Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • August 2008
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

System on a Chip 2008: Ardentec Corporation

By: Willy C. Shih, Chen-Fu Chien, Chintay Shih and Ting-Chen Chen
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:16
ShareBar

Abstract

Ardentec Corporation is a specialist in "wafer probing," a highly specialized niche sandwiched between the "front-end" and the "back-end" of semiconductor manufacturing. Because the semiconductor industry uses modular processes and has standard containers for the interchange of work-in-progress, it has evolved to a highly horizontal structure where specialists like Ardentec can carve out unique market opportunities that are less attractive to integrated manufacturers. The company has grown rapidly, but as it starts to occupy a significant percentage of the total available market, its founders are faced with the challenge of how to maintain growth. Do they vertically integrate more into the back-end, or should they try to do acquisitions in adjacent markets? The case is intended to be used in conjunction with the Technical Note, "Horizontal Specialization and Modularity in the Semiconductor Industry" (608-001).

Keywords

Growth and Development Strategy; Industry Structures; Horizontal Integration; Vertical Integration; Manufacturing Industry; Semiconductor Industry

Citation

Shih, Willy C., Chen-Fu Chien, Chintay Shih, and Ting-Chen Chen. "System on a Chip 2008: Ardentec Corporation." Harvard Business School Case 609-026, August 2008.
  • Find it at Harvard

About The Author

Willy C. Shih

Technology and Operations Management
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • November 15, 2022
    • Harvard Business Review Digital Articles

    What Really Makes Toyota’s Production System Resilient

    By: Willy C. Shih
    • October 21, 2022
    • Harvard Business Review Digital Articles

    Climate Regulations Are About to Disrupt Global Shipping

    By: Willy C. Shih
    • August 1, 2022
    • Wall Street Journal

    The Supply Chain, Explained

    By: Willy C. Shih
More from the Authors
  • What Really Makes Toyota’s Production System Resilient By: Willy C. Shih
  • Climate Regulations Are About to Disrupt Global Shipping By: Willy C. Shih
  • The Supply Chain, Explained By: Willy C. Shih
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College