Title: Assessing local government transformational leadership in Thailand

Authors: Narong Kiettikunwong

Addresses: College of Local Administration, Khon Kaen University, 123 Khon Kaen University, Muang, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand

Abstract: Local government organisations (LGOs) have powers and duties designated under the Thai constitution to manage public services. As a result, local government leaders (LGLs) play important role in supporting LGO performance. This research aims to determine the degree to which the transformational leadership model (TFL) outlined by Posner and Kouzes (1988) is reflected in the practices of LGLs in the recently created province of Nong Bua Lamphu, a newly created province in Northeast Thailand. A mixed methods approach was used to identify whether leadership practices outlined by Kouzes and Posner are in evidence among LGLs. Based on Kouzes and Posner's leadership practices inventory (LPI), the results reveal that all LGLs in Nong Bua Lamphu exhibited characteristics of all five aspects of this model of leadership. The study's findings may be instructive in examinations of leadership practices elsewhere in Thailand and other developing countries, particularly among those pursuing decentralisation schemes.

Keywords: change agents; local governance; transformational leadership; institutional performance; decentralisation; organisational behaviour; role conflict; employee thriving; organisational stress; leadership strategies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPSPM.2024.142346

International Journal of Public Sector Performance Management, 2024 Vol.14 No.3/4, pp.491 - 505

Accepted: 22 Dec 2020
Published online: 25 Oct 2024 *

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