The influence of transformational and transactional leadership on organizational performance in private hospitals in Thailand during a public health crisis : the mediating role of crisis management capabilities and the moderating role of leader empathy | |
| Author | Somsak Nontaganok |
| Call Number | AIT Diss. no.DBA-SOM-25-12 |
| Subject(s) | Organizational effectiveness--Hospitals--Thailand Leadership--Thailand Medical care--Crisis management--Thailand Health services administration--Thailand |
| Note | A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Business Administration |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Existing studies have examined individual relationships between leadership styles and performance; however, empirical research examining the simultaneous interaction of transformational and transactional leadership, leader empathy as a moderating variable, and crisis management capabilities as a mediating variable in the specific context of Thai private hospitals during prolonged public health emergencies remains limited. This study addresses a significant gap by examining the relationships among transformational and transactional leadership styles, leader empathy, crisis management capabilities, and organizational performance during public health emergencies.A quantitative, cross-sectional survey was conducted, collecting data from 404 health workers in 23 SET-listed private hospitals in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand, yielding 371 usable questionnaires. A structured questionnaire was distributed through convenience sampling, and data analysis involved the use of SPSS and AMOS, employing Structural Equation Modeling and Confirmatory Factor Analysis.Key findings reveal that transformational leadership significantly enhances organizational performance, especially when supported by strong crisis management capabilities and leader empathy. Conversely, transactional leadership tends to negatively impact organizational performance in turbulent healthcare environments. While leader empathy generally improves performance, an unexpected adverse moderating effect shows that excessive empathy can impair leadership clarity, highlighting the importance of context-aware emotional intelligence.This research advances crisis leadership literature by integrating and validating multiple theoretical frameworks within a real-world, high-pressure healthcare setting. It offers practical insights for leadership development, succession planning, and organizational resilience in the private healthcare sector. The findings expand current leadership theories by revealing the complex and sometimes paradoxical role of empathy during crises. Future research is encouraged to adopt longitudinal approaches and explore cross-cultural and qualitative aspects of empathetic leadership under pressure. |
| Year | 2025 |
| Type | Dissertation |
| School | School of Management |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (Publication code = DBA-SM, SM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Vimolwan Yukongdi |
| Examination Committee(s) | Badir, Yousre F. M.;Bhujel, Ram C. |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | AIT Scholarship |
| Degree | Thesis (Ph.D.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2025 |