The Performance Evaluation of the Community Organization Council

Abstract

The present study was aimed to assess the Community Organization Council (COC)’s achievement under the framework of input, process, output, and outcome. It also aimed to compare the result between each region as well as acquired opinion and recommendation to improve the operation of COC. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed. Quantitatively, the questionnaire survey was conducted in order to gained the information from 272 samples at the provincial level and 1,812 samples at the Tambol level, with the total questionnaires of 2,084 samples. The data were analyzed and described by percentage, mean, standard deviation, F-test, and Scheffe’ using SPSS program. Qualitative data was gathered by using of in-depth interview and focus group from the related personnel at the central and regional level.

From the quantitative analysis at the provincial level, the study found that the overall achievement of the project was high, and when several aspects were considered, input of the project was moderate, process, output, and outcome were high. The result also in the same direction at the Commune level, the overall achievement of the project was high, and when several aspects were considered, input of the project was moderate, process, output, and outcome were high. When comparing between each region, at the provincial level, the region with the highest score was the upper-north region, and at the Commune level was the lower-north region.

The opinion of related personnel concerned with the input from the qualitative data revealed that the members of COC did not have enough knowledge and understanding on their role and authority. Besides, COC members also complained about the insufficient of budget for implementing their duty and the lack of support from the local government units. In term of process evaluation, they suggested that in order to achieve the objectives, COC should have strong and efficient leader, equipped with knowledge and understanding, competency, and leadership. In addition, when considered in the areas of output and outcome, the result confirmed that the operation of COC had the advantage toward the community. The COC was the venue to exercise community participation. Community had learned how to manage themselves, how to solve their own problem as well as decrease conflict and set their own development destination through the community plan.