Your experience doing business in Thailand

[djon451]

Hello everybody!

I lived in Mukdahan and curerntly reside near Khon Kaen (off-and-on). I am a professor working on a research report and ask for the help of small business owners or other persons who are operating a business in Thailand. I have done more than a dozen personal interviews, read relevant literature and now hope that your replies help me get a better picture of this topic.

My question is simple - what is your experience doing business in Thailand? I'm interested in war stories on any topic you choose, from dealing with employees (Thai or Faraang) customers, partnering with other businesses, navigating the Thai bureaucracy -- any experience you care to share as a business owner.

Anything that is posted will be compiled into all of the other responses I have and presented as general patterns -- completely anonymous examples.

I am happy to share my personal email address if you would rather keep your replies off this public channel. Either way, I thank those who reply!!

Kind regards,

Jonathan

[onthemoon]

Your research seems to be very general. Academic research is usually focussed on something; what is the title or the purpose of your research paper?

[djon451]

Yes, the research is very general because the nature of the research is qualitative. Such research often starts with the question "what is going on?" Perhaps later, some pattern of practices can be identified and then research projects might be -- as you say -- much more focused. For example, a hypothesis test, right?

But in this case, my research is all about stories and experiences from the field, from the "boots on the ground."

From the resarcher perspective, this type of work is more difficult because a lot of stories have to be collected and compared to find the patterns (practices, problems, habits, cultural differences) that define what might be the common experiences of those who have been in practice for some time.

The purpose is to perhaps offer some guidance (education, practices, things to avoid) so each new entrant into the Thai busines will have some insights on how to be more successful.

Currently, I have interviewed about 20 foreigners and Thai business people -- that is about 26 hours of audio taped interviews / discussions -- and I have a number of research reports that mention some characteristics of what it is like for foreigners to conduct business in Thailand.

Hope that helps.

PS - the work will be published in an open source online journal, free of charge. I'm not doing this for money.

Kind regards --

J

[CharlieH]

At request of Op

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