Guidelines for Enhancing Work Performance Based on Buddhist Psychology of Employees in Medium-Sized Enterprises in Bangkok

Abstract

This research aimed to: 1. examine Buddhist psychological concepts and theories related to promoting work performance among employees in medium-sized businesses in Bangkok; 2. analyze approaches to enhancing work performance based on Buddhist psychology; and 3. propose practical guidelines for promoting work performance based on Buddhist psychology. A qualitative research methodology was employed, comprising documentary research, in-depth interviews with 17 key informants purposively selected from three groups of experts in Buddhist studies, psychology/Buddhist psychology, and business administration, and focus group discussions with 12 experts from the same groups. The research instruments consisted of semi-structured interview questions and a focus group discussion guide. Instrument quality was verified through the Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) index, with values ranging from 0.80 to 1.00. Data were analyzed using content analysis, and trustworthiness was established through triangulation.

The findings revealed that: 1. the most appropriate Buddhist psychological principle for promoting work performance was the Five Strengths (Pañcabala)—faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom—which can be systematically integrated with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory; 2. approaches to enhancing work performance encompass four dimensions: internal employee factors, external organizational factors, performance-enhancing components, and Buddhist psychological development processes, emphasizing knowledge and skill development, teamwork, time management, problem-solving, mindfulness practice, and ethical cultivation; and 3. the proposed guidelines consist of seven key components: organizational leadership, personnel problem analysis, business problem synthesis, the Five Strengths (Pañcabala), Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory, and the 3 Ups Model, comprising Upskill (people development), UpScore (work performance development), and Upscale (organizational development)