| Abstract | This study aims at creating a model of effective managerial leadership in irrigation systems. The study utilized the contingency model, which had been developed in the united states, in combination with criteria for measurement developed through several studies in Northern Thailand. Field research undertaken in the area of the Huai Sab-pradu irrigation tank, Nakorn Rajasrima Province, Northeast Thailand, Where the water users association (WUA) of farmers had been established for a few years already,
Results of this study revealed that the farmers of Huai Sab-pradu had identified sixteen candidates who had been performing existing leadership functions in the villages. The candidates had either been committee members of Huai Sab-pradu WUA kamnan, phuyai ban, or assistant kamnan. Moreover, ordinary farmers who were respected by the villagers had been in that group. It is apparent that among the main three criteria, i.e. personality traits, task oriented performance, and socio-economic characteristics, personality traits were mostly identified. This situation implied that in Thai society, particularly, in rural areas, belief, trust and confidence are based upon interpersonal relationships. These findings are confirmed by many studies concerning Thai society. For to evaluation of group effectiveness, the leadership styles and group atmosphere scales were employed. It appeared that these kinds of measurement could not possibly be appropriate for use in rural Thai society, the reason being that socio-cultural differences between rural Thai society and American industrial society are too large. However, this study was not useless in terms group effectiveness. To the contrary, the lesson from this study is that the model is reliable rater than valid. |