三星與台積電動態能力分析

Abstract

This paper examines two highly successful Asian firms in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, Samsung Electronics Company, LTD. (SEC) from South Korea and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) from Taiwan. It provides historical background information on the two firms, as well as a rationalization for why they were chosen for the study. It utilizes the dynamic capabilities approach to analyze their practices over the period from 1998 to 2009 in the attempt to explain their success, which is done by reviewing their past behavior when faced with environmental challenges. The time period of the study is further divided into three periods (1998-2001, 2002-2005, and 2006-2009) based on cyclical downturns in the industry. In order to evaluate the firms’ performance, the study also includes an in-depth financial analysis. The dynamic capabilities approach was found to be well suited to this study as it emphasizes firm specific paths to success in dynamic environments, which is characteristic of the semiconductor industry. The study shows that by being sensitive to opportunities and threats in their environment, the two firms have been able to make timely and market-oriented decisions and change their resource bases to systematically solve problems, which in turn resulted in increased competitiveness and financial performance.