IDENTITY AND WISDOM CONTEXT OF GROUP MANAGEMENT AND TO CREATE A GROUP MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT MODEL THROUGH A PARTICIPATORY PROCESS TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE STRENGTH OF BAN NA SIEW COMMUNITY SILK WEAVING GROUP, MUEANG DISTRICT, CHAIYAPHUM PROVINCE.

Abstract

          The purposes of this research were to study the identity and wisdom context of group management and to create a group management development model through a participatory process to build sustainable strength of Ban Na Siew Community Silk Weaving Group, Mueang District, Chaiyaphum Province. The findings revealed that the local silk weaving wisdom context was divided into three period. First, it was the period when people performed silk weaving individually. Women in the community grew mulberries, raised silkworms, weaved silk cloth for family members to wear to attend important ceremonies, and use as souvenirs for special people visiting their family. Emphasis was on natural production processes and use of local wisdom inherited from generation to generation such as dyeing from the color of bark, heartwood, lac and mud, making it a comfortable and durable silk cloth to wear. The most popular silk pattern was called “Dok Siew”, which was designed from the village’s tree, making it different from other community silk patterns. But over time, few people performed silk weaving in the community. There were no successors, so local silk weaving wisdom gradually disappeared. In the second period, during the post-harvest period, women in the community had more free time, so they looked for a part-time job to increase income for the family. Therefore, they started to grow mulberry, raise silkworms, weave silk with the popular designs. They bought ready-made silk threads from other communities. The dyed colors were changed to more synthetic colors. The distribution channels were through word of mouth and various souvenir shops. There was no formal group formation. The third period was the group formation period. When the government initiated a project of One Tambon One Product (OTOP), Ban Na Siew Women’s Weaving Group was established from Na Siew Subdistrict Administrative Organization. As a result, the group’s silk products were distributed to various market such as OTOP events. In the context of group management, the production of silk still lacked the identity of the ancient wisdom from the ancestors, making it not outstanding and different from other silk communities. Regarding the group management, there was no clear group structure. There was only main leader, Mrs. Mukda, driving the group. Therefore, the group members operated the weaving work and sale individually without knowing their roles. Little participation was gained from the group members and the community. Direct sales were the marketing channels. The group management development model is to create a management  by structuring the group and clearly defining positions of authority and responsibility, promoting knowledge in overall group management and finance and accounting, developing silk production by restoring the roots of community wisdom and identity to produce local silk fabrics with various styles that are fashionable. Online marketing and customer management are operated. The   participatory development activities are organized among community leaders, group members and people in the community. A participatory network is established to be a network of knowledge in jointly promoting and developing the local silk weaving group at Ban Na Siew, Muang District, Chaiyaphum Province.