Transformation toward an "Innovative Thailand"

Abstract

This article aims to study the changing role environments ofThailand and how they will influence the development ofinnovation there, andproposes a way to develop Thailand towards being a more innovative cOlmtly. In order to study Thailand's capability for the creation ofinnovation, the author has reviewed in-depth interviews ofexecutives fi'om variolls sectors related to the issue ofinnovation in Thailand. The results show that the more that changes in the external environments occur, the more innovative development is required. However, even though many Thai organizations and Thailand itselfhave faced high pressure fiAom these external environments, they still have been unable to overcome problems associated with the creation ofinnovation; nor have they been able to achieve a competitive advantage. From the study, the author has found that the majorfactor that wouldmake Thailand an innovative countly is to develop the vision ofThai leaders regarding the acknowledgernent ofchange andsupport. This would lead to changes in Thailand's development strategies by strengthening the positive differences andb.v emphasizing the advantages of being in the countly in order to create high value products and services, by altering the education system to encourage tlzinhng skills, and by integrating the linkage among the public sector, the private sector, and the educational sector.