Abstract:The rapid transformation of contemporary work environments driven by digitalization, hybrid work systems, and evolving workforce expectations has intensified the need for effective leadership approaches that foster employee…
yee engagement. This study aims to explore the role of transformational leadership in enhancing employee engagement within contemporary organizational contexts using a qualitative research design. Guided by a phenomenological approach, data were collected through in depth semi structured interviews with employees who had direct supervisory relationships in digitally mediated or hybrid work settings. Thematic analysis revealed four major themes: visionary inspiration and meaningful work, individualized support and psychological safety, intellectual stimulation and professional growth, and trust based relationships and organizational identification. The findings indicate that transformational leadership strengthens employee engagement by cultivating meaningfulness, empowerment, trust, and intrinsic motivation, which collectively enhance employees’ physical, cognitive, and emotional involvement in their work roles. The study extends existing leadership and engagement theories by providing contextualized insights into how transformational leadership is experienced in modern organizational environments. Practically, the findings highlight the importance of developing transformational competencies among leaders to sustain engagement and performance in increasingly complex and interconnected workplaces
Abstract:The rapid development of digital technology and social media platforms has significantly transformed consumer purchasing behavior, particularly in relation to digital products. Social media has evolved beyond its traditional…
onal role as a communication platform and now functions as an important environment where consumers discover, evaluate, and purchase products. This study aims to explore the psychological factors that influence consumer decision-making in purchasing digital products through social media platforms. A qualitative research approach was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of consumers' experiences and perspectives. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews with social media users who had purchased digital products based on information encountered on social media platforms. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes related to consumer psychology in digital purchasing behavior. The findings reveal that consumer decision-making in purchasing digital products is influenced by several interconnected psychological and social factors. Five major themes emerged from the analysis: social media as a discovery environment, cognitive evaluation of digital products, trust formation and credibility cues, psychological motivations for purchasing digital products, and social influence from peers, influencers, and online communities. The results indicate that social media plays a significant role not only in introducing digital products but also in shaping consumer perceptions, trust, and purchase intentions. Consumers actively interpret information obtained from social media, evaluate product credibility through reviews and recommendations, and rely on social interactions to reduce uncertainty before making purchase decisions. This study contributes to the understanding of consumer psychology in digital environments by highlighting how psychological motivations and social influences interact within social media platforms to shape digital purchasing decisions. The findings also provide practical insights for digital marketers and product creators to design more effective strategies that emphasize authenticity, trust-building, and community engagement in promoting digital products.
Abstract:This study develops a practical framework for evaluating AI-generated brand visuals in a marketing communication context. Using a qualitative case study of an Indonesian sustainable startup (I-NewBee), the research employs…
ys photo-elicitation interviews to compare consumer evaluations of brand assets generated by three text-to-image tools (Midjourney, Neural Love AI, and Leonardo AI). Twelve target-market participants assessed anonymized visual sets (A/B/C) produced under a standardized prompt structure, using a semi-structured protocol informed by attention-stage cues from the AISAS model. Expert input from a visual communication design practitioner was used to triangulate judgments on visual quality and brand fit. Data were analyzed through iterative coding and thematic synthesis to identify recurring evaluation dimensions and decision cues. The findings suggest that perceived brand fit is shaped by visual realism, compositional clarity, brand-consistent signals, and message interpretability, while prompt ambiguity and inconsistent visual cues reduce credibility. The paper contributes an actionable evaluation framework expressed as evaluation dimensions and prompt-design considerations for startups seeking to deploy generative AI responsibly in brand communication
Abstract:This study examines the effect of work motivation and soft skill training on employee performance with competence as a mediating variable. The research was conducted at the Office of Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection,…
on, Population Control, and Family Planning (DP3AKB) of Banten Province. A quantitative approach with a census method was applied, involving all 134 employees as respondents. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS). The results indicate that work motivation and soft skill training have positive and significant effects on employee performance. Furthermore, both variables significantly influence employee competence. Competence also has a positive and significant effect on employee performance and partially mediates the relationship between work motivation and performance as well as between soft skill training and performance. These findings suggest that improving employee performance in public sector organizations requires integrated human resource development strategies focusing on motivation enhancement, effective soft skill training, and systematic competency development.
Abstract:The uncertainty surrounding the global economy has created existential challenges for the tourism industry, necessitating a Human Resource Management (HRM) paradigm that goes beyond traditional administrative approaches.…
This study aims to explore adaptive HRM strategies in the face of the global crisis, with a particular focus on the highly vulnerable tourism and hospitality industries.
This study uses the PRISMA framework to conduct a systematic literature review of 26 peer-reviewed articles published between 2023 and 2025, sourced from Google Scholar. The findings indicate that effective adaptive strategies require the holistic integration of e-HRM and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance operational agility, the implementation of GHRM to drive efficiency and employee retention, and the development of Agile Leadership to navigate uncertainty. Furthermore, this study highlights the crucial role of prioritizing employee well-being and Psychological Capital (PsyCap), particularly in emerging economies where social safety nets may be limited. This research provides a comprehensive framework for HR practitioners in the tourism sector to formulate policies that balance business continuity with human-centric support in challenging times.
Abstract:The persistent gap between theoretical instruction and real-world practice remains a critical challenge in business education, particularly in contexts involving Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Experiential…
learning has been promoted as a pedagogical response to this challenge; however, many initiatives lack structured frameworks that integrate student learning with meaningful community engagement. This study examines the implementation of the BRIDGE model (Build, Reach, Discover, Grow, and Elevate) as a structured business mentoring approach grounded in experiential learning principles. Using a qualitative participatory action research design, the study involved 15 undergraduate business students and five MSMEs in Semarang City, Indonesia. Data were collected through participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, reflective journals, and program documentation, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that the BRIDGE model facilitates deep experiential learning by enabling students to connect theoretical concepts with contextual business realities, while simultaneously generating instrumental and symbolic benefits for MSME partners. Despite limitations related to program duration, the model demonstrates strong potential as a feasible and transferable framework for experiential business education in emerging economy contexts.
Abstract:The focus of research shifts from the dominance of positivism to a non-positivistic approach that places meaning, interpretation, and social construction at the center of analysis. One of the main approaches within this…
paradigm is Grounded Theory Research (GTR), a qualitative method developed by Glaser and Strauss (1967) to build empirically data-based theory through a rigorous inductive process. In the accounting context, GTR becomes increasingly relevant because reporting practices, accountability, and financial decision-making cannot be understood solely through objective measurements, but rather through social interactions, organizational values, and the interpretations of the actors involved (Ahrens & Chapman, 2006). This article aims to examine the role and relevance of GTR in modern accounting research by highlighting its philosophical foundations, methodological procedures, and contributions to the development of practice-based accounting theory. Through a systematic literature review, it is found that GTR has the ability to uncover the social dynamics that shape accounting practices such as accountability, ethics, managerial control, and institutional legitimacy that have previously been overlooked by positivistic approaches (Charmaz, 2006; Bryant & Charmaz, 2007). GTR has also proven relevant in the context of changing reporting systems, accounting digitalization, and the integration of sustainability principles such as ESG, where meaning, professional identity, and interpretive processes are dominant elements (Adams & Larrinaga, 2019). The study's findings confirm that GTR not only offers a systematic method for data collection and analysis, but also provides a more reflective, context-sensitive epistemological framework capable of generating substantive theory that is truly rooted in organizational reality. Thus, GTR is a powerful methodological alternative in enriching accounting knowledge, while providing a deeper understanding of how accounting practices are executed, negotiated, and interpreted in everyday organizational life.
Abstract:This study highlights the problem of managing teak wood raw materials in the form of boards at UD Gemilang, Gunungsitoli City. The company often experiences shortages or excess inventory due to a conventional ordering system…
stem that is not based on optimal demand calculations. This inefficiency causes wasteful costs and disrupts the smooth production process. The main objective of this study is to analyze current inventory management and apply the EOQ (Economic Order Quantity) method to determine the optimal order quantity, as well as evaluate its impact on cost efficiency and production operations. The EOQ method is expected to be a systematic and rational solution for managing inventory more efficiently. This study uses a descriptive quantitative approach. Data were collected through direct interviews with business owners and documentation of raw material purchasing and usage reports for 2024. The analysis was conducted using the EOQ formula to calculate the optimal order quantity, ordering costs, storage costs, safety stock, reorder point, and total inventory cost (TIC). The analysis results show that the optimal order quantity for teak wood raw materials is 282 boards, with an ordering frequency of 6 times a year. This number is more efficient than the actual ordering system which is carried out monthly without a fixed calculation. The recommended safety stock is 22 boards, with a Reorder Point (ROP) of 36 boards. The implementation of the EOQ method successfully reduced total inventory costs from Rp6,768,000 to Rp3,496,800.
Abstract:Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries like Indonesia are highly vulnerable to financial risks yet often lack formal risk-management practices, relying instead on personal experience, intuition,…
ion, and culturally rooted local practices to navigate financial uncertainty. This study aimed to identify MSME owners' perceptions of financial risks, explore informal mitigation strategies based on local experience and community practices, analyze the influence of cultural norms and social networks, and propose a contextually grounded problem-solving framework. Employing a qualitative research design, the study used in-depth semi-structured interviews, direct observations, and document analysis with MSME owners, and analyzed the data using thematic analysis and triangulation to ensure credibility. The results revealed three primary financial risk-mitigation strategies: adaptive cash-flow management, reliance on social capital and local economic networks, and experiential diversification driven by local market knowledge. The findings demonstrate that MSMEs develop resilience through culturally embedded practices and social structures, confirming that interventions should leverage existing informal mechanisms and integrate culturally compatible tools rather than imposing rigid formal frameworks.
Abstract:This study aims to determine how social media is utilized Facebookas a digital promotional tool at UD. Tahu Murni in Gunungsitoli City, and to identify factors that hinder the effectiveness of such promotions in increasing…
ng sales. The background of this study is the increasingly rapid development of information technology that encourages micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to utilize digital media as a more efficient promotional strategy and reach a wider market. The research method used is a qualitative approach with data collection techniques through observation, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The research informants consisted of business owners and several consumers. The data obtained were analyzed using thematic analysis methods. The results of the study indicate that the use of Facebook as a promotional medium by UD. Tahu Murni has not been optimally implemented. The promotional content uploaded is still simple, inconsistent, and has not utilized strategic features such as paid advertising (Facebook Ads), customer interaction, and social media analytics. The main inhibiting factors in optimizing promotions through Facebook are the business owner's limited digital knowledge, limited time, and the lack of a workforce focused on digital marketing. This study recommends that business actors improve their understanding and skills in social media management, utilize digital promotional features optimally, and develop attractive and consistent content strategies to reach more consumers.