dc.description.abstract | Referring to the development and evolution of computers, the necessary devices are storage devices. The storage device has constantly improved and evolved from time and through technological advances. In recent years, solid-state drive (also known as SSD) is the shining star of storage device. After decades of development, now the solid-state hard drives are thin, shock-resistant, power-saving, and ultra-fast in reading and writing; moreover, with continuous breakthroughs, the manufacturing process of NAND has achieved a greater competitiveness in cost, leading to a huge change in the storage market that had been dominated by mechanical hard disk drives (HDDs) for many years.
This study takes Taiwanese S company as an example. An SSD has two key components: a flash controller and NAND flash memory chips; and another important factor for producing SSD is the combination and design of the firmware (firmware-F/W). In terms of the maturity of flash memory chips and control systems, we can only distinguish the quality of hardware between high and low levels, but the decisive factor of advantages and disadvantages of SSD is the firmware. In terms of flash design, S company can only compete with the world first-tier NAND flash memory chips and control manufacturers by mastering the core technology of firmware. Using a precise and stable strategy to find SSD future application trends, and creating the company’s core values by its own core technology may help the case company survive and obtain a place in the market of solid-state drives. In this research, we will use different analytical frameworks to analyze the opportunities and threats to S company in each application market. The result of the study is expected to propose appropriate suggestions, and serve as a reference for the case company to develop strategies in the future.
This case study collects the distribution status of external environment and internal resources, discusses comprehensively the situation facing the case company by the five force analysis and SWOT analysis, and uses secondary data when appropriate in the research process. The analysis tries to find out the competitive situation, future development trends, opportunities and threats of current storage device industry. The study then analyzes S company’s internal strengths and weaknesses, and then integrates the internal analysis with the industry’s opportunities and threats to produce the strategy matrix of the SWOT analysis.
The study finds that the development of solid-state drives and the continuous evolving of related technologies have also driven fierce competition in the industry. S company however has been lacking dominance in main components and thus has limited in resources and clients base since the appearance of SSD. Therefore, when negotiating with suppliers or buyers, S company tends to fall into an unfavorable situation because of lack of bargaining power. However, if the case company can use competitive partnerships, technical cooperation, alliances or other methods to reduce its own disadvantages, the company may obtain a stable business for the long-term development in the solid-state hard disk industry; if S company is unable to respond to the rapid changes in the market and multiple needs, it should consider shifting to other more stable OEM industries. It is hope that the result of the study can provide various specific and feasible business strategies that combine attack, differentiation, defense and back off strategies for the case company to take in the future.. | en_US |