THE EFFICIENCY OF WORK PERFORMANCE COMPETENCIES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL IN ADVANCING TOWARD A CONCRETE SMART LOCALITY: EVIDENCE FROM MAHA SARAKHAM PROVINCE

บทคัดย่อ

This study addresses the limited empirical understanding of work performance competencies within local government organizations, particularly in the context of advancing toward a concrete smart locality. Despite the growing emphasis on smart governance, existing studies have paid insufficient attention to organizational and managerial factors that shape personnel competencies at the local level. Accordingly, this study aims to: (1) examine the level of work performance competencies of personnel in local government organizations in Mueang District, Maha Sarakham Province; and (2) analyze organizational and managerial factors influencing such competencies. A quantitative research design was employed. The sample consisted of 175 civil servants and contract employees working in local government organizations in Mueang District, Maha Sarakham Province. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation analysis, and regression analysis. The results indicate that the overall level of work performance competency was high, particularly in terms of job knowledge, coordination ability, responsibility, and ethical integrity. More importantly, organizational and managerial factors—namely task clarity, coworker relationships, work environment, managerial motivation, and evaluation systems—were found to have significant positive effects on work performance competencies. These factors collectively accounted for 65.40 percent of the variance in work performance competencies. The findings underscore the critical role of internal organizational conditions in enhancing personnel competencies, thereby supporting the effective advancement of smart local governance.