The Influence of Leadership and Work Morale on Work Performance of Academic Support Staff of the Upper Northeastern Rajabhat University, Thailand

Abstract

              Organization concentrates on enhancing staff performance through human resource development in order to achieve its goals. Effective leader provides appropriate work support and morale to retain staffs and increase work performance in the long run. Most universities in Thailand including Rajabhat Universities have realized the importance of work morale and explore such relationship. This research study aimed to investigate the influence of leadership and work morale on work performance of academic support staff of the Upper Northeastern Rajabhat University in Thailand. The research study was a quantitative research method. The population of this research study was academic support staffs with the samples of 349 respondents determined by using proportional random sampling based on Krejcie & Morgan formula. Data were collected through 5-point Likert scale questionnaire surveys. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of leadership, work morale and work performance were 0.945, 0.901, and 0.945. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics including the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis.
The results of this research study showed that staffs’ opinion on leadership and work performance were at high levels with mean scores of 3.96 and 4.0, respectively while work morale was at a moderate level with mean score of 3.28. The research results from hypotheses testing found that leadership and work morale factors can predict work performance up to 29.10% (Adjusted R-Square 0.291) at 0.05 significant levels. The leadership had a statistically significant positive influenced on work morale with standardized coefficients (β) of 0.309. The work morale had a statistically significant positive influenced on work performance with standardized coefficients (β) of 0.206. The leadership had a statistically significant positive influenced on work performance with standardized coefficients (β) of 0.542. In conclusion, leadership and work morale had significantly influenced on work performance of the Upper Northeastern Rajabhat University in Thailand leading university top leaders focus on providing excellent work support to staffs in order to promote work performance in the long run.