THE INFLUENCE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT, AND ORGANIZATIONAL AGILITY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF USED CAR BUSINESSES IN THAILAND

Abstract The used car industry is a vital segment within the automotive sector. This business is characterized by continuous shifts in car models, designs, and technologies, influencing customers who prioritize new, modern vehicles to purchase the latest models in response to these changes. Operating in today’s business environment entails navigating ever-evolving external factors, both predictable through data processing techniques and unpredictable. The objectives of this study are to: 1) Assess the levels of entrepreneurship, knowledge management, organizational agility, and business performance in Thailand’s used car industry. 2) Analyze the influence of entrepreneurship, knowledge management, and organizational agility on the performance of used car businesses in Thailand. 3) Develop a performance model for the used car business sector in Thailand. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative research. In the quantitative phase, the sample consisted of 300 members of the Thai Association of Used Car Entrepreneurs, including executives, association presidents, board members, and general members. The sample size was determined using the criterion of 20 times the number of observed variables, and multi-stage random sampling was applied. Data were collected via questionnaires and analyzed using structural equation modeling. For the qualitative phase, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 key informants, including executives, association presidents, board members, and industry experts in Thailand’s used car business. The findings reveal that: 1) The levels of entrepreneurship, knowledge management, and organizational agility are high, while the performance level of the used car business is moderate. 2) entrepreneurship, knowledge management, and organizational agility statistically impact business performance at the 0.05 level. 3) The researcher developed A performance model for Thailand’s used car businesses, named the EKOBp Model (E = Entrepreneurship, K = Knowledge Management, O = Organizational Agility, B = Business Performance). In addition, the qualitative results suggest that to enhance the performance of used car businesses in Thailand, companies should implement digital sales and marketing platforms, establish standardized pricing and after-sales service systems, leverage information technology for sharing car details and promotions via websites and social media, and train employees on applying new knowledge related to innovations and technologies to maximize service skills. This study’s findings offer strategic insights for enhancing the future performance of Thailand’s used car industry.