Guidelines for Developing Creative Leadership among Directors of Child Development Centers under Local Administrative Organizations in Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

This research is a mixed methods study with two objectives: 1) The first phase examines the current state, desired state, and needs of creative leadership among directors of early childhood development centers under local government organizations in Nakhon Ratchasima province. The study sample includes 110 early childhood development center directors and 144 teachers (civil service teachers, government employes, contract teachers, and personnel working within early childhood development centers), totaling 254 people. The sample size was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan table (1970), and stratified random sampling was employed. The research instruments used were a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, a semi-structured interview, and a suitability and feasibility assessment. The statistics used for data analysis were percentage, mean, standard deviation, and the Prioritized Needs Index Modified (PNIModified). In addition, 9 experts were interviewed specifically. The research findings revealed that: 1) The overall current state was at a moderate level ( x̄ = 3.63, S.D. = 0.45) and when considering each aspect individually, it was found that all aspects were at a moderate level. The top 3 rankings were: creativity ( x̄ = 3.73, S.D. = 0.48) is the highest average, followed by motivation (x̄  = 3.70, S.D. = 0.42) and teamwork ( x̄ = 3.65, S.D. = 0.44) for imagination ( x̄ = 3.61, S.D. = 0.45) and flexibility ( x̄ = 3.58, S.D. = 0.45) respectively. The lowest average was in the area of vision ( x̄ = 3.55, S.D. = 0.47) and the overall desired condition was moderate (  =34.86, S.D. = 0.28) and when considered by dimension, it was found that all dimensions were at a moderate level, with the top 3 being creativity ( x̄  = 3.91, S.D. = 0.25) is the side with the highest average. Following that, there are two sides: motivation (x̄  = 3.89, S.D. = 0.28) and teamwork (x̄  = 3.89, S.D. = 0.26) in terms of imagination (  = 3.87, S.D. = 0.30) and the flexibility aspect (x̄  = 3.84, S.D. = 0.31) respectively. The lowest average was in the area of vision (x̄  = 3.80, S.D. = 0.33) and the needs, ranked from highest to lowest, are: flexibility (PNIModified = 0.063). The needs, ranked from highest to lowest, are: flexibility (PNIModified = 0.072), imagination (PNIModified = 0.072), vision (PNIModified = 0.070), teamwork (PNIModified = 0.065), motivation (PNIModified = 0.051), and creativity (PNIModified = 0.048), respectively. Phase 2: Guidelines for Developing Creative Leadership in Directors of Early Childhood Development Centers under Local Administrative Organizations in Nakhon Ratchasima Province include a total of 6 areas and 18 guidelines: 1) Visionary Leadership (3 guidelines), 2) Flexibility (3 guidelines), 3) Imagination (3 guidelines), 4) Motivation (3 guidelines), 5) Teamwork (3 guidelines), and 6) Creativity (3 guidelines). The overall suitability of these 18 guidelines is moderate, with an average score of (x̄  = 3.45, S.D. = 0.51) and the possibility is very high, with an average of ( x̄ = 3.93, S.D. = 0.20).