historically this has entailed a sequential process of learning by latecomers in skills process technology design technology and new product development lee a few countries notably the republic of korea and taiwan province of china have achieved rapid economic growth by successfully leapfrogging in the development of a limited number of shortcyde technology sectors such as semiconductors and other electronic goods skipping certain stages through which leading foreign firms passed in technological development typically such latecomers have begun with assembly of final goods using imported parts moving on to the development of towtech and then progressively highertech components before learning to modify the design of existing products and ultimately to develop new products lee and lim