The Roles and Leadership of Sub-District and Village Headmen: Affecting Sustainable Community Development in the Area of Kong Krailat District, Sukhothai Province

Abstract

          The purposes of this research were: 1) to study the roles and leadership of sub-district and village headmen; 2) to compare personal factors affecting opinions on their performance; 3) to study guidelines for developing their roles and leadership affecting the success of sustainable community development. It was mixed methods research. The population used in the questionnaire consisted of 338 sub-district and village headmen, and assistant village headmen; and for the semi- structured interview there were 18 key informants. Data were analyzed using percentages, means, standard deviations, t-test, F-test, and content analysis in qualitative research.

           The research showed the followings:

1. The roles of sub-district and village headmen were overall at a high level (x̅= 4.35, S.D. = 0.11). With consideration of each aspect, reporting to the government was at the highest average and regarding criminal cases was at the lowest average. Their leadership was overall at a high level (x̅= 4.34, D. = 0.15); with consideration of each aspect, the highest average was leadership characteristics and the lowest average was situational leadership characteristics.
2. The personal factors consisted of different occupations, income, status, job positions; and holding the position affected opinions on their performance in the area of Kong Krailat District, Sukhothai province differently at the statistically significant level of 0.05.
3. The guidelines for developing their roles and leadership should include their abilities in good leadership characteristics: supporting, promoting and developing skills in crime case management, dispute resolutions, illegal act prevention, social organization, and assistance provision for those suffered.