Sustainability factors affecting local infrastructure project: The case of water resource, water supply, and local market projects in Thai communities

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the critical factors highly influencing sustainability of local infrastructure projects in the Thai community.

Design/methodology/approach

Both qualitative and the quantitative analyses were used when needed to follow the right procedure. Together, the panels of experts, selected from the related fields, were always prompt to cooperate with the strategies upon request. At the early stage, thoroughly fresh and in-depth information, theoretical and practical, in local infrastructure sustainability development, was gathered through literature review, a semi-structure interview and a focussed group meeting. For the pilot project, all crucial attributes were assigned to items of a questionnaire by a representative sample, Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Centre, one of the most important sources in community development in Thailand. Afterward, the improved questionnaires were surveyed for exact data by all target respondents: local infrastructure project managers/representatives plus the working staff. These accumulated data were analysed by SPSS and finally produced the expected outcome.

Findings

They are categorised into 25 factors of 6 dimensions: management and administration, information and knowledge, policy and plan, environmental and natural resources, facility and infrastructure and finance and budget.

Originality/value

With regard to a valid analysis reference, the study outcome can be applied to be the deciding factor in choosing the proper local development projects or the model measuring the sustainability level of community projects in a real-life context.

Citation

Aksorn, P. and Charoenngam, C. (2015), "Sustainability factors affecting local infrastructure project: The case of water resource, water supply, and local market projects in Thai communities", Facilities, Vol. 33 No. 1/2, pp. 119-143. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-01-2013-0005