Guidelines for Enhancing the Capacity of Social Entrepreneurs in Phop Phra District, Tak Province

Abstract

This study aimed to (1) examine the factors influencing the potential of social enterprise entrepreneurs in Phop Phra District, Tak Province; (2) develop a model for social enterprise entrepreneurs in the district; and (3) produce a user manual for applying the developed model. A mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative research, was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with relevant establishments and questionnaires distributed to entrepreneurs. The target population consisted of social enterprise entrepreneurs in Phop Phra District, selected purposively based on their knowledge, expertise, and experience. For the quantitative phase, 400 entrepreneurs were included, while the qualitative data were obtained from five entrepreneurs who had operated their businesses for no fewer than two years.

The research instruments comprised: (1) interview forms, (2) questionnaires, and (3) focus group discussions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including percentages, means, and standard deviations, together with inferential statistics such as exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and deductive reasoning.

The findings revealed that most respondents were male, under 35 years of age, had educational levels below a bachelor’s degree, possessed less than five years of work experience, had operated their enterprises for fewer than five years, and employed fewer than 50 staff members. Multiple regression analysis using the stepwise method indicated that four independent variables significantly predicted business success at the 0.05 level: entrepreneurial traits (ETP), management (M), service business marketing related to social enterprise (SBC), and knowledge and technology (T). The regression model yielded an adjusted R² of 0.673, confirming strong predictive power. Specifically, an increase in knowledge and technology (T) contributed to a 0.355-unit increase in business success, followed by service business marketing (SBC) with a 0.280-unit increase, entrepreneurial traits (ETP) with a 0.169-unit increase, and management (M) with a 0.118-unit increase. These results demonstrate that knowledge and technology had the greatest influence on the success of social enterprises in Phop Phra District, followed by marketing, entrepreneurial traits, and management, respectively.