Competency Development of Executive Personnel in Sub-district Administrative Organizations in Nakhon Phanom Province

Abstract

Background and Aims: Executive competencies refer to specific behavioral traits required for local government. Effective leadership positions are essential for management roles to guide the group or subordinates so they can carry out their responsibilities effectively and in line with the goals of the local government agency. The objectives of this study were 1) to assess the competency level of executive personnel in Sub-district Administrative Organizations in Nakhon Phanom Province, 2) to examine the factors affecting the performance of executive personnel in Sub-district Administrative Organizations in Nakhon Phanom Province, and 3) to propose guidelines for developing the competencies of executive personnel in Sub-district Administrative Organizations in Nakhon Phanom Province.

Methodology: This research was quantitative. The sample group consisted of 413 sub-district employees in executive positions under the Sub-district Administrative Organization in Nakhon Phanom Province, across 81 locations. The confidence level was 95 percent, and the acceptable error was determined to be .05 using Taro Yamane's formula, resulting in a sample size of 204. Stratified random sampling was employed, and random sampling was performed within each Sub-district Administrative Organization until the required number was reached. The instrument used to collect data was a questionnaire with a reliability value 0.94. Statistical analyses included frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis, with statistical significance set at the .05 level.

Results: The results of the study indicated that (1) the overall competency level of executive personnel in Sub-district Administrative Organizations in Nakhon Phanom Province was high. (2) Factors affecting the competency of executive personnel in Sub-district Administrative Organizations in Nakhon Phanom Province included experiences in holding executive positions, as well as knowledge and technology application aspects, which had a predictive power of 34.90% with statistical significance at the .05 level. And (3) Suggestions for developing the competency of executive personnel in Sub-district Administrative Organizations in Nakhon Phanom Province emphasized that change leadership should involve learning and adapting to understand current changes and applying modern technology. Leadership ability should include behaving appropriately as a leader, being a good role model for subordinates, and creating trustworthiness. Regarding human development capabilities, opportunities, and promotions should be given to personnel to increase their knowledge related to their work responsibilities, such as through training in related courses, organizing seminars, study tours, or promoting further education at a higher level. In terms of strategic thinking, executive personnel should have thorough knowledge and understanding of various matters, be able to analyze the overall picture of operations and be able to transfer knowledge and understanding of practice guidelines to subordinates so that they understand and work in the same direction, ensuring that operations achieve the organization's vision and goals.

Conclusion: The study found that high competency was exhibited by executive staff in the sub-district administrative organizations of Nakhon Phanom Province. This competency was largely influenced by experience, knowledge, and technology application. The study recommended ways to further increase competency, including opportunities for human development, strategic thinking to align with the organization's vision and goals, and change leadership.