Transformational leadership, public service motivation, commitment, and performance in state-owned enterprises: results from a Delphi study of executive consensus

This study seeks to build expert consensus concerning the relationships among transformational leadership, public service motivation (PSM), organizational commitment, and employee performance within Thai state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Employing a three-round Delphi method with 14 senior SOE executives, the research identified and prioritized 27 key leadership and motivational factors relevant to the public sector context. High levels of consensus were reached on all items (median ≥ 4, IQR ≤ 1), signaling strong agreement among participants regarding the importance of visionary leadership, collaborative practices, employee support, and alignment with public service values. The results highlight factors that, according to expert consensus, meaningfully connect transformational leadership with organizational commitment and employee performance in SOEs, as well as key mechanisms – such as effective communication, skill development, and supportive work environments – that experts believe foster public service values and sustained engagement. The findings underline the importance of digital tools, such as e-learning and on-the-job training, in enhancing adaptability and long-term performance. Ultimately, this study provides new, consensus-driven insights to inform leadership development and performance strategies in public-sector organizations and offers a foundation for future empirical research on these constructs.