台灣電腦資訊產業從1970 年代開始發展至今,過程中經歷了許 多經營觀念的改變及創新,本人於 1986 年加入這個產業並於 1999 年加入個案公司,有幸目睹台灣整個電腦產業的先行者優勢,從仿 冒蘋果電腦至蘋果電腦公司針對幾家台灣電腦業者在美提出告訴,
轉而繼續仿冒IBM PC/XT 電腦至支付 IBM 之權利金,至此納入正 軌經營,在環境變化下改變本身定位,機會加上運氣造成產業之先 行者廠商在技術領先下,從公寓式公司至企業式公司,企業規模不 斷擴大,並享受著經營帶來的高營收、高利潤、高成長。然而先行 者公司不一定就有優勢,如主機板製造廠商之旭青是先行者劣勢,
精英、華碩則是後行者優勢,主因是隨著市場環境日益動態化、複 雜化,技術創新速度加速,市場的全球化,顧客需求的多樣化,造 成了競爭越來越快、越來越激烈,競爭優勢的可保持性越來越低,
只有不斷改變及創新,才能持續維持先行者之領先優勢,造就企業 持續成功及永續經營。個案公司十年來(1998-2009)憑著不斷創新 的核心韌體加值技術於硬體產品,在台灣硬體產業進入低利潤之 際,卻能尋找一利基市場,並在此一市場不斷創新並改變本身能力,
產生競爭優勢及持續成長。
本研究以個案的方式針對Lieberman 與 Montgomery (1988)所提
出的:技術領先、資產先佔、買方轉換成本等三項要素在實務上的 應用,並長期觀察一家目前立足於 UNIX 軍用工作站市場中的領導 廠商,探討此一個案公司如何從一般 PC 業改變自己轉向進入一特 殊市場開始,及如何面對市場環境日益動態化之情況下,調整其自 我組織、技術、管理能力以適應市場、掌握市場、獲取利潤,創造 技術領先獲得先行者優勢;並利用持續的自我改變能力,提昇技術 資源、組織資源和管理資源來維持其競爭及先佔優勢,藉由研發技 術提昇及策略關係建立,擴大與跟隨者之間的距離。
本研究認為,相對於進入時機的早晚,在多數小企業聚焦的利 基市場中,技術領先更容易產生競爭優勢。另外,先行者固然能在 先行優勢上取得若干好處;然而,無法妥善利用資產先佔及買方轉 換成本的先行優勢,則很難再與競爭者保持距離。在個案研究中,
個案公司以後發者姿態,憑藉著其技術優勢,成功的取代了原來市 場上的先驅者,成為世界級大廠的主要供應商;在取得市場的主導 地位後,更憑藉著在位者的資產先佔及買方轉換成本成功地捍衛了 來自後發者的進攻。因此,對於 Lieberman 與 Montgomery (1988)所 提的三項要素,其中,「技術領先」要素適合用於進攻;而「資產先 佔及買方轉換成本」要素則適合用於市場的防守及維持。
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