THE ETHICAL LEADERSHIP OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP PATHUM THANI PROVINCE
Corruption in Thailand is profound at the level of local administrative organizations, whose personnel are elected by the people who expect them to perform duties with integrity. The objectives of this research were to: 1) study the levels of ethical organizational culture, ethical organizational climate, organizational justice, individual personality, and ethical leadership; 2) test the influence of causal factors, namely, ethical organizational culture, ethical organizational climate, organizational justice, individual personality on ethical leadership; and 3) propose guidelines to promote ethical leadership among local administration members in Pathum Thani province. This study used both quantitative and qualitative research methods. In quantitative research, the sample consisted of 420 executives and members of local administration organizations in Pathum Thani province. The tool used to collect data was a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using a structural equation model. In qualitative research, in-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 16 key informants from 3 groups including 4 government officials, 8 local administrative organization executives and 4 community members or leaders. The data was analyzed by content analysis. The results showed that 1) ethical organizational culture, ethical organizational climate, organizational justice, individual personality, and ethical leadership were all at high levels; 2) ethical organizational climate, ethical organizational culture, individual personality, and organizational justice had direct effects on ethical leadership at the .01 level of significance, respectively; and 3) ways to promote ethical leadership among local administration members in Pathum Thani province should consist of: (1) create an ethical culture in the organization with transparent organizational management, set penalties for members who misconduct the code of conduct, and give opportunities to the public and stakeholders to inspect the organizational administration; (2) set clear rules, codes of conduct, and operating procedures for the organization; (3) treat members of the organization equally according to fair criteria; and (4) encourage and support members to express their opinions on the malpractice or unethical behavior against the codes of conduct set by the organization; and (5) motivate members with honesty, justice, responsibility, and credibility by honoring, complimenting, and rewarding. Hence, the government and related parties should promote and encourage local administration members to have more ethical leadership.
Ethical Organizational Culture / Ethical Organizational Climate/ Organizational Justice/ Ethical Leadership / Local Administration Organization Membership