Development of Accounting System for Participatory Community : A Case Study of Khao Kai Nui community, Phang Nga Province

Abstract

The purposes of this research were to 1) study the general situation and practices of community participation in accounting system development, 2) examine problems and obstacles in community accounting system development, and 3) develop the accounting system for the participatory community.  In this research, quantitative and qualitative data were collected through purposive sampling, comprising 24 individuals associated with the community and 3 accounting experts. The research instruments included in-depth interviews, focus groups and questionnaires. The statistics used for data analysis were percentage, mean and standard deviation. The research findings revealed as follows. 1) The study of the general situation and practices of community participation showed that the community leaders and members had relatively limited knowledge and understanding of accounting due to a lack of suitable models and methods that aligned with the community's needs. 2) The study of problems and obstacles revealed issues with recorded transaction details lacking clarity and consistency, and no separation of income and payment. Obstacles also included a lack of cooperation from community members. 3) Satisfaction with the development of the participatory community accounting system was at a high level with an average score of 4.14. This high level of satisfaction resulted from the overall development of the accounting system, increased knowledge and understanding of various documents/forms, and the ability to learn and apply accounting methods for beneficial use. Additionally, it enabled community members to manage their own accounting for long-term financial planning.