Networks Governance for Community Development: Case Studies of Subdistrict Municipalities in Udon Thani Province.

Abstract

The objectives of this research were (1) to study the role of local government organization in managing a networks governance for community development, (2) to study methods of local administrative organizations to strengthen a networks governance for community development, and (3) to guide the development of networks governance for community development. This study was mixed-methods research based on quantitative research and qualitative research. The study results showed that the three selected subdistrict municipalities are similarly providing general contexts, and their projects and activities have been working as network governance with tangible results.

The research findings on the governance of the network for community development were as follows: (1) Strategy, the subdistrict municipalities emphasized reviews of strategies, policies, and programs both the national and regional level consisting to the country’s development policies. Then, the development strategies and the development plans of subdistrict municipalities were defined by the participants/ stakeholders involved in the meeting and listened to people's real problems and needs to make plans and projects by each area context. (2) Network design, the foundation of every project, was designed to set up the structural relationship and network to all sectors. The subdistrict municipalities performed as a core of the network or network topology as a consultative model, which is a state initiative, or being network operator in government operations that allowing people to participate in municipality projects and to drive various development projects for solving public problems or to join in projects that benefit their communities. (3) Network connection, public relations were provided to people to receive information and stimulated their conscience to participate in various projects based on information technology through the mediums that can communicate and coordinate with networks such as Line, Facebook, and radio stations. (4) Credibility, there were different actions among the subdistrict municipalities, but the evaluation of performance would be consistent with various projects using survey forms. (5) Human Resource Development, Si That Subdistrict Municipality, and Na Ngua Subdistrict Municipality relied on meeting to understand and prepare before operating the projects to minimize defects and invited outside speakers to provide knowledge. Nong Bua Subdistrict Municipality emphasized learning to take the lesson learned from other local government organizations through field trips.

This study’s suggestions were (1) the three selected subdistrict municipalities should aware and emphasize the construction of mechanisms and processes for driving the governance of the network continuously. It relies on informality in the civil society sector as the main driver and drives the transformation by changing the top-down to the plane relationship. The subdistrict municipalities openly need to provide opportunities for all sectors to provide or share ideas for searching and proposing issues of needs for improvement apart from the projects in typical regular work or function works of the local government organization. (2) The sub-district municipalities should effort to build an institutional (institutionalization) for network governance in the area.