Abstract:
Overseas construction is one of the alternatives for Thai contractor firms to lessen the effects from local economic crisis. Currently, there is an increasing trend of expanding construction business at international level. Many Thai contractor firms are mostly operating in the Southeast Asia especially Cambodia and Laos. However, operating in those countries have more risk than operating locally. This can cause several problems and obstacles to the new Thai contractor firms. This research aims to analyze the Thai contractor firms that operate construction projects in Southeast Asia. To achieve the objective, this research methodology comprises two phases. The first phase aims to identify the issues that Thai contractor firms should prepare themselves for working in Southeast Asia. The interview question is developed from McKinseys 7S framework. In this part, the interview data is gathered from 12 senior construction managers of 10 firms who managed and involved in Southeast Asia. Then the second phase aims to explore the problems and barriers in Cambodia and Laos. The development of question is based on the literature review and previous interview. The data is gathered from 5 senior construction managers and 7 project managers from 13 projects. This research uses the content analysis as a tool to analyze in both two parts for searching the pattern and key issues that are mentioned. The result illustrates that the preparation of Thai contractor firms operating construction projects in Southeast Asia consist of 7 components. For example, strategy should emphasis on the competitive advantage strategy, structure should be adapted according to business expansion and skill should be focused on the language skill. There are 12 problems and obstacles which can be divided into country level, project level and company level. Moreover, the findings recommend the examples of solving problems for Thai contractor firms that operate construction projects in Southeast Asia.