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  • October 2012 (Revised August 2013)
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Global Unichip Corporation (A)

By: Willy Shih and Chen-Fu Chien
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:11
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Abstract

Global Unichip Corporation (GUC) is a design services company that acts as a front-end to TSMC, the world's largest semiconductor foundry. In so doing, it masked the complexity of the latest process technologies, and reduced the entry barriers for small firms to utilize the latest technology. In acting as an aggregator, it was also able to capture scale benefits. But it saw a change in the market coming as a major systems house customer came to GUC directly. Did this mean that it was enabling competition with TSMC's most important customers? Was it fostering disintermediation, and what did this portend for the future shape of the industry?

Keywords

Abstraction; Value-network; Entry Barriers; Intermediaries; Dis-intermediation; Aggregator; Vertical Specialization; Technology Adoption; Digital Platforms; Competitive Strategy; Corporate Strategy; Horizontal Integration; Vertical Integration; Technological Innovation; Innovation Strategy; Innovation and Management; Industry Structures; Information Infrastructure; Complexity; Information Technology; Semiconductor Industry; Technology Industry; Telecommunications Industry; Taiwan

Citation

Shih, Willy, and Chen-Fu Chien. "Global Unichip Corporation (A)." Harvard Business School Case 613-048, October 2012. (Revised August 2013.)
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About The Author

Willy C. Shih

Technology and Operations Management
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Related Work

    • November 2012 (Revised August 2013)
    • Faculty Research

    Global Unichip Corporation (B)

    By: Willy Shih and Chen-Fu Chien
    • February 2013
    • Faculty Research

    Global Unichip Corporation (A) and (B)

    By: Willy Shih
    • October 2012 (Revised August 2013)
    • Faculty Research

    Global Unichip Corporation (A)

    By: Willy Shih and Chen-Fu Chien
Related Work
  • Global Unichip Corporation (B) By: Willy Shih and Chen-Fu Chien
  • Global Unichip Corporation (A) and (B) By: Willy Shih
  • Global Unichip Corporation (A) By: Willy Shih and Chen-Fu Chien
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