Corporate management research and strategy advisory
Research that understands the field and management that leads to implementation.
Managers looking for the reason why growth has stopped, planning managers reviewing new business hypotheses, and practitioners with business problems that need to be solved today visit Korea Research Institute of Business & Branding. It is an independent private research institute that has been studying corporate management and growth, as well as changes in markets and industries since its establishment in 2004.
Why are the research conclusions not biased in favor of the client company?
If you are a company that pays money to an external research institute, it is natural to worry that the conclusions may not sound good. Korea Research Institute of Business & Branding answers this concern with principle.
- Clearly state the basis for research and consultation.
- Manages client relationships, interests, and data confidentiality conditions.
- Distinguish between assumptions and facts and explain the basis and limitations of the analysis.
- Presents conclusions from research and consultation based on professional judgment.
How are the principles applied in practice and where do the operating resources come from? Research independence and confidentialityCheck it out here.
How has Korea Research Institute of Business & Branding’s research topics broadened over 20 years?
institute, which started with basic research on the business environment and market competition, has expanded the scope of research to follow new challenges faced by companies.
- 2004Establishment, basic research on business environment and market competition
- 2006Business Insight launched
- 2012Management/practitioners training course opened
- 2015Expand research on growth of start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses
- 2018Digital transformation and data management research
- 2022Expand customer experience and sustainable management research
- 2026Strengthening research on AI utilization and organizational productivity
Full details by period HistoryYou can continue watching here.
Which managers and practitioners are looking for Korea Research Institute of Business & Branding?
The main target audience is corporate managers, strategy and planning personnel, business practitioners, entrepreneurs, public institutions, and researchers. Even if you search for the same institute, the questions you come up with are different. The OECD's Small and Medium Enterprises and Entrepreneurship Outlook (2023) shows that the challenges faced vary depending on the company's size and growth stage, comparing data from several countries.
| visitor | Frequently asked questions | Where to see first |
|---|---|---|
| corporate executive | Is it time to change the direction of the company? | Strategy and business development advice |
| Strategy/Planning Manager | How to report on the market and competitive situation in a substantive way | Market and competitor research |
| Business practitioners | Where can I learn planning, analysis, and problem solving? | Management education and company workshops |
| entrepreneur | What should I check first at this stage? | Startup and SME growth |
| public institution | How to design and evaluate corporate support projects | Startup and SME growth |
| researcher | Are there opportunities to conduct research together with corporate sites? | Joint research and management forums |
From large corporations to small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups, we study the challenges of companies of different sizes, growth stages, industries, and market environments, tailored to each condition.
How does Korea Research Institute of Business & Branding view corporate issues?
Korea Research Institute of Business & Branding studies the process by which companies understand customers, create value, and operate organizations and resources. The results obtained from the research lead to management strategy, business development, organizational operation, and education, helping managers make decisions and implement practitioners.
Even the single symptom of decreased sales can have multiple causes. Customer needs may have changed, the competitive landscape may have changed, or the organization may not have been able to keep up with the changes. Korea Research Institute of Business & Branding analyzes problems in the relationship between customers, market, organization, finance, and operations. This is because if you only look at one area, it is easy to miss the causes that occurred in other areas.
- customerCustomer needs, purchasing process, user experience, reasons for returning and reasons for leaving
- marketChanges in market size and demand, competitive companies, alternative products and services, distribution and transaction structure
- organizationOrganizational structure and decision-making system, talent acquisition, development, evaluation, and collaboration methods
- financeP&L and cash flow, cost and cost structure, investment priorities and growth funds
- operationBusiness processes, productivity, quality, supply chain and operational efficiency
How a company's resources and capabilities create competitive advantage is a long-standing research topic in management. The flagship paper of the resource-based view (Barney, 1991) explains that internal resources that are difficult to imitate are the basis for sustained competitive advantage. institute defines problems by comparing these theories to actual company experience and data.
What does the output of management research and strategic advice look like?
At the heart of the outcome is comparison of alternatives. This is a method that first unfolds the paths that can be chosen and the conditions for each path before the manager asks, “So what should we do?” The conclusion made by institute is accompanied by a basis for judgment. Because conditions, costs, expected effects, risks, and execution order are placed side by side for each alternative to choose from, managers can compare them and then make their own choice.
| item | What do you write | Questions for management to ask |
|---|---|---|
| condition | The conditions of the market, organization, and resources that must be in place for this alternative to be established. | Does our company now meet those conditions? |
| cost | Opportunity cost of not only money but also time, manpower, and putting off other projects | Is it a size you can handle? |
| Expected effects | Performance and rationale that will change with this alternative | Is the basis fact or assumption? |
| danger | Losses and signals that occur when things go differently than expected | What signal will you change direction? |
| execution order | What to do first and what to do later, required competencies | Who starts with what? |
Placing multiple alternatives side by side in the same format makes comparison easier. The company makes the decision, and institute is responsible for providing all the necessary judgment materials for that decision.
What management materials can I read right now?
institute publishes five publications with different purposes. From Business Insight, a periodical published in 2006, to practical management notes that help solve problems in the field, you can read them at the right time.
- Business InsightWe solve the business environment and major challenges through market, customer, competition, and company choices.
- Management case reviewRead the strategy, organization, implementation process, achievements and limitations of actual cases together.
- Growth company reportWe find the conditions for a company's growth in its business model, talent, funds, and operating system.
- Practical management notesIt covers practical issues in planning, analysis, collaboration, and performance management.
- Future Business BriefExplore new changes and opportunities in technology, consumption, industry and ways of working.
Usage of each publication Management publications and reportsCompare here.
Where do I read articles that directly address management decisions?
In Business Insights, managers and practitioners each point out the conditions, costs, and risks to be checked before making actual decisions. It is based on primary data that can be verified in the original text, such as academic journal papers and laws, and References is stated in each article.
- How much can generative AI improve workplace productivity?Research found 40% less writing time and 15% more support issues resolved per hour with generative AI. Compare gains by task and experience, measure your own trial and review Korea’s AI Basic Act.
- What should be tested before investing in a new business?Test customer problems, willingness to pay, revenue assumptions and operating capabilities before scaling. Compare interviews, surveys, pre-sales and small pilots.
- How should a company learn from success stories?Success stories can hide failed firms and differences in context. Compare the evidence, industry, size, timing and conditions before transferring a business practice.
Corporate management research and strategy advisory Frequently asked questions
What criteria should I use when choosing a management research institute?
First, look at whether the basis for the conclusion is disclosed, whether multiple options are compared rather than recommending just one, and how the conditions for confidentiality of the referral relationship and data are handled. When writing examples of other companies, it is also a good criterion to explain differences in industry, size, and time. Korea Research Institute of Business & Branding places these four as the basic principles of research.
Can I entrust you with research or consulting even if I am not a large company?
You can leave it to us. Korea Research Institute of Business & Branding studies management tasks appropriate for the size and growth stage, from large corporations to small and medium-sized businesses and start-ups. For companies with limited resources, it is important to consider both the capabilities and costs required for implementation, so write down the details for each alternative.
Do I receive the research results only as a report?
Research results can lead to management strategy, business development, organizational operations, and education. There is also a way to develop the results into a company-tailored workshop or case discussion where the results are read together with members.
Can public institutions also work together?
Public institutions are one of the main targets of institute. Tasks where public policy and the corporate field meet can be handled together, such as the design and evaluation of corporate support projects and surveys of business conditions by industry.
Where is Korea Research Institute of Business & Branding?
It is located at #1703, 247 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Cha Eun-mi Director leads institute.
Primary sources
- international organization OECD (2023). OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Outlook 2023
- academic paper Barney, J. (1991). Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120