The mechanism of human-machine collaboration driving sustainable business models: A single case study from the electric vehicle industry

Abstract

The transient nature of resources and opportunities, coupled with the pervasive interconnectedness of interests in the digital intelligence era, poses significant challenges to the sustainability of corporate business models. However, this era also introduces ubiquitous human-machine collaboration, enhancing coordination between value creation and capture across different times and entities, thus presenting new avenues for sustainable business models. By examining Tesla's case, this study dissects the mechanism of human-machine collaboration-driven sustainable business models. The findings reveal that: 1) Human-machine collaboration encompasses cognitive, structural, and relational dimensions. 2) It bolsters enterprises' dynamic capabilities, including customer value analysis capability, resource intelligence integration capability, and value extension reinvention capability. 3) The framework "Human-machine collaboration-dynamic capabilities-sustainable business models" is established. This mechanism model elucidates how human-machine collaboration impacts diverse value propositions, adaptive value creation, and inclusive value capture by influencing capabilities in customer value analysis, resource intelligence integration, and value extension and reinvention. This research offers theoretical guidance and practical insights for enterprises aiming to develop sustainable business models.