Leadership Behavior Styles of the Chiefs of the Sub-district Administrative Organization in Chanthaburi

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to study the leadership behavior styles and the leadership behavior characteristics: high initiating structure and high consideration of the Chiefs of the Sub-district Administrative Organization (SDAO) in Chanthaburi.  Descriptive research approach by surveying point of views of the local people nearby was use in this study consisted of their colleagues and the people in the sub-districts.  Thirteen SDAOs were recruited in the study by direct selection and simple random sampling for at least SDAO from each district covering all levels of SDAOs. Ten persons were selected as subjects from each SDAO by specific and accidental methods including SDAOีs personnel officers and political officers, health personnels , health volunteers and people in the area. Therefore there were 130 subjects recruited in this study. Behavior questionnaire constructed by the researcher according to the LBDQ Model (Leadership Behavior Descriptive Questionnaire Model of the Ohio State University, U.S.A.). This research instrument was separated into 2 behavior categories of the Chiefs of SDAOs: Initiating structure and consideration. Moreover, the Ohio State Leadership Behavioral Quadrants was applied for identifying Leadership styles. Data was collected from February to March 2008, and analyzed by computing frequency, percentage, means, and factor analysis with varimax method. 

The real leadership behaviors of the Chiefs of the SDAOs appeared close to the subjects’expectation. It was also found that real leadership behaviors of the Chiefs were differentiated into2 styles: 46.15percent as “high initiating structure and high consideration” and 53.85 percent as “low initiating structure and low consideration”. The vital behaviors of the “high initiating structureand high consideration” groups, rated highly were in the order of

1)  Encourage civilian public sharing in community (0.50).

2)  Communicate and work with other agencies for community development (0.47).

3)  Be rational to the colleague and others (0.42).

4)  Maintain good discipline in work and management (0.42).

5)  Be able to analyze all issues correctly (0.39).

6)  Be self confident (0.39).

7)  Make appropriate and quick decision (0.35).

8)  Be initiative and put into practice (0.33).                 

These results indicate that the Chief of SDAO with “high Initiating structure and high consider-ation”, would pay attention to develop the process of participatory approach that will be beneficialto health system development which needs people empowerment at all levels.