LARGE AND LATECOMER FIRMS: THE TAIWANSEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANYAND TAIWAN'S ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

摘要

This paper focuses on the role of Taiwan's 'latecomer firms' that are also large firms in developingtechnological capability within the electronics industry. Taiwan illustrates a latecomer country thathas industrialised in the late twentieth century through export-based industrialisation andlatecomer firms are indigenous influences shaping this process. Large firms comprise a businesssegment distinctive from small firms and giant MNCs, and are characterised by strongcommitments to innovation. Conceptually, a framework is outlined that connects latecomer firmswith the triad business segmentation model, local technology learning as summarised by reverseproduct cycle dynamics and clustering. Empirically, the study focuses on the evolutionary dynam-ics of a latecomer case study, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, to revealimportant insights regarding the development of Taiwan's internationally competitive technologi-cal capabilities. The case study reveals the significance of large latecomer firms to the technologylearning process, and in reducing technology gaps with global leaders.