Factors Affecting the Knowledge on Local Wisdom for the Handicraft in Phanat Nikhom District, Chonburi Province, Thailand

Abstract

The wicker handicraft is the local wisdom of the communities very essential for living. It represents the smart wisdom of local people in applying the things already existing in the communities to make the daily utensils beneficial for living. Besides, it can be seen that the wicker handicraft has existed for long time ago and has been continually developed by means of knowledge transfer from one generation to the following generations. The learning can be done by practicing, training, and telling. However, it lacks the system to record the information reflecting the learning accumulated and transferred from the past until present. Therefore, the knowledge transfer in the works is very important in maintaining such local wisdom. The results of study on the knowledge in the local wisdom works can be used in developing the process of knowledge transfer in the local wisdom of wicker handicraft more efficiently and sustainably. The researcher uses the mixed methodology which is the quantitative study to focus on finding the facts of information in numbers to confirm the correctness. The questionnaires are used for the data collection on 400 samples from the population in the municipal area of Phanat Nikhom District, Chonburi Province. The qualitative study is also conducted from the in-depth interview on 10 persons from the group of leaders and members. The data is analyzed by using the descriptive statistics including percentage, mean, standard deviation, and inferential analysis. The causal relationships are analyzed to find the relationships of factors of organization and the factors of knowledge in works. The research results reveal that the factors of organization in the leadership, technology, and communication including the organizational culture are all important to the knowledge in works. Such factors have direct influences on the effectiveness of development of local wisdom in handicraft. If it is supported, promoted, and developed in the knowledge process in the works which respond the organization’s demand appropriately. This can yield more efficiency and effectiveness. Therefore, these factors are necessary to be used in developing the knowledge in local wisdom for handicraft for the locality and community people to have continual development with the maximum efficiency.