Abstract:
This research was aimed to study the competitiveness of business, personal factors, and factors affecting the business. To knowledge management technology cluster in gems and jewelry, the research assessed the potential in clustering to determine approaches to develop gems and jewelry in Chanta Buri. The research employed a combination of quantitative methods and qualitative methods. The sample group consisted of business owner in Chanta Buri. Convenient sampling method was used to select the participants. The data was collected by using questionnaires from 86 participants. Then a snowball sampling was employed to select seven participants for in-depth interviews. The statistical analyses were descriptive and inferential statistics with a significant level of 0.05.
The results shows that most of the business operators were female aged between 31-40 years old. Most of them had high-school education. The owners were sole-owners operating more than 9 years. The majority of not more than 10 employees. The registering capitals were mostly between 1,000,001 and 5,000,000 Baht. The sales per month ranked from 100,001-250,000 Baht. Most of customers were walk-ins. Category gems main and form the product is silver. The hypothesis testing on the competitiveness of gems and jewelry business shows that only the enterprises with sales of 100,001-250,000 had competitiveness in general more than any types of enterprises. The study confirmed gems and jewelry business operators had potentials in competition. That is they had high level of knowledge on clustering and have moderate competitiveness which could be developed to combine with enterprise network both from outside and inside the gems and jewelry industry. The findings of the analysis led to the development of the enterprise cluster within gems and jewelry industry cooperated with government sectors work units and educational institutions to become the means in presenting academic information. The outcomes revealed the increase in business competitiveness as a whole, as well as the development of sustaining gems and jewelry.