A Study of Competencies of Community Enterprise (OTOP) Entrepreneurs in the Central Region of Thailand toward ASEAN Economic Community

Abstract

The objectives of this research is to study the current competencies, assess competency requirement of community enterprise (OTOP) entrepreneurs in the central region of Thailand and provide them guidelines toward ASEAN Economic Community. The research instruments used for data-gathering were semi-structured interview. The results of the interviews were created by using independent variables in questionnaire. The samplers of this research are the 189 community enterprise (OTOP) entrepreneurs, with a 82.54% response rate. The results were as follows : Attributes and skills indicated by current competencies were at high level while knowledge was medium level. The competency requirement, attributes, skills and knowledge were at high level respectively. The fundamental preparation for competency of community enterprise (OTOP) entrepreneurs in the central region of Thailand toward ASEAN Economic Community should develop competencies in knowledge, attributes and skills especially in the international trading regulation, international language, information technology and management. The community enterprise (OTOP) entrepreneurs should increase skills in the continuous expertise in product development and organization, as well as seeking for new markets and creating continuous business networking including organizational innovation acceleration. The community enterprise (OTOP) entrepreneurs should develop attributes to seek for business opportunities, widen continuous knowledge and innovation and increase potential organizational development. The suggestions were that the community enterprise (OTOP) entrepreneurs should develop competencies and seek for source of information and ask for government support to get into ASEAN Economic Community. The government sector should support knowledge, skills, attributes and cooperate with school, financial and other to develop potential of community enterprise (OTOP) entrepreneurs in a long term.