Leadership Research Group (LRG)

Based at the College of Management, Mahidol University, the Leadership Research Group (LRG) is a group of social scientists, along with colleagues and friends from other educational institutions and the corporate world, genuinely interested in gaining insights into aspects of leaders through conducting rigorous, scientific research.  Our vision is to be the most recognized management research practice in Thailand. The group is operated on internal and external research grants with the following objectives:

Group Objectives:

• To conduct high-quality research on aspects of leadership in organizations – private and public sector – with a focus on Global Leadership
• To disseminate findings nationally and internationally via scholarly and professional publications to inform future development of practice, policy and strategy in the field of leadership
• To continue learning/sharing the latest methodological, theoretical and empirical knowledge in the field of leadership
• To be a model for management research practice in Thailand
• To translate research findings into knowledge-based products for improving the teaching, development and practice of leadership
• To train PhD students at the international standard.

International Advisory Panel:

We have a prestigious advisory panel comprising world renowned scholars.  Their roles are: (a) to suggest research directions, (b) to share their latest research with the group, (c) to provide feedback on our group’s research work, and (d) to guide and provide feedback on our group activities.  These advisory members are as follow.

• Professor David A. Ralston, The University of Oklahoma, USA.
• Professor Gayle C. Avery, The Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Australia.
• Professor Ken Leithwood, The University of Toronto, Canada.
• Professor Philip Hallinger, Hong Kong Institute of Education, China.
• Professor Richard L. Daft, Vanderbilt University, USA.

Faculty Members:

Our faculty members are cross-disciplinary.  They are:

• Associate Professor Dr. Sooksan Kantabutra, Royal Golden Jubilee Scholar
• Associate Professor Dr. Nathasit Girdsri, Royal Golden Jubilee Scholar
• Assistant Professor Dr. Vichita Ractham, Royal Golden Jubilee Scholar
• Assistant Professor Dr. Prattana Punnakitikashem
• Dr. Pornkasem Kantamara
• Dr. Molraudee Saratun
• Dr. Parisa Rungruang
• Dr. Phallapa Petison

Research Fellows:

• Assistant Professor Dr. Krittinee Nuttavuthisit, Sasin, Chulalongkorn University
• Ake Ayawongs, Mercer Consulting
• Dr. Tanyamai Chiakul, Faculty of Management Science, Ubon Rajathani University
• Dr. Warat Winit, Faculty of Business Administration, Chiang Mai University
• Chalermsak Rattanapanang
• Nuttapol Buakaew
• Jirateep Paisitsawate
• Ratanawut NaLumpoon
• Thomas Siebenhüner

PhD Students:

• Pisanu Vimolratana, Royal Golden Jubilee PhD student currently working in a double PhD program at Macquarie Graduate School of Managmenet in Sydney.
• Apichai Somboonpakorn
• Suparak Suriyankietkaew, Royal Golden Jubilee PhD student currently working in a double PhD program at Macquarie Graduate School of Managmenet in Sydney.

Group Values & Beliefs:

As a group, we share the following values and beliefs.

• Research is a joy in life.  It is something we do, regardless of financial incentives.
• Good research is scientific, meaning that the results provide reliable and valid insights into workplace practices.
• Rigorous research is the most relevant approach to inform management practice in the most rapidly changing, increasingly heterogeneous and dynamic business environment where one cannot afford trial and error.
• All research should be potentially capable of shedding light on real-world transactions.

Research Areas:

Our research focus is fairly broad, covering all aspects of Vision-based Leadership (Visionary, Transformational, Emotional, Charismatic, and Organic) and Sustainable Leadership.  We have published in the following specific areas: Theory of the Organizational Vision, Visionary Leadership in Australia and Thailand, Sustainable Enterprises, and Followership.

LRG Publications:

• Kantabutra, S. & Siebenhüner, T. (2011). Predicting Corporate Sustainability: A Thai Approach. Journal of Applied Business Research, forthcoming. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. & Suriyankietkaew, S. (2011). Examining Relationships between Organic Leadership and Corporate Sustainability: A Proposed Model. Journal of Applied Business Research, forthcoming. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. & Avery, G.C. (2011). Sustainable Leadership: Thailand's Siam Cement Group. Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, forthcoming. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. & Avery, G.C. (2011). Sustainable leadership at Siam Cement Group. Journal of Business Strategy, 32(4), 32-41.  (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. (2011). Vision-based leadership at Southeast Asia's leading service enterprise: Etic or emic? Journal of Applied Business Research, forthcoming. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. (2011). Sustainable leadership: A Thai case of Kasikornbank. Strategy & Leadership, forthcoming. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. & Saratun, M. (2011). Identifying vision realization factors at a Thai state enterprise.  Management Research Review, forthcoming.  (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. (2011). Examining store manager effects in consumer and staff satisfaction: Evidence from Thailand. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 18(1), 46-57. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. (2011). Sustainable leadership in a Thai healthcare services provider. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 24(1), 67-80. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. & Vimolratana, P. (2010). Vision-based leaders and their followers in retail stores: Relationships and consequences in Australia. Journal of Applied Business Research, 26(6), 123-134. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. (2010). Vision effects: A critical gap in educational leadership research. International Journal of Educational Management, 24(5), 376-390. (*Highly Commended Award Winner at Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2011) (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. (2010). Relating shared vision components to Thai public school performance. Contemporary Issues in Education Research, forthcoming.
• Kantabutra, S. & Avery, G.C. (2010). The power of vision: Statements that resonate. Journal of Business Strategy, 31(1), 37-45. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. (2010). Negative vision effect in Thai retail stores. Singapore Management Review: Asia Pacific Journal of Management Theory and Practice, 32(1), 1-27. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. & Vimolratana, P. (2009). Vision-based leadership: Relationships and consequences in Thai and Australian retail stores. Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, 1(2), 165-188. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. & Avery, G.C. (2009). Shared vision in customer and staff satisfaction: Relationships and their consequences. Journal of Applied Business Research, 25(4), 9-22. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. (2009). Toward a behavioral theory of vision in organizational settings. Leadership and Organization Development Journal, 30(4), 319-337. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. (2008). Vision effects in Thai retail stores: Practical implications. International Journal of Retail and Distribution Management, 36(4), 323-342. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. (2008). What do we know about vision? Journal of Applied Business Research, 24(2), 127-138. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. (2008). Vision-based leadership: The answer to the fast changing retail industry in Thailand? Problems and Perspectives in Management, 6(2), 59-71.
• Kantabutra, S. & Avery, G.C. (2007). A quest for effective Vision: Evidence from Australia. International Business and Economics Research Journal, 6(10), 1-12.
• Kantabutra, S. (2007). Identifying vision realization factors in apparel stores: Empirical evidence from Australia. International Journal of Business, 12(4), 445-460.
• Kantabutra, S. & Avery, G.C. (2007). Vision effects in customer and staff satisfaction: An empirical investigation. Leadership and Organization Development Journal, 28(3), 209-229. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. (2006). Leader and follower factors in customer and employee satisfaction: It takes two to tango. Journal of Applied Business Research, 22(4), 33-45. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. & Avery, G.C. (2006). Follower effects in the visionary leadership process. Journal of Business and Economics Research, 4(5), 57-65.
• Kantabutra, S. (2005). Improving public school performance through vision-based leadership. Asia Pacific Education Review, 6(2), 124-136. (SCOPUS)
• Kantabutra, S. & Avery, G.C. (2005). Essence of shared vision: Empirical investigation. New Zealand Journal of Human Resources Management, 5, 1-28.
• Kantabutra, S. & Avery, G.C. (2003) Investingating relationships between vision components and hospital performance: Proposed model. International Business and Economics Research Journal, 2(1), 1-8.
• Kantabutra, S. & Avery, G.C. (2002) Proposed model for investigating relationships between vision components and business unit performance. Journal of Management and Organization, 8(2), 22-39. (SCOPUS)

We welcome students who are committed to high-quality research and have many questions as to why leaders may deliver different performance outcomes to join effort in undertaking leadership research.  If you share the same values and beliefs, and wish to join us, please contact:

Dr. Sooksan Kantabutra,
Chief Researcher
Leadership Research Group
College of Management
Mahidol University
Bangkok 10400, THAILAND
Tel: +66(0)2-206-2015
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it