The Case of Samsung in Semiconductors

When discussing the semiconductor business of Korea, Samsung, a Korean conglomerate, occupies center stage. Samsung has been the pioneer and front runner among the chip companies in Korea. When Samsung entered the semiconductor business in 1970s, its name was hardly known in the global market. It had no prior experience in semiconductors and had only limited experience in electronics as OEM maker. Now Samsung has emerged as a global leader in the memory chip business. However, Samsung has faced formidable challenges as it advances in this field.

The case of Samsung is interesting in that Samsung not only achieved phenomenal success in the chip industry but also made it in the context of the unique political leadership and financial system. The case of Samsung in semiconductors reflects the development mode of Korea, and its business model is quite different from that of Taiwanese chip companies.

I’ll post summaries of a series of case analyses on Samsung in semiconductors in the following order:

∙ Samsung's Success in Semiconductors

∙ Various Modes of Technology Transfer at Samsung Semiconductor

∙ Reducing the Time Gap at Samsung Semiconductor

∙ Effective Entry of Samsung Semiconductor during the Downturns

∙ Developing Multiple Capabilities at Samsung Semiconductor

∙ The Development Trajectory of Samsung Semiconductor after the 1997 crisis

∙ Samsung’s Challenge in Semiconductors