A Management 180

Samsung flipped its focus from quantity to quality—of both talent and products—leading to a revolution.

Samsung has not always been a leader in the electronics industry. In the company's history, 1987 stands out as the year it began to transition to being the global giant it has become today. A contributing factor has been the leadership of Kun-hee Lee, who was inaugurated as Samsung's second chairman that same year. Throughout his 25-year tenure, Lee has emphasized the impo