BUDDHIST INNOVATION FOR PROMOTE MANAGEMENT OF FERTILIZER BUSINESS OPERATORS IN KANCHANABURI PROVINCE

Abstract

This research article aimed to: 1. study the management of fertilizer business entrepreneurs, 2. study the factors affecting the management of fertilizer business entrepreneurs, and 3. propose Buddhist innovations to promote the management of fertilizer business entrepreneurs in Kanchanaburi Province. A mixed-methods research design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches was employed. The population consisted of personnel from fertilizer businesses. The sample comprised 113 individuals selected according to Yamane’s formula, and 18 key informants (monks and individuals) were selected. The research instruments included a questionnaire with a reliability value of 0.942 and structured interviews aligned with the objectives. Data was collected personally by the researcher with a 100% response rate, then analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and verified through a focus group discussion.

The research results showed that: 1. The overall management of fertilizer business entrepreneurs was at a high level ( = 3.84, S.D. = 0.53). When considering each dimension, 8 dimensions were at a high level, ranked by mean as follows: Products and Services, followed by Inbound Logistics, Marketing and Sales, Business Structure, Outbound Logistics, Human Resource Management, Interdepartmental Operations, and Procurement/Factors of Production; while 1 dimension was at a moderate level: Technology Development. 2. Regarding factors affecting the management of fertilizer business entrepreneurs, it was found that: 2.1 Internal organizational management factors significantly affected management at the 0.01 statistical level in three aspects, ranked as follows: Virtue (Moral/Ethics), Money, and Materials; 2.2 The Bala 5 (Five Powers) principle significantly affected management at the 0.01 and 0.05 statistical levels, ranked as follows: Saddha (Faith/Conviction), Viriya (Perseverance/Effort), Panna (Wisdom/Knowledge), Samadhi (Concentration/Focus), and Sati (Mindfulness/Awareness) and 3. Regarding Buddhist innovations to promote the management of fertilizer business entrepreneurs in Kanchanaburi Province, it was found that entrepreneurs integrated Buddhist principles specifically the Bala 5 to ensure holistic management in both secular and spiritual aspects (Saddha, Viriya, Sati, Samadhi, and Panna). Furthermore, internal management factors were applied as a foundation to promote the success of fertilizer business entrepreneurs in Kanchanaburi Province, achieving both profitability and fairness.