Wisdom management of the plastic straw rope products

Abstract

         The objectives of this study were to investigate wisdom management of the plastic straw rope product development group in Plak Chumsaeng Community, Ban Phru Sub-district, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, and the use of their wisdom in creating new products from plastic straw ropes. The data of this qualitative study were collected from in-depth interviews and participatory observations with two main groups of informants. A group of 16 product makers, and a group of 56 product users consisted of three sub-groups, namely, a group of 20 teenagers, a group of 10 working-age people, and a group of 10 elderly people.

The results of the study revealed that the group of plastic straw ropes product makers was founded by a group of people in the community. They had good group management with emphasis on members’ participation, and were financially supported by Mueang Ban Phru Municipality. With assistance from the researchers, the group developed new products from plastic straw ropes. The new products created from their wisdom included hairclips, headbands, combs, etc. These new products helped increase the number of consumers, which also increased income of group members. This is the pride they can pass down to the younger generations in their community