Competitive Strategies of Thai Contractors in Construction Project Management in the CLMV Countries

Abstract

CLMV countries, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, are potential overseas markets for Thai contractors. Since the CLMV countries are in the developing stage, there are many construction and infrastructure projects emerging in order to develop economic growth of those countries. Therefore, it is an opportunity for Thai contractors to enter the CLMV construction markets. The study aims 1) to study the conditions and factors underlying in the construction business and construction project management for Thai contractors who enter the CLMV countries, and 2) to establish the competitive construction management strategies that could be adopted by Thai contractors in the CLMV countries. This study is a qualitative research. The population is divided into 2 groups, one is the senior executives of Thai contractors who manage their construction projects in Laos or Myanmar, the other is the project owners or stakeholders in construction industry of the studied nations. Data collection instruments were the interview forms and data analysis used content analysis. Research findings revealed that the construction industry in CLMV countries are still in high demand of construction projects. Strengths of Thai contractors were time and quality management while weaknesses was price management. Therefore, Thai contractors should play their roles by using differentiation strategies and niche strategies. © 2019 The Authors. Published by Budapest University of Technology and Economics & Diamond Congress Ltd. Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the Creative Construction Conference 2019.