Abstract:
The study entitled "Guidelines for developing and raising the standard of the "One Tambon One Product" (OTOP): A case study of Phayao Province has an aim to seek a way to develop the products under the OTOP project in order to have a higher standard. The target participants used were 18 groups of the chairmen or the owners of the products (i.e. two groups of Muang District, two groups of Mae Chai District, one group of Dok Khamtai District, three groups of Pong District, three groups of Chiang Kham District, and seven groups of Phu Sang District). The data were obtained from structured interviews (using an in-depth interview approach) and the data analysis process was done by the use of interactive analysis and holistic analysis.
Results of the data analysis suggested four possible aspects to be used to develop the OTOP's standard. They included: 1) Groups and the management within the group - the groups have to have a structure and their group management should consist of production, marketing, finance and accounting,and human resource management; 2) Members and their participation - the groups need to have a monthly meeting to brainstorm ideas, and they should participate in training to self-develop and to gain knowledge for the group's product development; 3) The assistance from public private sectors beginning with the management within the production group, the procurement of raw materials, marketing, market seeking, price setting, accounting (by providing easy accounting instruction and requesting the group to take responsibility as well as training them to request various standards used in certification and selection; 4) Leaders who possess seven important characteristics including: 1. being honest, sincere, and straightforward 2. being flexible and always be open to listen to others' opinions; 3. being prepared for themselves and other members; 4. being passionate to learn; 5. being encouraged to decide and knowing how to deal with conflicts; 6. having a vision; and 7. being concerned about public interests. From the results received, this study has some suggestions for the OTOP products that have the same and lower standard levels. That is, there should be a study concerning more about the groups; their administration within the group, their learning and members' participation, different supports that they received from public private sectors, and their development of entrepreneurs to have the seven characteristics of the leaders as mentioned above. "