DEVELOPING A KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT MODEL FOR SELF-RELIANT COMMUNITIES

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to develop a knowledge management (KM) model for self-reliant communities, to examine satisfaction with KM operation of self-reliant communities, and to determine factors of success in KM for self-reliant communities. The focus areas and groups were Ban Nam Kliang and Ban Lao Rat Phatthana, Amphoe Wapi Pathum, Changwat Maha Sarakham comprising 8 focus organizations of self-reliant communities: agricultural cooperative group of Nam Kliang Wiang Chai civic society, mulberry and silk raising group, biological fertilizer group, Thai traditional massage group, toxin-free rice production group, herbal Thai noodle transformation group, cultural conservation group, and savings group with a focus group of 42 persons. The methodology was a mixed methods design, including an application of research and development, participatory action research, as well as quantitative research. The following results were obtained: 1) (a) Developing the KM model for self-reliant communities comprised a community preparation stage with 3 activities: the stage of creating motivation, awareness, participation promoting, and visions with 3 activities, the stage of making plans/developing team potentials with 4 activities, and the stage of implementing plans in practices and work development. (b) The outcome of the KM model trial: KM had sources of knowledge from problems, raising questions, and action by solving problems; the learning process have sources of creating, classifying, storing, implementing, sharing and evaluating knowledge; there must be KM centers for driving the self-reliant communities to share knowledge in both real and simulative forums. 2) Their satisfaction with KM operation was at high level. 3) The factors of success in KM were enthusiasm about learning, researcher and participant leadership, participant team's ability to work, participatory