Innovation for Enhancing the Efficiency of the National Skill Standards Testing at the Loei Skill Development Office

Abstract

This Article aims to study 1) to study the factors affecting the efficiency enhancement of the National Skill Standard Testing. 2) to design and develop a process innovation to enhance the efficiency of the National Skill Standard Testing, and 3) to evaluate and present the innovation for enhancing the efficiency of the National Skill Standard Testing. This study employed a mixed-methods research design, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected using questionnaires from a sample group of 140 participants and through in-depth interviews with 9 key informants. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including percentage, mean, and standard deviation, as well as inferential statistics via multiple linear regression analysis. Qualitative data were analyzed utilizing the 6' C. Technique Analysis. The research findings revealed that the factors affecting the efficiency enhancement of the National Skill Standard Testing consisted of four domains: 1) Standard factors, 2) Process factors, 3) Resource factors, and 4) Examinee factors. The design and development of the process innovation to enhance the efficiency of the National Skill Standard Testing involved creating the innovation through the 5-stage Design Thinking process: 1) Empathize, 2) Define, 3) Ideate, 4) Prototype, and 5) Test. Furthermore, it fostered innovation adoption under the Diffusion of Innovation Theory framework across four dimensions: 1) Innovation, 2) Time, 3) Communication Channels, and 4) Social System. The innovation must also possess five attributes affecting adoption: 1) Relative Advantage, 2) Compatibility, 3) Low Complexity, 4) Trialability, and 5) Observability. The evaluation of the innovation across the aspects of usefulness, suitability, accuracy, and feasibility revealed that the assessment results were at the highest level. The new body of knowledge derived from this research is the "Systematic Innovation Model," which systematically interlinks input factors, processes, and outputs. This yields an innovation model where its adoption tangibly leads to enhanced service efficiency in terms of time and cost.