ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF EMPLOYEES IN LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATIONS TOWARD SMART CITIES: A CASE STUDY OF KHLONG LUANG DISTRICT, PATHUM THANI PROVINCE

Abstract

This quantitative study investigates smart city awareness, attitudes, and perceived operational efficiency among Local Administrative Organization (LAO) employees in Khlong Luang District, Pathum Thani Province, Thailand. The research focused on three objectives: assessing current awareness and attitudes toward smart cities, evaluating employee efficiency in transitioning toward regional smart governance, and examining how demographic variables impact these perceptions. The study population comprised 1,166 LAO employees, from which a sample of 400 respondents was determined using Taro Yamane’s formula and selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected via questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation), independent t-tests, and one-way ANOVA.

The findings reveal that overall smart city awareness and attitudes among employees were at a high level. Similarly, their perceived operational efficiency regarding the transition to smart governance was also rated high. Hypothesis testing showed that gender significantly influenced efficiency perceptions at the .05 level, with female employees reporting higher mean scores than males, particularly in the area of technology-driven service responsiveness. In contrast, factors such as age, education level, tenure, organizational affiliation, and department did not result in significant differences in efficiency evaluations.

Furthermore, the results indicate that awareness and attitudes toward smart cities are significant factors affecting the operational efficiency of employees as they transition toward smart governance.

These findings suggest that developing a positive mindset and clear understanding of smart city frameworks is essential for local administrations aiming to achieve effective smart city implementation.