Empowering Nan's Community Businesses: A CBMC Approach with Community Capital and Buddhist Wisdom

Abstract

The purpose of this research article was to present the results of empowering community businesses through the application of the Community Business Model Canvas (CBMC) in Nan Province. The specific objectives were to (1) evaluate the potential of CBMC implementation in the local context, (2) develop the capacity of change agents to transform community business plans into income-generating activities in collaboration with partner networks, and (3) synthesize knowledge and innovative practices in using the CBMC platform as a prototype for self-reliant communities. This study employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach combined with Empowerment Evaluation (EE). The participants consisted of 10 community business plans and networks across three geographical zones of Nan Province. The main research instruments included the CBMC framework, consisting of nine business model components and five operational planning components, reflective learning through the “Four Mirrors” technique, and empowerment assessment using a five-point Likert scale to measure learning outcomes, participation, and perceived impacts.

The research revealed that: the CBMC process significantly enhanced participants’ self-efficacy, learning, and ownership at high to very high levels, with mean scores ranging from 4.10 to 4.40. Participants demonstrated improved abilities to apply CBMC independently, reduce household expenses, increase income, and implement community business plans in real contexts. In addition, the integration of CBMC with three dimensions of community capital—self-reliance, network collaboration, and financial capital—together with applied Buddhist principles, including Atta hi attano natho, the Four Bases of Success (Iddhipada), and the Four Principles of Social Harmony (Sangahavatthu), contributed to the development of an ethically grounded and sustainable community business model. The findings suggest that CBMC functions not only as a business planning tool but also as an empowering learning process that links morality, cultural identity, and the grassroots creative economy in Nan Province.