CONTENTS
List of figures and tables ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
Executive summary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5
Acknowledgement ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6
PART 1: PROBLEMATISATION
CHAPTER 1: THE INTRODUCTION 7
1. Nature of the problem to be investigated ---------------------------------------------------------- 7
2. Research Objectives ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------10
3. Research Questions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------11
4. Research Approach ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------11
1.5 Summary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
CHAPTER 2: THE BUSINESS MODEL – HSBC HOLDING PLC 16
2.1 Background information about HSBC Holding Plc ------------------------------------------- 16
2.2 The HSBC Strategy ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20
2.3 HSBC Business Models – General overview ------------------------------------------------------22
2.4 Analysis of the business model ----------------------------------------------------------------------23
2.5 Summary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------26
CHAPTER 3: PERFORMANCE GAP ANALYSIS 28
3.1 Introduction and chapter overview
References: Table 2: Geographical contribution of operating centres world wide (HSBC G.S /Investor relation)) (* Pre-tax profit for the full year ended 31 December 2008) (*Pre-tax profit for the full year ended 31 December 2008) The two tables above attests to the huge global market reach and the viable operational