Knowledge management for sufficiency economy philosophy relating to natural agriculture : a case study of a learning center of the new theory, amphoe sattahip, chonburi province
Abstract:
The purpose of this qualitative study were to examine a current implementation of Sufficiency Economy Philosophy in relation to natural agriculture and to investigate knowledge management of Sufficiency Economy relating to natural agriculture implemented by the learning center for the New Theory, located in Amphoe Sattahip, Chon Buri Province. An in-depth interview technique was used to collect the data from 20 employees, working for the learning center of the New Theory, who have implemented the new theories. The collected data were verified for their validity, reliability, and accuracy by a triangulation technique. Also, a content analysis technique was used to analyze the collected data. The results of the study were as follows:
1. It was found that the learning center has implemented Sufficiency Economy Philosophy in relation to natural agriculture in 5 tasks. These included soil improvement, production of fertilizer and pesticide, earth-worm raising for waste elimination and fertilizer production, natural vegetation, and conservation of seeds for natural agriculture. The implementation of the New Theory increased the employees level of knowledge and enhanced their learning.
2. Regarding knowledge management, it was shown that the subjects at the learning center had set their goals for knowledge management, including the development of people, work, and organization. There were exchanges of knowledge both inside and outside the learning center. These included the trainings from teachers, teaching from seniors to juniors, taking study field trips, discussing and exchanging ideas with people visiting the learning center, recalling and note-taking, self-created knowledge and knowledge gained from others.
3. Based on the results from this study, it was suggested that knowledge management (KM) should be included as one of the policies of the learning center with clear length of implementation and a concrete evaluation. Also, there should be an exchange of ideas among people, working for the learning center outsiders in order to continuously increase and enhance their level of knowledge, especially among those who have not had full understanding of knowledge management. Furthermore, there should be trainings for staff in the learning center on how to conduct knowledge management. These trainings could help to raise their awareness of the importance of knowledge management. This might result in the implementation, communication, and better understanding of knowledge management.