL and CNFU positively affect attitudes toward buying online from international sites, which in turn positively affect purchasing intention. Also, beliefs about self-efficacy and normative structure regarding cross-border online purchasing positively affect behavioral intentions.

This paper develops a conceptual model explaining consumers’ intentions to shop online across national borders. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, none of the previous studies have particularly mentioned the associations between beliefs about e-service quality and actual behavioral intentions in the context of cross-border online shopping. Also, the important role of CNFU has been ignored as one of the factors that can affect consumers’ decisions to shop online beyond national borders. In regard to this matter, the authors aim to investigate cross-border online shopping factors that can help international e-commerce gain a better understanding of the needs of their consumers.

The purpose of this study is to understand what health and safety hazards low-income households are subject to by surveying the real conditions of the defective housing of low-income households, and to find improvement strategies. For this purpose, we visited the concentrated areas of the multi-dwelling unit (MDU) (also known as multi-family residential) housing in Jungwon-gu and Sujeong-gu in Seongnam City, Kyunggi-do, one of the representative areas in Korea with a massive distribution of the low-income class. Based on the survey data, the level of housing defects were comparison analyzed per income decile (decile 1, decile 2, deciles 3–4), and per housing location, in the categories of subsidence, cracks in the wall, delamination, water leakage/infiltration, condensation, and contamination. The housing condition per income class was more defective in the decile 2 households rather than in the decile 2 households, and in the substructure more than in the superstructure. Among the six defects, contamination problems, caused by sub-standard living conditions, were the most frequent cases. Structural defects, subsidence and cracks in the wall, were found in the main living areas—the bedrooms and the living rooms. It was confirmed in this study that the conditions of low-income housing are serious, and that it is necessary to explore specific countermeasures in the near future.

Despite the number of studies on employee voice much remains unknown regarding the mediating role of employee voice in the link between entrepreneur’s paternalistic leadership style and creativity. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of authoritarian, benevolent and moral leadership on creativity via employee voice.

The study utilized structured equation modeling to evaluate the data from 387 highly skilled employees in Republic of Korea.

The findings suggested that authoritarian leadership style reduces employee voice which in turn impacts on creativity and moral leadership facilitates creativity via employee voice.

The study is the first to discover the mediating role of employee voice on the association between authoritarian, moral leadership and creativity.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediating role of silence as a link between punishment, communication opportunities and stress.

The authors conducted a survey among 1,015 highly skilled employees of South Korean companies using a self-administered instrument. In total, 748 questionnaires were received from the 1,015 participants. Of these, 61 questionnaires were incomplete and were discarded; the remaining 687 questionnaires were used in the analysis.

The results revealed that punishment and communication opportunities are significantly associated with silence. Silence showed a positive relationship with stress, and it mediates the relationship between punishment and stress. Meanwhile, findings indicate that silence does not mediate the link between communication opportunities and stress.

This study investigates the unitary construct of silence. Therefore, the authors suggest future researchers examine the other forms of silence such as multidimensional construct of silence that focuses on the motives of individuals to be silent.

The study highlights the importance of establishing organizational ombudsman system, grievance procedures and employee management meetings to mitigate silence behavior. Moreover, the authors recommended management demonstrates their interest in shared information to avoid employee silence.

This study is the first to explore the mediating role of silence on the relationship between punishment and stress.

Despite the many advantages this type of equipment offers, there are still some major drawbacks. Linear cutting machine (LCM) cannot accurately simulate the true rock-cutting process as 1. it does not account for the circular path along which tunnel boring machine (TBM) disk cutters cut the tunnel face, 2. it does not accurately model the position of a disk cutter on the cutterhead, 3. it cannot perfectly replicate the rotational speed of a TBM. To enhance the knowledge of these issues and in order to mimic the real rock-cutting process, a new lab testing equipment was developed by Hyundai Engineering and Construction.

A new testing machine called rotary cutting machine (RCM) is designed to simulate the excavation process of hard-rock TBMs and includes features such as TBM cutterhead, RPM simulation, constant normal force mode and constant penetration rate mode. Two sets of tests were conducted on Hwandeung granite using different disk cutter sizes to analyze the cutting forces in various excavation modes. The results are analyzed using statistical analysis and dimensional analysis. A new model is generated using dimensional analysis, and its results are compared against the results of actual cases.

The effectiveness of the new RCM test was demonstrated in its ability to apply various modes of excavation. Initial analysis of chip size revealed that the thickness of the chips is largely dependent on the cutter spacing. Tests with varying RPM showed that an increase in RPM results in an increase in the normal force and rolling force. The cutting coefficient (CC) demonstrated a linear correlation with penetration. The optimal specific energy is achieved at an S/p ratio of around 15. However, a slightly lower S/p ratio can also be used in the design if the cutter specifications permit. A dimensional analysis was utilized to develop a new RCM model based on the results from approximately 1200 tests. The model's applicability was demonstrated through a comparison of TBM penetration data from 26 tunnel projects globally. Results indicated that the predicted penetration rates by the RCM test model were in good agreement with actual rates for the majority of cases. However, further investigation is necessary for softer rock types, which will be conducted in the future using concrete blocks.

The originality of the research lies in the development of Hyundai Engineering and Construction’s advanced full-scale laboratory rotary cutting machine (RCM), which accurately replicates the excavation process of hard-rock tunnel boring machines (TBMs). The study provides valuable insights into cutting forces, chip size, specific energy, RPM and excavation modes, enhancing understanding and decision-making in hard-rock excavation processes. The research also presents a new RCM model validated against TBM penetration data, demonstrating its practical applicability and predictive accuracy.

Bicycles are not only an environmentally friendly means of transportation but are also easily accessible exercise equipment for health. Thus the number of bicycles is gradually increasing. This study aims to develop a ‘Smart Enjoy Interact Light (SEIL)’ bag utilizing LED display and smartphone apps. By transmitting desired information or images with LEDs, a SEIL bag can protect bicyclists, and also allow wearers to communicate with others.

A SEIL built-in bag was developed in the form of a backpack to support all outdoor activities. It can show traffic signals using a wireless controller. Features of design are: ordinary fabric for IT devices; thick and stiff canvas fabric for flexible LEDs; a thin and air-permeable mesh for the LED light; a flexible PCB dashboard for absorbing various shocks; a PVC hard case for the LED display devices; UV coating for waterproofing and durability.

A SEIL bag for bicyclists can be useful in a variety of outdoor sports and in commercial applications as well, such as advertising or displaying products. The detachable part can be utilized as a hip sack or a pouch.

A SEIL bag not only protects bicyclists from traffic accidents, but with which they can express information or images in real time. A SEIL bag is interactive fashion item that emphases communication, thus it will contribute to development of smart-wear.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between power distance, collectivism and relational silence; the associations between relational silence and stress; and the mediating role of relational silence in the link between power distance, collectivism and stress.

The authors conducted a survey among 1,153 highly skilled employees using a self-administered questionnaire. The authors received 813 responses from a total of 1,153 individuals. Among the 813 responses, the authors excluded 81 due to incomplete data, and thus analyzed a total of 732 responses. The overall response rate was 63.4 percent. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were utilized for the analyses.

The findings suggest that power distance and collectivism induce relational silence; relational silence increases stress and mediates the associations between power distance, collectivism and stress.

The present study is the first to provide empirical evidence of a link between power distance, collectivism and relational silence; the relationship between relational silence and stress; and the role of relational silence in mediating the associations between power distance, collectivism and stress.

Recent corporate scandals have led to legislative and regulatory responses that significantly increase the monitoring costs and other burdens of becoming or remaining a public corporation. As a result, there has been a substantial increase in going-private transactions, particularly among smaller public companies. Acquisitions and minority equity positions that allow large corporations to join with smaller companies have also increased. The pressures to go private are not entirely new, however. This chapter offers evidence that the current wave of post-Sarbanes–Oxley (SOX) restructuring via private equity firms is not a radical shift, but a continuation of already-established relationships between drops in the broad index of publicly traded equities, and subsequent increases in going-private activity (with evidence extending back more than two decades). When publicly traded equity falls, two things make major contribution to an increase in going-private transactions:•With equity prices down, it becomes cheaper to buy back the stock.•For investors with cash reserves holding for the arrival of new opportunities, taking a company private at reduced cost offers an attractive opportunity.

The evidence also suggests, though, that the passage of SOX is associated with an increased intensity in this longer-standing relationship (in other words, SOX has strengthened the older trend).