Members Participation Model of Cluster Business Management: A under The Federation of Thai Industry

Abstract

The purposes of this research were 1) to study the participation model of members in fashion and lifestyle cluster, the Federation of Thai Industries, 2) to synthesize the participation model of members in fashion and lifestyle cluster, the Federation of Thai Industries, and 3) to synthesize the strategies for member participation in cluster business management.

The research is a qualitative research. The data was collected by interviewing the group with the members of the committee of 9 industry groups, 36 samples. The interview data were used to synthesize the participation model by using diamond model analysis, SWOT analysis model, and TOWS Matrix analysis. The result of synthesis data was proposed to the cluster consultants in order to choose the suitable model and member participation strategy.

The results of the research found that 1) The model of member participation in the business group management comes from the industry group representative system and elected one of their members to be Cluster Management Committee based on the regulations of the Federation of Thai Industries. They are responsible for setting activities, meeting agendas, and informing the general members to participate in the cluster activities. 2) Based on the synthesis of appropriate member participation models in the Fashion and Lifestyle Cluster, it was found that the cluster member participation was limited from the regulations of the Federation of Thai Industries. Meanwhile, members have the opportunity to seek cooperation between the industry itself, as appropriate, and relationships within the supply chain, and 3) From the synthesis of member participation strategies in cluster business management, it was found that there were four sub-strategies such as the proactive strategy emphasizes participation in supply chain activities, and cluster product promotion activities with the government sector. The passive strategy emphasizes participation in new market-seeking activities and negotiations with financial institutions, both public and private sectors. The corrective strategy emphasizes participation with the government in negotiations to resolve trade privileges with trading partners, and the preventive strategies emphasize participation in finding new sources of raw materials and proposed business projects for government funding.