Problems of Public Service Delivery in Local Administrative Organizations

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the challenges of public service delivery in Thai local administrative organizations through a qualitative documentary research approach. The study systematically collects secondary data from academic books, journal articles, research studies, theses, and relevant legal documents from both domestic and international sources. Data were analyzed using content analysis (Content Analysis), guided by analytical frameworks of decentralization theory, good governance, and public participation to identify structural and institutional factors affecting service delivery performance.

The findings reveal that, although local administrative organizations play a crucial role in infrastructure development and improving citizens’ quality of life, their effectiveness remains constrained by interrelated structural and institutional limitations. These include fiscal constraints, human resource capacity gaps, technological readiness, and the level of public participation. These constraints do not operate independently but are mutually reinforcing, resulting in a persistent capacity gap between devolved responsibilities and actual administrative capabilities at the local level.

Moreover, the study finds that effective public service delivery is not determined by any single factor but emerges from the systemic integration of fiscal resources, human capital, digital technology, administrative management, and participatory governance mechanisms. Strengthening institutional capacity and enhancing participatory systems are therefore essential conditions for improving service quality and achieving sustainable local development in Thailand.