PAPANIKA DHAMMA APPLICATION FOR PROMOTING ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP OF LAMSAMKAEW TOWN MUNICIPALITY, AT LAMLUKKA DISTRICT IN PATHUMTHANI PROVINCE

Abstract

This research aimed to: 1. examine the level of leadership among municipal administrators in Lam Sam Kaew Municipality, Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani Province; 2. investigate the relationship between Papañika Dhamma and the leadership of those administrators; and 3. propose an application of Papañika Dhamma to enhance leadership capacity. A mixed-methods approach was employed. The quantitative phase utilized a questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.979, distributed to a sample of 210 participants selected using Taro Yamane’s formula. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. For the qualitative phase, in-depth interviews were conducted with five key stakeholder groups scholars or practitioners in public administration and Buddhism, municipal executives, civil servants, and service users with two informants from each group, totaling ten individuals. The qualitative tools included a structured interview with open-ended questions, and contextual content analysis was employed to support the quantitative findings.

The study found that: 1. the overall leadership level was rated as very high; 2. Papañika Dhamma showed a strong positive correlation with leadership; and 3. the application of Papañika Dhamma in leadership development encompassed three core dimensions: Cakkhuma possessing clear vision, transparency, and effective communication; Vituro demonstrating strong management and problem-solving skills; and Nissayasampanno exhibiting good interpersonal relations and a commitment to cultivating ethical values within the community.