Developing a business model framework: case of an automotive finance business in China
Nowadays, Automotive Finance Companies (AFCs) face increasing challenges of finding means to improve and better utilise business models in Chinese market. While, academic researchers are also seeking a clear definition of business model that can be widely accepted as the basis for further development of business model research. This research is aiming to develop a business model framework, which can help business managers to confront and resolve these challenges for automotive finance business in China, and most critically to guide them when making strategic decision. Meanwhile, such a framework can also provide academic researchers a foundation for conducting further business model researches. The research draws a journey of developing a business model framework under Chinese automotive finance business context. The interpretivist approach was applied as the methodology to guide the qualitative research with an engaged automotive finance organisation. Accordingly, case study was applied as the research strategy and major approach. SIYANG Framework implementation and semi-structured interview were the two steps consisting in it. As the 1st step, SIYANG Framework, after being developed as an initial business model, was later implemented in the engaged organisation. SIYANG Framework was introduced to the managers in the aim of the business model improvement and it lasted over eighteen months. In the 2nd step, six semi-structured interviews were conducted to review managers’ feedback on SIYANG Framework and explored the insight of SIYANG Framework enrichment. According to the result of implementation, it can be concluded that SIYANG Framework is feasible for guiding the practices of AFC business model improvement. As the outcome of the research, SIYANG Framework has been enriched eventually as a business model framework by analysing data academically and empirically, which reaches level 4 of BMRS (Lambert, 2006). Furthermore, SIYANG Framework describes a clear definition and component of business model that can be a foundation of conducting further business model researches. While, it illustrates a detail process of business modelling that draws a clear way of building, improving and operating a business model for automotive finance business. On one level, SIYANG Framework has been experimented as a constructive guidance to automotive finance organisations improving the business models in Chinese market.
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