Abstract:
To investigate the state and problem of the management of Armed Forces Academies in Thailand and overseas, to analyze the intelligent organization concepts suitable for Royal Thai Armed Forces Academies and to propose a management model for Armed Forces Academies. The sample group included 1) 3 Commanders of Armed Forces Academies; 2) high-ranking administrators, directors and faculty members in Armed Forces Academies, a total of 265 persons; 3) 18 military officers who graduated from overseas Armed Forces Academies in 2004-2009; 4) 6 high-level executives of intelligent-organizations oriented private companies; 5) 31 specialists (consisting of 23 military specialists, 6 academic specialists, 2 high-ranking executives of private companies) who provided data on the development of (draft) management model for Royal Thai Armed Forces Academies towards intelligent organizations; 6) 21 senior experts who validated management model for Royal Thai Armed Forces Academies towards intelligent organizations; and 7) 12 senior experts from Royal Thai Navy Academy. Research instruments were: document analysis forms, questionnaire, interview forms, forms for interviewing experts based on Ethnographic Delphi Futures Research (EDFR), forms for the validation of (draft) model suitability. The data analysis was conducted by means of content analysis, frequency, percentage, means, standard derivation, PNImodified for prioritizing the necessity of the development towards intelligent organization, and EDFR. Research results were: 1. With respect to the state and problems of the management of Armed Forces Academies in Thailand and overseas, the analysis in 7 aspects has been made: 1) vision, 2) organizational structure, 3) general administration and application of cutting-edge technology, 4) academic affairs administration, 5) budgetary management, 6) human resources management, 7) cadet affairs management According to the analysis results, there were 10 concepts of the intelligent organization: 1) clear shared visions and strategies; 2) organization structure supporting renewal, 3) holistic quality management, 4) proactive human resources management, 5) team management and network, 6) knowledge management 7) openness for change, 8) benefits of feedbacks, 9) application of technology for competency promotion, and 10) innovation management. 2. For the intelligent organization concepts suitable for Royal Thai Armed Forces Academies, it was found that leading Armed Force Academies in Asia boasted with the excellence of cutting-edge military science and continual creation of military innovations. Further, they had offensive organizational restructuring and notable identity. This was to motivate the personnel to put a great effort in developing and training the cadets into knowledgeable and skillful officers. They also adhered to the army ideology and military leadership styles in performing their duties for defending national security. 3. The management model for Armed Forces Academies towards intelligent organization consisted of 4 dimensions, namely, Dimension 1: leaders of Armed Force Academies and military organization culture, Dimension 2: 10 characteristics of intelligent military organization; Dimension 3: the management towards intelligent organization or so-called V.I.S.I.O.N Model [including 1) Vision Management, 2) Information and Communication Technology Management, 3) Structure Management, 4) Innovation Management, 5) Openness for Change, 6) Network Management], and Dimension 4: 8 management-related processes. 4. The identity of Thai Armed Forces Academies (DNA) contained 6 aspects (6S): 1) the spirit towards the creation of shared visions, openness for change and patriotic ideology (Spirit), 2) rapid self-adjustment for changes (Speed), 3) skill development corresponding to all innovations (Skill), 4) adjustment and incorporation of changing science and technology according to organizations external or internal environment (Synchronized), 5) \desire for continuous learning and development (Sustainable), and 6) awareness of the implementation of offensive preventions against any possible problems (Sign).