Transformational leadership as a mediator of the influence of digital workplace and digital culture on employee engagement (Evidence from the Indonesian public sector)
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Published:
Aug 30, 2026
Keywords:
Digital culture, Digital workplace, Employee engagement, Transformational leadership
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Economy
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Abstract
Digital transformation is a strategic priority for public sector performance, yet employee engagement among Indonesian Civil Servants (ASN) remains low. This study examines the impact of digital workplace and digital culture on employee engagement, with transformational leadership as a mediating variable, among 399 Civil Servants in the South Sumatra Provincial Government. Utilizing a quantitative explanatory design with proportionate stratified random sampling, data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that both digital workplace and digital culture significantly and positively influence employee engagement and transformational leadership. Furthermore, transformational leadership partially mediates these relationships. These findings demonstrate that digital initiatives are most effective when supported by leadership that fosters collaboration and innovation. This study offers an empirically validated model for public sector engagement and provides actionable guidance for policymakers advancing bureaucratic reform
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Maulana, M. and Yustini, T. . (2026) “Transformational leadership as a mediator of the influence of digital workplace and digital culture on employee engagement (Evidence from the Indonesian public sector)”, Jurnal Mantik, 10(2), pp. 553-563. doi: 10.35335/mantik.v10i2.7344.
References
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Cheng, Z., Jin, X., & Kwak, W. J. (2025). Using the new positive aspect of digital leadership to improve organizational sustainability: Testing moderated mediation model. Acta Psychologica, 255(5), 104963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104963
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Li, J., Ebabu, E. A., Yu, H., Yuan, D. P., Ning, J., & Xuanyi, X. (2025). Leadership, environment, and engagement: Psychological pathways to enhanced personnel performance. Acta Psychologica, 261(11), 105963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105963
Lolu, M., Haba Ora, F., & Riwu Kore, M. H. (2026). Potret Prediktor Motivasi Aparatur Sipil Negara di Badan Keuangan dan Aset Daerah Kota Kupang. CITACOMDEV: Journal Od Community Development, 1(1), 1–13. https://journal.citacendekia.com/cjcd/article/view/20
Ly, B. (2024). Inclusion leadership and employee work engagement: The role of organizational commitment in Cambodian public organization. Asia Pacific Management Review, 29(1), 44–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmrv.2023.06.003
Ly, B. (2025). Digital transformation, organizational culture, and public sector flexibility in emerging economies: insights from NCA and PLS-SEM Analysis. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 17(6), 6906–6938. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-025-02801-x
Marnisah, L., Hasbiyallah, Riwu Kore, J. R., Haba Ora, F., & Maris, H. (2021). Analysis of career development, leadership style, and emotional intelligence on the work achievement of employees of PT. BNI (Persero) Tbk Palembang Branch. In Y. UZUN (Ed.), 3rd International Gobeklitepe Social and Humanities Congress (pp. 257–272). IKSAD Global Publications. https://doi.org/10.1159/000478491
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Riwu Kore, J R, Haba Ora, F., & Marnisah, L. (2022). Relationship between the pandemic climate of Covid-19 and leadership style on the employees performance of the Secretariat Regional on Kupang City Government. Journal of Education, Humaniora and Social Sciences (JEHSS), 5(1), 181–193. https://doi.org/10.34007/jehss.v5i1.1175
Riwu Kore, Jefirstson R, Haba Ora, F., & Saubaki, M. A. (2026). Kinerja ASN Badan Kesbangpolinmas Kota Kupang. JURNAL ILMIAH UNSTAR ROTE, 2(1), 78–89. https://doi.org/10.1234/jiur.v2i1.109
Riwu Kore, Jefirstson R, Riwu Kore, F. R., & Haba Ora, F. (2023). Prediktor budaya organisasi di Kantor Badan Kesatuan Bangsa dan Politik Kota Kupang (Predictors of organizational culture in the office of the Badan Kesatuan Bangsa and Politik of Kupang City). Jurnal Saintifik: Multi Science Journal, 21(2), 57–66. https://doi.org/10.58222/js.v21i2.153
Silva, R. P., Mamede, H. S., & Santos, V. (2025). A new proposed model to assess the digital organizational readiness to maximize the results of the digital transformation in SMEs. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 10(1), 100644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2024.100644
Xu, G., Zheng, Z., Zhang, J., Sun, T., & Liu, G. (2025). Does Digitalization Benefit Employees? A Systematic Meta-Analysis of the Digital Technology–Employee Nexus in the Workplace. Systems, 13(6), 13060409. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13060409
Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2007). The Job Demands?Resources model: state of the art. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 22(3), 309–328. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/02683940710733115
Boccoli, G., Gastaldi, L., & Corso, M. (2024). Transformational leadership and work engagement in remote work settings: the moderating role of the supervisor’s digital communication skills. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 45(7), 1240–1257. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-09-2023-0490
Chatterjee, S., Chaudhuri, R., Vrontis, D., & Giovando, G. (2023). Digital workplace and organization performance: Moderating role of digital leadership capability. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 8(1), 100334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2023.100334
Cheng, Z., Jin, X., & Kwak, W. J. (2025). Using the new positive aspect of digital leadership to improve organizational sustainability: Testing moderated mediation model. Acta Psychologica, 255(5), 104963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104963
Cyfert, S., Dyduch, W., Szumowski, W., & Prause, G. (2025). Are we ready for digital transformation? The role of organizational culture, leadership and competence in building digital advantage. Central European Management Journal, 33(2), 219–231. https://doi.org/10.1108/CEMJ-11-2024-0346
Dam, C. T., & Solanki, V. K. (2024). The Application of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) Algorithm to Brand Image and Consumer Loyalty at Shoe Shops. In Nga Thi Hong Nguyen, Shivani Agarwal, & Ewa Ziemba (Eds.), Analytics in Finance and Risk Management (pp. 343–351). CRC Press.
Demerouti, E., Bakker, A. B., Nachreiner, F., & Schaufeli, W. B. (2001). The job demands-resources model of burnout. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86(3), 499–512. https://doi.org/https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0021-9010.86.3.499
Haba Ora, F. (2020). Rekam jejak (2017-2019) dua tahun implementasi visi misi FirMan-mu di Kota Kupang “Ayo Berubah” (1st ed.). Phoenix Publisher.
Haba Ora, Fellyanus. (2015a). Jefri Riwu Kore?: I am Jeriko, an ordinary person (1st ed.). Sibuku Media Press.
Haba Ora, Fellyanus. (2015b). Sebuah Inspirasi Pendidikan Politik (1st ed.). JP II Publishing House.
Haba Ora, Fellyanus. (2022). Evaluasi kinerja pegawai berdasarkan iklim pandemi Covid-19, kompetensi, budaya organisasi, gaya kepemimpinan, motivasi, pengembangan karir, komitmen organisasi dan disiplin di Sekretariat Daerah Pemerintah Kota Kupang. Universitas Indo Global Mandiri.
Haba Ora, Fellyanus, Henuk, Y. L., Riwu Kore, M. H., & Riwu Kore, J. R. (2026). Lingkungan kerja fisik dan non-fisik sebagai prediktor kondusivitas kerja. CITA HUMANITY: Journal of Social Humanities and Community Development, 1(1), 38–51. https://journal.citacendekia.com/humanity/article/view/12
Haba Ora, Fellyanus, Riwu Kore, M. H., & Riwu Kore, J. R. (2026). Dilemma of Artificial Intelligence Adoption in Educational Settings. CITA INSIGHT?: Journal of Counseling and Educational Dynamic, 1(1), 14–32. https://journal.citacendekia.com/cijced/article/view/1
Hair, J. F., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2022). PLS-SEM: Indeed a Silver Bullet. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 19(2), 139–152. https://doi.org/10.2753/MTP1069-6679190202
Han, Y., Wang, X., & Bai, Y. (2025). Leveraging digital transformation in hybrid workplaces: current landscape, underlying challenges, and future prospects. Frontiers in Human Dynamics, 7(12), 1622625. https://doi.org/10.3389/fhumd.2025.1622625
Jia, J., Zhang, Y., Bakar, L. J. A., & Ilyas, M. A. (2025). Transforming work in the digital era: AI-enhanced leadership and its effect on IT professional burnout. Acta Psychologica, 260(10), 105537. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105537
Karunia, A. M. (2022, July 21). 35 persen ASN di RI kinerjanya rendah, BKN: Seperti “Kayu Mati” karena malas. Kompas.Com, 1. https://money.kompas.com/read/2022/07/21/142000926/35-persen-asn-di-ri-kinerjanya-rendah-bkn--seperti-kayu-mati-karena-malas
Khatoon, U. T., Babgi, M., Hadi, N. T., Mir, R. N., & Velidandi, A. (2025). Technology-Driven Change in Human Resource Management: Reshaping Talent Management and Organizational Design. Administrative Sciences, 15(11), 15110452. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15110452
Li, J., Ebabu, E. A., Yu, H., Yuan, D. P., Ning, J., & Xuanyi, X. (2025). Leadership, environment, and engagement: Psychological pathways to enhanced personnel performance. Acta Psychologica, 261(11), 105963. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105963
Lolu, M., Haba Ora, F., & Riwu Kore, M. H. (2026). Potret Prediktor Motivasi Aparatur Sipil Negara di Badan Keuangan dan Aset Daerah Kota Kupang. CITACOMDEV: Journal Od Community Development, 1(1), 1–13. https://journal.citacendekia.com/cjcd/article/view/20
Ly, B. (2024). Inclusion leadership and employee work engagement: The role of organizational commitment in Cambodian public organization. Asia Pacific Management Review, 29(1), 44–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmrv.2023.06.003
Ly, B. (2025). Digital transformation, organizational culture, and public sector flexibility in emerging economies: insights from NCA and PLS-SEM Analysis. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 17(6), 6906–6938. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-025-02801-x
Marnisah, L., Hasbiyallah, Riwu Kore, J. R., Haba Ora, F., & Maris, H. (2021). Analysis of career development, leadership style, and emotional intelligence on the work achievement of employees of PT. BNI (Persero) Tbk Palembang Branch. In Y. UZUN (Ed.), 3rd International Gobeklitepe Social and Humanities Congress (pp. 257–272). IKSAD Global Publications. https://doi.org/10.1159/000478491
Pradana, A., Halim, R., & Afandi, M. (2025). Kinerja aparatur sipil negara dalam pelayanan publik di Kelurahan Tanamodindi Kecamatan Mantikulore Kota Palu. Journal of Publicness Studies, 2(4), 47–56. https://doi.org/10.22487/nkez1v95
Riwu Kore, J R, Haba Ora, F., & Marnisah, L. (2022). Relationship between the pandemic climate of Covid-19 and leadership style on the employees performance of the Secretariat Regional on Kupang City Government. Journal of Education, Humaniora and Social Sciences (JEHSS), 5(1), 181–193. https://doi.org/10.34007/jehss.v5i1.1175
Riwu Kore, Jefirstson R, Haba Ora, F., & Saubaki, M. A. (2026). Kinerja ASN Badan Kesbangpolinmas Kota Kupang. JURNAL ILMIAH UNSTAR ROTE, 2(1), 78–89. https://doi.org/10.1234/jiur.v2i1.109
Riwu Kore, Jefirstson R, Riwu Kore, F. R., & Haba Ora, F. (2023). Prediktor budaya organisasi di Kantor Badan Kesatuan Bangsa dan Politik Kota Kupang (Predictors of organizational culture in the office of the Badan Kesatuan Bangsa and Politik of Kupang City). Jurnal Saintifik: Multi Science Journal, 21(2), 57–66. https://doi.org/10.58222/js.v21i2.153
Silva, R. P., Mamede, H. S., & Santos, V. (2025). A new proposed model to assess the digital organizational readiness to maximize the results of the digital transformation in SMEs. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 10(1), 100644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2024.100644
Xu, G., Zheng, Z., Zhang, J., Sun, T., & Liu, G. (2025). Does Digitalization Benefit Employees? A Systematic Meta-Analysis of the Digital Technology–Employee Nexus in the Workplace. Systems, 13(6), 13060409. https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13060409
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