In less than two decades, Samsung has gone from a little-known copycat consumer electronics brand to the largest consumer electronics company in the world by a wide margin. It accomplished this by setting lofty goals and by creating a culture of innovation. Samsung didn't just think outside the box. It broke the box wide open by bringing outsiders in and sending insiders abroad, resulting in one of the freshest thinking workforces. With an investment budget that far exceeds the competition, these folks are charged with creating products that it calls "lifestyle works of art"—products that must pass a "Wow!" test during market testing. As a result, Samsung is near the top of almost every consumer electronics category. And more than just big, Samsung is recognized worldwide as one of the most innovative companies.

1. How was Samsung able to go from a copycat brand to an innovation leader?

2. In recent years, how has Samsung achieved its goals in markets where it had little presence, such as smartphones?

3. What challenges does Samsung face with such a diverse product portfolio? What benefits?

4. Is Samsung's current and future strategy customer-focused? Why or why not?

5. Will Samsung be successful in achieving its goal of becoming a leader in the Internet of Things market?