Convergence of Mobile Learning Technology and Knowledge Management System Innovation for SME Clustering

With the emerging of new features of smart phone e. g. interactive multi-touch display and the popularity of social network sites, mobile learning technologies are more user-friendly than ever before. We found the opportunity for innovation to develop mobile Knowledge Management System (mKMS). The innovation will facilitate the flow of information/knowledge across actors in the cluster to create competitive capability for Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) cluster based on new findings and implications policy (Porter, 2008). This is accomplished with the help of cluster development process. Key success factors of the SME cluster development process are knowledge sharing and collaboration. Mobile learning and mobile knowledge management are similar in nature as they are merging as E-learning and KM does and they often use the same technology and tools (Bajpai, 2011). We will explore theoretical fundamentals of mobile learning technology and social network to exploit all constituents and advocates from academia, experts, and practitioners of orchid industrial clusters in Thailand. This paper proposes the mKMS architecture, which embedded an innovative blended training system (BTS) as the result of study. The study aims to establish a holistic strategic framework that will enhance effective communication and relationship among actors in the orchid demand-supply chain. The convergence of technologies, knowledge management, and collaboration in life-long learning will serve as an operating platform to propel the Thai orchid industry to be the world leader. It is also a sustainable tool for knowledge acquisition, repository and creation for SME cluster. As we are in the beginning of the study, this paper presents the finding of the perceptions of using the smartphone technology and the benefits it affords in the industry from a small group of growers. The benefit of this research work is a capstone mKMS of SME cluster for the ever-growing Thai orchid industry. In the next stage, we will conduct ethnography and exploratory research including an extensive literature review, cluster data analysis, survey, observation, and participation to discover unmet need and requirements for developing mKMS prototype.