Business In Thailand Research Articles

THAILAND 4.0’S INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY: ANALYZING INDICATOR LEVEL

The objective of the research titled ‘Innovation and Technology of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Coconut Sugar Business in Thailand 4.0’ is to study the level of innovation and technology of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the coconut sugar business in Samut Songkhram Province. This research is the Mixed Methods Research and the populations of this research consisted of entrepreneurs and executives as well as those who engage in the development of innovation and technology of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the coconut sugar business in Samut Songkhram Province.The results showed that SMEs’ innovation and technology consisted of 3components including Innovation and Technology in Learning, Innovation and Technology in Communication and Innovation and Technology in Operational Support. Innovation and Technology in Communication was ranked as No. 1with the highest Mean, it was found that there are 3 areas of innovation and technology to be studied, including Innovation and Technology in Learning, Innovation and Technology in Communication and Innovation and Technology in Operational Support. Based on the data analysis for the rating scale on the innovation and technology, it was found that the rating scale on communication was ranked as No. 1 with the highest Mean (x̄= 4.40S.D. = 0.43), No. 2 was the innovation and technology in learning with the highest Mean (x̄= 4.38 S.D. = 0.44) and No. 3 was the innovation and technology on operational support with the highest Mean (x̄= 4.33 S.D. = .047). All variables are statistically significant influences.

Lost in Narratives of Identity: The Predicament of Surrogates in Thailand

Commercial surrogacy used to be booming business in Thailand, but our understanding of local surrogates remains vague. This article conducts textual analysis on interviews and statistical analysis on related comments from internet forums to identify narratives and ethical beliefs about surrogacy among surrogates, their families, and their society in Thailand. Traditional narratives of collective bioethics, which consider longer temporalities, tend to overlook individual surrogates. This omission makes it difficult to respect surrogates’ individual identities. They get lost in narratives of being surrogates. In this light, the concept of “civilized bodies” can help us understand the shame feelings sometimes associated with surrogacy.

Benefits of Foreign Language Skills in Foreign Businesses in Thailand

Foreign language skills in Thailand have become an important key to professional advancement and business operations. Having some fluency in a language other than the employee’s native language improves employee coordination, clientele satisfaction, business operations, and business management. Foreign language proficiency skills of Thai employees in business firms facilitate smoother communication and coordination between local headquarters and offshore subsidiaries. Most employers and owners consider foreign language proficiency skills as assets to their business operations, but surprisingly not all do. This paper focuses on the role and influence of foreign language in five business firms in Rayong Province, Thailand. It concentrates on four foreign languages: English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. The primary purpose is to assess the benefits of foreign language proficiency to Thai employees in the five selected firms. This paper shows that there is indeed a close relationship between degree of benefit and level of foreign language proficiency. It finds that foreign language skill improves the promotion opportunities, income, prestige and working conditions of Thai employees. Thus, Thai employees in Rayong who have a good command of any of the four foreign languages studied here have more advantages and opportunities, compared to Thai employees who lack such skills.

Buddhism and Buddhist Business Practices

The 21st century global business environment is more diverse and interconnected than ever before. As organizations continue to expand their global reach, business professionals often find themselves having to navigate challenging cultural and religious terrain, which they may not be prepared for. While it is impossible for someone to learn the intricacies of all cultures and religions throughout the world, one can seek to learn about some of the more prominent cultures and religions of the world – particularly those they have a high likelihood of engaging with at some point in his or her business career. This paper examines Buddhism, a prevalent religion throughout many parts of the world, and discusses how its culture and beliefs are manifested through Buddhist business practices. Particular focus is placed on business in Thailand, the country with the highest percentage of Buddhists. The purpose of this paper is to provide business professionals with a basic understanding of the history of Buddhism, an overview of the major beliefs of Buddhists, and to present information that will assist business professionals in successfully navigating intercultural affairs when doing business with Buddhists in Thailand or around the world.

The Factors Enhancing Work Passion of Family Successors in the Life Insurance Business in Thailand: An Appreciative Inquiry Approach

The purpose of this study was 1) to understand the successors’ attitude toward working in the insurance business with family members, and 2) to explore the factors that enhance work passion of successors in working collaboratively with their family members in the life insurance business. This study employed qualitative methodology with the use of the appreciative inquiry (4D-Dialogue) approach. Using triangulation of data sources, 36 key informants were recruited, 18 were successors that work with their parents, and 18 were parents of these successors. All of the participants worked together in one life insurance company in Thailand. Data were collected using focus group semi-structured interviews. Content analysis with analytic induction was used as the analytical tool. Trustworthiness was built through data triangulation, member checking, and peer debriefing. The results indicated that, for the first objective, the successors’ attitude toward working in the insurance business with their family consisted of four attitudes: 1.1) against; 1.2) unwilling; 1.3) willing, but lost; and 1.4) willing and successful. Regarding the second objective, five factors were found: 2.1) Goals: support of personal goals, help with self-development, enhancing the family happiness, and showing gratitude for family kindness; 2.2) Content: work aligned with expertise or educational background, and work being meaningful; 2.3) Coaching: appropriate coaching strategy, systematic professional coaching strategy, fairness, sharing pride in success; 2.4) Family: encouragement without pressure and caring; and 2.5) Organization: organization’s image, favorable work environment, and experience of positive outcomes from the life insurance business. Then, for the Design phrase, the action plan “FAMILY,” which comprised of F-Finale with Family; A-Attitude and Ability through Activities; M-Motivating Appropriately; I-Ideal People/Team; L-Leading through Vision/Leading through Coaching; and Y-Yes Club of the future, was offered. To summarize, a 4D-Dialogue for the appreciative inquiry was proposed.

KEY SUCCESS FACTORS FOR ENTREPRENEURS IN THE HEALTHCARE BUSINESS OF THAILAND

Healthcare business in Thailand has been hugely popular among foreigners and retired persons especially. The research presented here focuses on the question “How to become and remain a healthcare entrepreneur?”. The objectives have been formulated in the following way: 1) to study the success factors of the healthcare business in Thailand, and 2) to analyze the key success factors of entrepreneurs in this field. The population of the study is 6,717 people. The sample group has been 315 people, the stratified random sampling has been applied. The key success factors include education, investment plan, place/location, nurses, supporting staff and strategy. Education has got the highest score - 0.75. Most entrepreneurs have graduated with a bachelor degree or higher. The second comes strategy with the score of 0.636. As this business is quite famous, the competitors apply various strategies to get more customers, both local and international. Information technology and 4Ps are used for campaigns, for example. The lowest score in terms of business success impact got the investment plan with 0.528.

An identification of warehouse location in Thailand

Purpose The purpose of this research is to identify a province in Thailand where total transportation cost for shipping grocery goods from this province to customers in all other provinces is the lowest. Design/methodology/approach Transportation distances among provinces, freight rate and the number of population in each province were gathered. Total transportation cost was computed by taking distance, tapering freight rate and population including that in original province into account. Findings Based on pre-set assumptions, it reveals that Saraburi province has the lowest total transportation cost. Research limitations/implications This research emphasizes only transportation cost. For future research, other monetary and non-monetary factors such as land, labor, investment incentive, local government regulation should be considered together. Practical implications This is an industry-based research especially for retail and fast-moving consumer goods businesses. Originality/value This practitioner paper is one of the first to identify population, freight rate and distance-based warehouse location which can be determined as a location for Thailand’s logistics hub, particularly for retail or fast-moving consumer goods business in Thailand.

The Effect of Executive Management Support and Cost Accountant Competency on CMS Design Effectiveness and Its Consequences: An Empirical Research of Manufacturing Business in Thailand

The Effect of Executive Management Support and Cost Accountant Competency on CMS Design Effectiveness and Its Consequences: An Empirical Research of Manufacturing Business in Thailand

Entrepreneurship and family businesses in Thailand

This paper investigates the impact of exposure to a family business and participating in a family business on an individual's decision to start a business and the likelihood of its survival. We find that having a family member doing business increases the probability of starting a business but not its survival. In contrast, working in a family‐owned business for a high number of hours increases both the likelihood of entrepreneurship and survival. The impact of working hours in a family‐owned business remains significant even if the sample includes only individuals who are the spouses of business owners. Given the evidence, an apprenticeship scheme should be considered as a policy instrument for promoting entrepreneurial success.

Thai Massage and Commercial Sex Work: A Phenomenological Study

IntroductionMany researchers have suggested that commercial sex work in Thailand has gone into massage establishments. The paper explores how the experience of receiving massage in Thailand differs by four types of establishment (street front, massage schools, spas, and high-end resorts) and whether or not unsolicited sexual services are offered. First, we look at the history of massage, then the nature of sex work in Thailand, and finally Thai massage.Massage therapy is an ancient healing art. The first references to massage appeared 2000 B.C. Forms of massage therapy, bodywork, or somatic therapy were part of the ancient civilizations of Greece, Rome, China, Japan, and India (Field, Diego, & Hernandez-Reif, 2007). In 1850, two physicians introduced massage in the United States; however, it was not until the mid-1980's that massage emerged as a popular healing modality. Athletes were among the first, in the United States, to appreciate the healing benefits of massage therapy (Ayers & Kronenfeld, 2010).There are more than 80 types of massage therapy. Massage typically involves the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the body. Types of massage include Swedish, deep tissue, trigger point, Shiatsu, and Thai massage to name a few. Therapists use their hands, fingers, forearms, elbows, and feet to manipulate the soft tissue of the body. Massage therapy helps treat chronic disease, neurological disorders, injuries, and alleviates tension and stress in the human body. Given that 80-90% of disease is thought to be stress related, the benefits of massage are notable in any wellness program (Ayers & Kronenfeld, 2010; Smith, Sullivan & Baxter, 2009). Still, a 2002 survey of American's who used Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) revealed that only 5% reported that they received a massage in the past year (Field et al, 2007).While the benefits of touch have been widely documented, few individuals receive touch in their adult lives (Lund, 2000; Sharpe, Williams, Granner & Hussey, 2007; Donoyama, Munakata & Shibasaki, 2010). The growth of massage therapy, as a legitimate healing modality, has been adversely affected by an association between touch and sex (Wahnschafft, 1982; Nicholls & Cheek, 2006).There is a lingering wonder about nonsexual therapeutic touch. Around the world, perhaps this problem is most apparent in Thailand.Commercial Sex WorkA critical issue facing Thai massage therapists is the link many place between massage and the selling of sexual services. For example, Rojanapithayakorn (2006) maintains that sex work in Thailand was establishment based, or in direct sex establishments, like brothels and inexpensive hotels (see Farley 2009). However, since the onset of the AIDS epidemic, Tharawan et al. (2003) argue that sex workers moved into non-establishment (or indirect sex establishments) spaces such as bars, nightclubs, cafes or restaurants, and massage parlors (emphasis ours). In indirect sex establishments, clients negotiate for sexual services that will take place at another location. In Thailand, many associate massage with sex (Wahnschafft, 1982; Cohen, 1988; Taylor, 2005).As Taylor (2005) notes commercial sex work is a lucrative business in Thailand fueled by poverty, especially in Thailand's northern rural provinces, as well as economic disparities between Thailand and other Asian nations. Women and girls from poor provinces, oftentimes with the active support of their families, opt for sex work as a way to economically contribute to their families. Further, the benefit of being a good daughter, bringing in money for the good of the family, outweighs the stigma of sex work (Taylor, 2005; Wawer, Podhista, Pramualratana & McNamara, 1996; Peracca, Knodel, & Saengtienchai, 1998). The history of bonded labor, where Thai families are economically indentured to another, also drives Thai daughters into sex work to pay off debt (Giri, 2012). …

Key Success for Registered Nurses to Be Entrepreneur in Senior Healthcare Business in Thailand

Key Success for Registered Nurses to Be Entrepreneur in Senior Healthcare Business in Thailand

MANAGEMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS AND FIRM SUSTAINABILITY: EVIDENCE FROM TEXTILE AND APPAREL BUSINESSES IN THAILAND


 The objective of this study is to examine the effects of management control systems on the firm sustainability of textile and apparel businesses in Thailand. Management control systems are the main variable of the study, while organisational renewal, management development, business excellence, and firm sustainability are the outcome variables of the study. In this study, 186 textile and apparel businesses in Thailand compose the study sample. A mail survey questionnaire was used for data collection. Additionally, structural equation modelling is utilised to test the research relationships. The results show that management control systems positively impact organisational renewal and firm sustainability. In addition, organisational renewal positively affects management development, business excellence, and firm sustainability. Both management development and business excellence positively influence firm sustainability. However, it is found that management control systems are not related to management development and business excellence. In summary, management control systems can help firms survive and sustain themselves in highly variable environments. To gain a sustainable competitive advantage, superior performance, and long-term sustainability, firms’ executives can pay attention to the development, utilisation, maintenance, and improvement of management control systems. To verify and expand the current study, future research needs to collect data from different populations or larger populations and employ other statistical techniques, such as regression analysis, partial least squares, and path analysis to prove the generalisability of the study.

Craft by you: acquiring consumer's idea to the product development for handicraft business in Thailand

In this research, the procedure for cocreation between handicraft producers and users was developed, in order to study how handicraft producers could overcome the limitation in NPD process especially consumer's insight and user's need information. Therefore, enable handicraft producers to develop new product that meet actual consumer demand. The action research was conducted based on participatory design philosophy and user innovation concept. The voluntary handicraft producer and potential customer of handicraft products were engaged with the research which brought an idea from the customer to the producers, then screened by the production limitation of material and skill. The handicraft producer and the users participated the remoted design process in the controlled environment guided by the researcher which both parties had exchanged new product idea and together finalised the design, which was created into the prototype by the handicraft producer. Although this method was never studied, the workshop revealed the potential of cocreation and participation of design, also confirmed that the platform that encourage the users to reveal the idea for their benefit, could created the handicraft producer' ability of product development.

Craft by you: acquiring consumer's idea to the product development for handicraft business in Thailand

Craft by you: acquiring consumer's idea to the product development for handicraft business in Thailand

Factors Influencing TV Home Shopperss Intention to Repurchase

As part of the digital economy, TV shopping business in Thailand recently became an eye-catching business for both local and international investor. This research aimed to investigate the factors influencing TV home shoppers’ intentions to repurchase. This online survey was based on a convenient sampling method from customers of Jewelry Channel, the TV home shopping in Thailand, to determine the influence of factors, such as perceived product quality, perceived social value, perceived trust and satisfactory prior experience for intentions to repurchase. 394 sets of completed questionnaires were collected and analyzed. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the research hypotheses. The results showed that perceived product quality, perceived trust and satisfactory of prior experience positively influence the consumers’ intention to repurchase, whereas the perceived social value did not predict the intention to repurchase. It was noted that the perceived product quality and satisfactory of prior experience are the better predictor than perceived trust. The researcher recommended TV shopping company to focus more on product quality and customer experience management to increase the level of intention to repurchase. The future research should include the potential customers yet to make a purchase through TV shopping.

Isolation and evaluation of biocontrol agents in controlling anthracnose disease of mango in Thailand

Abstract The agricultural based economy is a core business in Thailand and food export is one of the main sources of income for the Thai population. However, pesticides are overused and misused. As a result there is an urgent need to reduce the use of synthetic chemicals. Biological control offers an alternative to the use of pesticides. Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is widely planted in Thailand and is one of the major cash crops for international export. However, mango suffers from various diseases especially anthracnose, a fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. One hundred and twelve isolates of epiphytic microbes were isolated from healthy leaves and fruits of mangoes; this included 93 and 19 isolates of epiphytic bacteria and yeasts, respectively. They were screened for bioactivity against a pathogenic strain of C. gloeosporioides isolated from diseased mangoes using a dual culture technique. Out of 112 isolates, eight isolates exhibited at least 60% inhibition. These isolates were further screened for their inhibition on mango using fruit inoculation. Two isolates reduced the lesion sizes caused by C. gloeosporioides compared to control treatment. These two isolates, based on phenotypical and biochemical tests, were identified as Bacillus sp. MB61 and Bacillus sp. LB72.

The Antecedents and Consequences of Customer Engagement: An Exploratory Study on the Mobile Business in Thailand

This study explores the antecedents and consequences of customer engagement behaviors in the Thai mobile network business. This study found that the approach to switching behavior and cross-buying behavior is connected to customer loyalty behaviors. However, the spending behaviors of customers may not be a good indicator of customer loyalty in the mobile network business because those who do not have the intention to switch to another brand do not necessarily increase their spending. In addition, most respondents are concerned with competitive promotional packages, which influence customer engagement behaviors. Hence, it was proposed that service quality and competitive promotional packages are antecedents to customer engagement behaviors and all these factors are important in explaining customer loyalty toward mobile network providers in Thailand.

Perceptions of Information Technology Processes Among IT Decision Makers in Thailand

Information technology (IT) has become an essential part of organizations and a pervasive element in all business processes. Because IT is so critical to business in today’s dynamic environment, it is essential that organizations align their business processes with IT strategy in order to facilitate business changes and to cope with other developments in the global economy. Complete synchronization calls for a business-IT alignment that can be achieved through effective IT governance. The adoption of proper IT governance processes can enhance an organization’s strategic gain. Among businesses in Thailand, however, fewer than half have fully adopted IT governance processes. This study explores the concerns of IT decision makers in Thailand with regard to these processes, using four stages of the perceptual process: exposure, attention, interpretation, and response. The study used a semi-structured interview to solicit the opinions of IT decision makers with experience in IT management and with the authority to make decisions relating to IT governance. The results indicate that, although not all governance processes are implemented because of time and cost factors, the governance processes that are implemented are those with a high impact and high importance level. The results show, furthermore, that the four factors influencing an organization’s selection processes are organization size, strategy, structure, and industry.

The Antecedents and Consequences of Customer Engagement: An Exploratory Study on Mobile Network Business in Thailand

This study explores the antecedents and consequences of customer engagement behavior in the Thai mobile network business. A qualitative research using 15 interviews was conducted to identify the service quality dimensions, customer engagement behaviors and customer loyalty. The respondents’ main concerns were related to technical and functional service quality and their engagement behavior were addressed mostly in offline mode when they interacted with their family, friends and occasionally communicating to the mobile providers. It was found that the approach to switching behavior and cross-buying behavior were connected to customer loyalty behaviors. However, spending behaviors of customers may not be a good indicator for customer loyalty in mobile network business because those who do not have intention to switch to another brand do not necessarily increase their spending. In addition, most respondents are concerned with competitive promotional packages, which influence customer engagement behavior. Hence, it was proposed that service quality and competitive promotional packages are antecedents to customer engagement behaviors and all these factors are important in explaining customer loyalty toward mobile network providers in Thailand.

Improving IT Infrastructure Capabilities through IT Personnel Capabilities: Thai Industry of Software and Services

Objectives: This research aims to find which capability of IT personnel influence on IT infrastructure capability, especially the enterprise software and the mobile application software firms doing business in Thailand. Methods/Statistical Analysis: We collected data from project managers and users of 96 participated firms by employing questionnaires which contained the constructs borrowed from the study of Fink and Neumann. Each construct was validated by Cronbach alpha coefficient. In order to reduce bias, each questionnaire required responses from 3 persons per a firm. Then the mean of responses for each questionnaire of a firm was calculated and used as the data for our research. To analyze data, we employed the stepwise regression analysis to determine which competences of IT personnel have impact on the capability of IT infrastructure. Before utilizing the stepwise regression analysis, multicollinearity must be tested: the Variance Inflation Factor (VIF) and the Condition Index (CI). Findings: Technical and business capability of Information Technology personnel affect IT infrastructure capability in the overall Thai software industry and mobile application software firms. In case of enterprise software firms, IT infrastructure capability is influenced by only business capability of IT personnel. Application/Improvements: These findings suggest that human resource policies, training and organizational development programs of these firms can be adjusted to reach the best fitting composition of personnel for the achievement of the services. In addition, universities can utilize the outputs from this study to adapt graduate programs to serve the requirements of IT providers.