COMPETENCY IN STRATEGIC PLANNING OF POLICY AND PLANNING ANALYSTS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICE SUPPORT

Abstract

Public sector organizations are increasingly expected to possess strong adaptive capacity to drive national development in alignment with the 20-Year National Strategic Plan of Thailand (2018–2037). Strategic planning in governmental agencies is directly linked to human capital, particularly the competencies of policy and planning analysts who play a key role in translating organizational visions into actionable strategies. This study aimed to examine the competency in strategic planning and its influencing factors among policy and planning analysts under the Department of Health Service Support (DHSS). The sample comprised 282 personnel, divided into three groups: 66 policy and planning analysts, 129 colleagues, and 87 supervisors. Data were collected using a competency assessment instrument specifically developed for policy and planning analysts. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics including one-sample t-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression analysis were employed, with statistical significance set at 0.05. Results revealed that the overall competency in strategic planning was at a good level (78.7%, Mean = 4.18, SD = 0.81, 95% CI = 4.01–4.28). The key predictors of competency included supportive and motivational factors, attitudes toward organizational values, and organizational knowledge, which collectively explained 71.3% of the variance in strategic planning competency (R² = 0.713). These findings suggest that capacity development for policy and planning analysts should focus on enhancing motivation, strengthening organizational values, and enriching organizational knowledge simultaneously, thereby improving the overall effectiveness of strategic planning within the DHSS.