GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING THE EFFICIENCY OF THE VILLAGE COMMITTEE MEDIATION (VMC) IN KHAM THALE SO DISTRICT, NAKHON RATCHASIMA PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: 1. to examine the level of effectiveness of dispute mediation and conciliation conducted by Village Committees (VCs) in Kham Thale So District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province; and 2. to explore guidelines for enhancing the efficiency of their operations. A mixed-methods research design was employed. For the quantitative component, data were collected via questionnaires from a sample of 232 Village Committee members and analyzed using mean and standard deviation. The qualitative component involved in-depth interviews with 11 key informants, with the data subsequently analyzed through content analysis.

The research findings revealed that: 1. The overall effectiveness of dispute mediation and conciliation was at a high level. The dimension with the highest mean score was mediation resources, while the dimension with the lowest mean score was training and skill development. 2. Development guidelines should emphasize systematic capacity building, focusing on legal knowledge, communication skills, and ethics. This should be implemented alongside budget support, information technology integration, and the development of clear yet flexible mediation processes.