Folk Wisdom Knowledge Management Model for Hand-Woven Cotton Fabric of Lua in the North of Thailand

Abstract

The research on Folk Wisdom Knowledge Management Model for Hand-Woven Cotton Fabric of Lua in the North of Thailand is focused on folk wisdom knowledge management for hand-woven cotton fabric of Lua at Ban Mued Long, Ban Tab Sub-district, Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province to gain the knowledge management model of folk wisdom on hand woven-cotton fabric of Lua in the North of Thailand. The objectives are 1) to study on state of knowledge management and necessary body of knowledge 2) to create the knowledge management model and 3) to evaluate such knowledge management model. Population scope and study methods comprise of 3 parts: 1) study of on state of knowledge management and necessary body of knowledge and 2) creating the knowledge management model from information acquired by interviewing 9 persons consisting of Lua people with hand-woven fabric skills, experts of Lua’s hand-woven fabric, and academics in this field and 3) to evaluate the mentioned knowledge management model by 7 persons consisting of knowledge management academics, hand-woven fabric experts, and stakeholders. The research result shows that the body of knowledge on hand-woven fabric of Lua, Ban Mued Long, Ban Tab Sub-district, Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province consists of 1) the body of knowledge on cotton fiber production, decoration on cotton fabric and cotton weaving 2) the body of knowledge on dyeing 3) the body of knowledge on fabric and utilization of hand-woven fabric. The acquired knowledge has been processed through 4 steps of knowledge management according to a conceptual framework on system model of knowledge management of Marquardt including 1) knowledge acquisition through observation, touch, research and comparison which refers to a starting material or an original object from ancient woven fabric in a family. Knowledge and understanding in basis of hand-woven fabric of Lua is also required. Such knowledge and understanding can be acquired through question and conversation with weavers or experts in weaving in the village. Recommendation, teaching, observance or imitating weavers in the village can also be applied. 2) knowledge creation through observation and experiment which are the way of self-learning and practice to build expertise that would require creativity within an original framework. This activity also includes learning weaving technique and new pattern development. Those could be acquired from knowledge acquisition and practical knowledge creation through observation and experiment to correspond to utilization demand and duration 3) informal knowledge sharing within the group which is talking, teaching and learning through villagers and the formal one through various forms of meetings, teaching and trainings that are organized by the community or government agencies or private sectors. Those learning events should have clear objectives, benefits and process. This also includes observation as another way of learning through rite and belief that are internally organized. This includes observation on costume in the rites, listening to stories or words used in the rites 4) knowledge application which can be executed by directly applying knowledge that has been acquired during knowledge acquisition, knowledge creation and knowledge sharing by oneself and choosing applicable knowledge to apply by oneself.