Stakeholder Analysis: Who are the Key Actorsin Establishing and Developing Thai Independent Consumer Organizations?
In Thailand, both the 1997 and the current 2007 Thai Constitutions have mentioned the establishment of independent organizations as a new mechanism to play a key role in proposing policy recommendations to national decision-makers in the interest of collective consumers. Over the last ten years, no independent organizations have yet been set up. Evidently, nobody could point out who should be key players in establishing provincial independent consumer bodies. The purpose of this study was to find definitive stakeholders in establishing and developing independent consumer bodies in a Thai context. This was a cross-sectional study between August and September 2007, using a postal questionnaire with telephone follow-up. The questionnaire was designed and used to obtain multiple stakeholder assessment of three key attributes (power, interest and influence). Study population was 153 stakeholders associated with policy decision-making, formulation and implementation processes of civil-based consumer protection in pilot provinces. The population covered key representatives from five sectors (academics, government officers, business traders, mass media and consumer networks) who participated in the deliberative forums at 10 provinces. A 49.7% response rate was achieved. Data were analyzed, comparing means of three stakeholder attributes and classification of stakeholder typology. The results showed that the provincial health officers were the definitive stakeholders as they had legal power, influence and interest in establishing and sustaining the independent consumer bodies. However, only a few key representatives of the provincial health officers expressed their own paradigm on the civil-based consumer protection. Most provincial health officers put their own standpoint of building civic participation at only a plan-implementation level. For effective policy implementation by the independent consumer bodies, the Thai government should provide budgetary support for the operation of the provincial health officers with their paradigm shift as well as their own clarified standpoint on corporate governance.
[1] Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2550. (August 24, 2007).
Government gazette. 124(47). pp. 24-25.
[2] Constitution of Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2540. (October 11, 1997).
Government gazette (in Thai). 114(55). p. 13.
[3] Kulsomboon, V., Sriwiriyanuparb, W., and Limsathit, Ph. (2005).
Guideline on establishing an independent organization for consumer
protection according to section 57 of the 1997 Constitution of Kingdoms
of Thailand (in Thai). Bangkok: Social Pharmacy Research Unit,
Chulalongkorn University.
[4] Office of the Council of State. (October 2002). Official Document No.
629/2002 of the Office of the Council of State: Drafting a particular law
for establishing the independent organizations according to section 57 of
the 1997 Constitution of Kingdoms of Thailand (in Thai).
[5] Office of the Council of State. (April 2002). Official Document No.
189/2002 of the Office of the Council of State: Opinions in establishing
the independent organizations according to section 57 of the 1997
Constitution of Kingdoms of Thailand (in Thai).
[6] Wongwattanasan, C. (2000). Consumer protection law (in Thai).
Bangkok: Winyuchon.
[7] Wankaew, Ch. B., Thabchumpon, N., Rattanadilok Na Puket, P.,
Samakkeetham, S., Katasila, S., Chiangsen, U., et al. (2004). Civic
participation in economic and social development processes under the
Constitution of 1997 (in Thai). Nonthaburi: King Pradjadhipok's
Institute.
[8] Siamwalla, A., Nikomborirak, D., Winitchaboot, S., Jitmanchaitham, R.,
Cheewasitthiyanon, S., and Naewmalee, K. (2003). Politics and interests
under the Constitution of 1997 (in Thai). Nonthaburi: King
Pradjadhipok's Institute.
[9] Chuengsatiansup, K. (2003). Power and corruption: Decoding
bureaucratic culture in public health administration (in Thai). Bangkok:
Amarin, p. 50.
[10] Pongsapich, A., and Kuwinpant, P. (Eds.). (2002). Patronage system (3rd
ed.) (in Thai). Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University Printing House.
[11] Justice, J. (1989). Policies, plan, and people: Foreign aid and health
development. Berkeley: University of California Press.
[12] Office of the Consumer Protection Board. (2007, August 1). Vision and
missions. (Online). Available: http://www.ocpb.go.th/main_ vision.asp
[13] Rabibhadana, A., M.R. (Lecturer). (March 9, 2005). Patronage system
and social development: A changing dimension in Thai society (in Thai).
Bangkok: Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University.
[14] Tunsiri, V. (2004). Political culture and reforms (2nd ed.) (in Thai).
Bangkok: Sukhum Lae Boot.
[15] Neher, C. D. (Ed.). (1981). Modern Thai politics: From village to nation.
Cambridge: Schenkman.
[16] Embree, J. F. (1950). Thailand: A loosely structured social system.
American Anthropologist, 52(2), 181-193.
[17] Dhiravegin, L. (2006). Thai politics (7th ed.) (in Thai). Bangkok:
Thammasat University Press.
[18] Studwell, J. (2007). Asian godfathers: Money and power in Hong Kong
and Southeast Asia. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, p. 152.
[19] Phongpaichit, P., and Baker, C. (2004). Thaksin: The business of politics
in Thailand. Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books, p. 53.
[20] Chiangkul, W. (2006). Government economic policy and conflict of
interest problem (in Thai). Nonthaburi: King Pradjadhipok's Institute.
[21] Suphawong, Ch., and Kardkarnklai, Y. (Eds.). (1997). Civil society:
Thai thinkers- attitudes (in Thai). Bangkok: Matichon.
[22] Samutwanit, Ch. (1992). 100 years of bureaucratic reform: Evolution of
state power and political power [in Thai]. Bangkok: Chulalongkorn
University.
[23] Munger, F. (2007). Constitutional reform, legal consciousness, and
citizen participation in Thailand. Cornell International Law Journal,
40(2), 455-475.
[24] Arphagaro, S. (Op-oon). (2004). Network: Nature, knowledge and
management (in Thai). Bangkok: Learning Promotion Program for
Community to Happiness.
[25] Archavanitkul, K., Poungsomlee, A., Jarusomboon, W., and
Chansomwong, A. (1999). Introduction: Thai civil society: The making
of Thai citizens. In A. Poungsomlee and K. Archavanitkul (Eds.), Thai
civil society: The making of Thai citizens (pp. xxvii-lviii). Bangkok:
Amarin Printing & Publishing.
[26] Chuengsatiansup, K. (2005). Deliberative action: Civil society and
health systems reform in Thailand. Nonthaburi: Society and Health
Institute.
[27] Eawsriwong, N. (2004). Reading: Thai political culture (in Thai).
Bangkok: Matichon.
[28] Noiheet, S. (2007, November 11). Civil society and democratic
development in the context of Thai society. (Online). Available:
http://www.kpi.ac.th/congress9/document/Asst.Prof.Saiphon.pdf
[29] Laothamatas, A. (1999). Civil society in a western perspective: Reading
and teaching at John Hopkins (in Thai). Bangkok: Civicnet Institute.
[30] Freeman, R. E. (1984). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach.
Boston: Pitman.
[31] Brugha, R., and Varvasovszky, Z. (2000). Stakeholder analysis: A
review. Health Policy and Planning, 15(3), 239-246.
[32] Schmeer, K. (2000). Stakeholder analysis guideline. In S. Scribner and
D. Brinkerhoff (Eds.), Policy toolkit for strengthening health sector
reform (pp. 2:1-43). Bethesda: Abt Associates.
[33] Grimble, R., Chan, M. K., Aglionby, J., and Quan, J. (1995). Trees and
trade-offs: A stakeholder approach to natural resource management.
London: International Institute for Environment and Development.
[34] International Institute for Environment and Development. (2005, March
4). Stakeholder power analysis, p. 6. (Online). Available: www.policypowertools.
org/Tools/Understanding/docs/stakeholder_power_tool_engl
ish.pdf
[35] Tungsiripat, R., and Tangcharoensathien, V. (2003). Stakeholder
analysis (in Thai). Journal of Health Science, 12(6), 865-875.
[36] Allen, W., and Kilvington, M. (2001, September 24,). Stakeholder
analysis. (Online). Available:
http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/sal/stakeholder.asp
[37] Reich, M. R. (1995). The politics of health sector reform in developing
countries: Three cases of pharmaceutical policy. Health Policy, 32(1-3),
45-77.
[38] Scribner, S., and Brinkerhoff, D. (2000). Section 1: Introduction to the
toolkit and the policy process. In S. Scribner and D. Brinkerhoff (Eds.),
Policy toolkit for strengthening health sector reform (pp. 1:1-8).
Bethesda: Abt Associates.
[39] Flagestad, A., and Hope, C. A. (2004, June 23). Stakeholders in a winter
sports destination: Identification and prioritization. (Online). Available:
http://www.bradford.ac.uk/acad/management/external/pdf/workingpaper
s/2004/Booklet_04=21.pdf
[40] Chevalier, J. (2001). Stakeholder analysis and natural resource
management. Ottawa: Carleton University, p. 9.
[41] Tungsiripat, R., and Tangcharoensathien, V. (2003). Regulation of organ
transplantation in Thailand: Does it work. Nonthaburi: International
Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, p. 13.
[42] Buanes, A., Jentoft, S., Karlsen, G. R., Maurstad, A., and Soreng, S.
(2004). In whose interests? An exploratory analysis of stakeholders in
Norwegian coastal zone planning. Ocean & Coastal Management, 47(3),
207-223.
[43] Mills, A., Brugha, R., Hanson, K., and McPake, B. (2002, November 4).
Approaches for improving service delivery in the non state sector: what
is the evidence on what works, where and why? (Online). Available:
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTWDR2004/Resources/22481_mill
setalWDR.pdf
[44] Walt, G. (2001). Health policy: An introduction to process and power.
London: Zed Books.
[45] Vivanichakul, N., and Udomsri, C. (1990). Business research method
discipline. Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University Press.
[46] Lertpaithoon, S. (1999). Civic movement: Legal and policy implication.
In A. Poungsomlee and K. Archavanitkul (Eds.), Thai civil society: The
making of Thai citizens (pp. 211-232) (in Thai). Bangkok: Amarin
Printing & Publishing.
[47] Klausner, W. J. (2002). Thai culture in transition (4th ed.). Bangkok:
Amarin Printing & Publishing.
[48] Hermans, L. M., and Thissen, W. A. H. (2008, April 4). Actor analysis
methods and their use for public policy analysts. (Online). Available:
http://www.sciencedirect.com
[1] Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2550. (August 24, 2007).
Government gazette. 124(47). pp. 24-25.
[2] Constitution of Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2540. (October 11, 1997).
Government gazette (in Thai). 114(55). p. 13.
[3] Kulsomboon, V., Sriwiriyanuparb, W., and Limsathit, Ph. (2005).
Guideline on establishing an independent organization for consumer
protection according to section 57 of the 1997 Constitution of Kingdoms
of Thailand (in Thai). Bangkok: Social Pharmacy Research Unit,
Chulalongkorn University.
[4] Office of the Council of State. (October 2002). Official Document No.
629/2002 of the Office of the Council of State: Drafting a particular law
for establishing the independent organizations according to section 57 of
the 1997 Constitution of Kingdoms of Thailand (in Thai).
[5] Office of the Council of State. (April 2002). Official Document No.
189/2002 of the Office of the Council of State: Opinions in establishing
the independent organizations according to section 57 of the 1997
Constitution of Kingdoms of Thailand (in Thai).
[6] Wongwattanasan, C. (2000). Consumer protection law (in Thai).
Bangkok: Winyuchon.
[7] Wankaew, Ch. B., Thabchumpon, N., Rattanadilok Na Puket, P.,
Samakkeetham, S., Katasila, S., Chiangsen, U., et al. (2004). Civic
participation in economic and social development processes under the
Constitution of 1997 (in Thai). Nonthaburi: King Pradjadhipok's
Institute.
[8] Siamwalla, A., Nikomborirak, D., Winitchaboot, S., Jitmanchaitham, R.,
Cheewasitthiyanon, S., and Naewmalee, K. (2003). Politics and interests
under the Constitution of 1997 (in Thai). Nonthaburi: King
Pradjadhipok's Institute.
[9] Chuengsatiansup, K. (2003). Power and corruption: Decoding
bureaucratic culture in public health administration (in Thai). Bangkok:
Amarin, p. 50.
[10] Pongsapich, A., and Kuwinpant, P. (Eds.). (2002). Patronage system (3rd
ed.) (in Thai). Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University Printing House.
[11] Justice, J. (1989). Policies, plan, and people: Foreign aid and health
development. Berkeley: University of California Press.
[12] Office of the Consumer Protection Board. (2007, August 1). Vision and
missions. (Online). Available: http://www.ocpb.go.th/main_ vision.asp
[13] Rabibhadana, A., M.R. (Lecturer). (March 9, 2005). Patronage system
and social development: A changing dimension in Thai society (in Thai).
Bangkok: Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University.
[14] Tunsiri, V. (2004). Political culture and reforms (2nd ed.) (in Thai).
Bangkok: Sukhum Lae Boot.
[15] Neher, C. D. (Ed.). (1981). Modern Thai politics: From village to nation.
Cambridge: Schenkman.
[16] Embree, J. F. (1950). Thailand: A loosely structured social system.
American Anthropologist, 52(2), 181-193.
[17] Dhiravegin, L. (2006). Thai politics (7th ed.) (in Thai). Bangkok:
Thammasat University Press.
[18] Studwell, J. (2007). Asian godfathers: Money and power in Hong Kong
and Southeast Asia. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, p. 152.
[19] Phongpaichit, P., and Baker, C. (2004). Thaksin: The business of politics
in Thailand. Chiang Mai: Silkworm Books, p. 53.
[20] Chiangkul, W. (2006). Government economic policy and conflict of
interest problem (in Thai). Nonthaburi: King Pradjadhipok's Institute.
[21] Suphawong, Ch., and Kardkarnklai, Y. (Eds.). (1997). Civil society:
Thai thinkers- attitudes (in Thai). Bangkok: Matichon.
[22] Samutwanit, Ch. (1992). 100 years of bureaucratic reform: Evolution of
state power and political power [in Thai]. Bangkok: Chulalongkorn
University.
[23] Munger, F. (2007). Constitutional reform, legal consciousness, and
citizen participation in Thailand. Cornell International Law Journal,
40(2), 455-475.
[24] Arphagaro, S. (Op-oon). (2004). Network: Nature, knowledge and
management (in Thai). Bangkok: Learning Promotion Program for
Community to Happiness.
[25] Archavanitkul, K., Poungsomlee, A., Jarusomboon, W., and
Chansomwong, A. (1999). Introduction: Thai civil society: The making
of Thai citizens. In A. Poungsomlee and K. Archavanitkul (Eds.), Thai
civil society: The making of Thai citizens (pp. xxvii-lviii). Bangkok:
Amarin Printing & Publishing.
[26] Chuengsatiansup, K. (2005). Deliberative action: Civil society and
health systems reform in Thailand. Nonthaburi: Society and Health
Institute.
[27] Eawsriwong, N. (2004). Reading: Thai political culture (in Thai).
Bangkok: Matichon.
[28] Noiheet, S. (2007, November 11). Civil society and democratic
development in the context of Thai society. (Online). Available:
http://www.kpi.ac.th/congress9/document/Asst.Prof.Saiphon.pdf
[29] Laothamatas, A. (1999). Civil society in a western perspective: Reading
and teaching at John Hopkins (in Thai). Bangkok: Civicnet Institute.
[30] Freeman, R. E. (1984). Strategic management: A stakeholder approach.
Boston: Pitman.
[31] Brugha, R., and Varvasovszky, Z. (2000). Stakeholder analysis: A
review. Health Policy and Planning, 15(3), 239-246.
[32] Schmeer, K. (2000). Stakeholder analysis guideline. In S. Scribner and
D. Brinkerhoff (Eds.), Policy toolkit for strengthening health sector
reform (pp. 2:1-43). Bethesda: Abt Associates.
[33] Grimble, R., Chan, M. K., Aglionby, J., and Quan, J. (1995). Trees and
trade-offs: A stakeholder approach to natural resource management.
London: International Institute for Environment and Development.
[34] International Institute for Environment and Development. (2005, March
4). Stakeholder power analysis, p. 6. (Online). Available: www.policypowertools.
org/Tools/Understanding/docs/stakeholder_power_tool_engl
ish.pdf
[35] Tungsiripat, R., and Tangcharoensathien, V. (2003). Stakeholder
analysis (in Thai). Journal of Health Science, 12(6), 865-875.
[36] Allen, W., and Kilvington, M. (2001, September 24,). Stakeholder
analysis. (Online). Available:
http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/sal/stakeholder.asp
[37] Reich, M. R. (1995). The politics of health sector reform in developing
countries: Three cases of pharmaceutical policy. Health Policy, 32(1-3),
45-77.
[38] Scribner, S., and Brinkerhoff, D. (2000). Section 1: Introduction to the
toolkit and the policy process. In S. Scribner and D. Brinkerhoff (Eds.),
Policy toolkit for strengthening health sector reform (pp. 1:1-8).
Bethesda: Abt Associates.
[39] Flagestad, A., and Hope, C. A. (2004, June 23). Stakeholders in a winter
sports destination: Identification and prioritization. (Online). Available:
http://www.bradford.ac.uk/acad/management/external/pdf/workingpaper
s/2004/Booklet_04=21.pdf
[40] Chevalier, J. (2001). Stakeholder analysis and natural resource
management. Ottawa: Carleton University, p. 9.
[41] Tungsiripat, R., and Tangcharoensathien, V. (2003). Regulation of organ
transplantation in Thailand: Does it work. Nonthaburi: International
Health Policy Program, Ministry of Public Health, p. 13.
[42] Buanes, A., Jentoft, S., Karlsen, G. R., Maurstad, A., and Soreng, S.
(2004). In whose interests? An exploratory analysis of stakeholders in
Norwegian coastal zone planning. Ocean & Coastal Management, 47(3),
207-223.
[43] Mills, A., Brugha, R., Hanson, K., and McPake, B. (2002, November 4).
Approaches for improving service delivery in the non state sector: what
is the evidence on what works, where and why? (Online). Available:
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTWDR2004/Resources/22481_mill
setalWDR.pdf
[44] Walt, G. (2001). Health policy: An introduction to process and power.
London: Zed Books.
[45] Vivanichakul, N., and Udomsri, C. (1990). Business research method
discipline. Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University Press.
[46] Lertpaithoon, S. (1999). Civic movement: Legal and policy implication.
In A. Poungsomlee and K. Archavanitkul (Eds.), Thai civil society: The
making of Thai citizens (pp. 211-232) (in Thai). Bangkok: Amarin
Printing & Publishing.
[47] Klausner, W. J. (2002). Thai culture in transition (4th ed.). Bangkok:
Amarin Printing & Publishing.
[48] Hermans, L. M., and Thissen, W. A. H. (2008, April 4). Actor analysis
methods and their use for public policy analysts. (Online). Available:
http://www.sciencedirect.com
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:62577", author = "P. Ondee and S. Pannarunothai", title = "Stakeholder Analysis: Who are the Key Actorsin Establishing and Developing Thai Independent Consumer Organizations?", abstract = "In Thailand, both the 1997 and the current 2007 Thai Constitutions have mentioned the establishment of independent organizations as a new mechanism to play a key role in proposing policy recommendations to national decision-makers in the interest of collective consumers. Over the last ten years, no independent organizations have yet been set up. Evidently, nobody could point out who should be key players in establishing provincial independent consumer bodies. The purpose of this study was to find definitive stakeholders in establishing and developing independent consumer bodies in a Thai context. This was a cross-sectional study between August and September 2007, using a postal questionnaire with telephone follow-up. The questionnaire was designed and used to obtain multiple stakeholder assessment of three key attributes (power, interest and influence). Study population was 153 stakeholders associated with policy decision-making, formulation and implementation processes of civil-based consumer protection in pilot provinces. The population covered key representatives from five sectors (academics, government officers, business traders, mass media and consumer networks) who participated in the deliberative forums at 10 provinces. A 49.7% response rate was achieved. Data were analyzed, comparing means of three stakeholder attributes and classification of stakeholder typology. The results showed that the provincial health officers were the definitive stakeholders as they had legal power, influence and interest in establishing and sustaining the independent consumer bodies. However, only a few key representatives of the provincial health officers expressed their own paradigm on the civil-based consumer protection. Most provincial health officers put their own standpoint of building civic participation at only a plan-implementation level. For effective policy implementation by the independent consumer bodies, the Thai government should provide budgetary support for the operation of the provincial health officers with their paradigm shift as well as their own clarified standpoint on corporate governance.
", keywords = "Civic participation, civil society, consumerprotection, independent organization, policy decision-making,stakeholder analysis.", volume = "2", number = "8", pages = "949-11", }
