International Journal of Management, Entrepreneurship, Social Science and Humanities

Leveraging Business Principles to Improve Human Resource Management in the Public Sector in South Africa

Simon Matome Nkgapele, Phumlani Dlamkile , Sifiso Mofokeng — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The South African public sector plays an important role in socio-economic development and Human Resource Management (HRM) is an important element to ensure the provision of effective services. Based on a qualitative approach and a huge dependence on secondary data, the study explored lessons learned from business management principles for improving HRM in the public sector in South Africa. The study focused on key areas such as leadership, talent acquisition, retention and remuneration, performance management, and employee development, and highlighted how adaptation of business management frameworks could improve these areas. The results show that the objectives and operational context of the public and business sectors are non-identical, but business HRM practices such as agile leadership, talent acquisition, retention, compensation and performance management, and employee development strategies can be tailored to the specific needs of the public sector. The study recommended the implementation of strategies such as efficient recruitment, performance-based incentives, and non-monetary benefits will address key challenges, improving services and enhancing public trust in government institutions.

Impact of Green University on Student Environmental Behaviour in SBM ITB

Yohanes Aldiyasa Setyo Bimantoro, Achmad Ghazali — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study investigated the real-world impact of green university initiatives (GUIs) on students' Pro-Environmental Behaviour (PEB) at SBM ITB, while also examining environmental attitude (EA) and knowledge (EK) as possible mediating variables. A quantitative survey of 144 students, analysed using PLS-SEM, showed that GUIs had a significant effect on EA, which then positively predicted PEB. EA has also been found to significantly mediate the relationship between GUI and PEB. However, GUIs did not significantly affect EK, and the EK influence on PEB was insignificant from the analysis. Findings from this research suggest that GUIs primarily drive sustainable behaviour by supporting positive environmental attitudes rather than increasing knowledge. These findings urge higher education institution to prioritise attitudinal development in green campus programmes.

Impact of Inclusive Culture and Work Environment on Employee Performance with Job Satisfaction as a Mediator

Nurna Pratiwi, Dwi Irma Agustiani, Rifqi Syarif Nasrulloh — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study examines and analyzes the influence of inclusive culture and work environment on employee performance, with job satisfaction serving as a mediating variable. The population consisted of 190 female employees in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a four-point Likert scale and analyzed quantitatively using SEM PLS 3. The results indicate that inclusive culture has a positive effect on both job satisfaction and performance, whereas the work environment has a negative effect on job satisfaction. Job satisfaction positively influenced performance and mediated the relationship between inclusive culture and performance. This study highlights the importance of fostering a strong inclusive culture within organizations to enhance employee performance. Additionally, companies should prioritize employee skill development through training programs to improve overall job satisfaction and performance. Therefore, this study suggests that organizations should focus on creating an inclusive and supportive work environment to achieve optimal performance outcomes.

Improving Housing Price Prediction with Machine Learning: Insights from Yogyakarta

Galuh Sudarawerti, Dr. Fahmi Arif — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Predicting housing prices accurately remains a major challenge in the real estate industry, especially in fast-urbanizing areas where both structural and locational factors are at play. This study focuses on the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia—a city with varied land use and dynamic housing market conditions—to explore how machine learning (ML) can support better price forecasting. Using the CRISP-DM framework, we analyzed data from 2,020 residential listings, incorporating variables such as building area, land size, number of rooms, and district. Among the several classification models tested, Random Forest achieved the highest accuracy and F1-score. According to the feature importance analysis, building area, land area, and district emerged as the strongest predictors, while vertical features like the number of floors had relatively little effect. These findings suggest that in Yogyakarta’s market, observable physical features may play a bigger role in price determination than location-specific factors. While the study offers a practical framework that real estate professionals can apply, its reliance on structural data and a single-region focus does limit how broadly the findings can be applied. Future research could expand on this by including socioeconomic or environmental variables to strengthen model performance and relevance across different markets.

Halal Certification as a Development Strategy: Insights from Dapur Reuni for Micro-Enterprise Competitiveness

Tri Utami Salsabila, Zuhrinal M Nawawi, Waizul Qarni — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

In response to growing consumer awareness of halal products and increasingly competitive markets, halal certification has emerged as a vital strategy for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to enhance competitiveness and expand market access, particularly in countries with a predominantly Muslim population, such as Indonesia. This study aims to explore in-depth how the implementation of halal certification contributes to the development of micro businesses by focusing on a case study of Dapur Reunion, an MSME operating in Medan City, Indonesia. Employing a qualitative approach and case study strategy, this research investigates processes, strategies, and impacts of halal certification through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and document analysis involving business actors and their operational environments. The interviews were conducted with five respondents, including Dapur Reuni business actors and loyal consumers who consistently purchase products from Dapur Reuni MSMEs in Medan City. The findings reveal that halal certification plays a significant role in building consumer trust, strengthening brand image, widening market reach, and promoting innovation and operational efficiency. Additionally, the certification process encourages business owners to implement more structured production standards and maintain sustainability through consistent internal monitoring. The primary contribution of this study lies in providing empirical evidence on post-certification strategic dynamics from the perspective of MSME actors, which remains underexplored in existing literature. These findings are expected to serve as a practical reference for other MSMEs and inform policymakers and support institutions in developing a more inclusive and sustainable halal certification ecosystem.

Strategies for Enhancing Job Satisfaction: The Influence of Rewards, Work-Life Balance & Coworker Support

Nazarwin, Riki Wanda Putra, Bambang Hermanto, Syafni Yelvi Siska — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study aims to examine the effects of rewards, work–life balance, and coworker support on employee job satisfaction. Employing a quantitative design with independent samples t tests, the research population comprised all employees of Politeknik Pelayaran Sumatera Barat in 2025 (150 persons), with a purposive sampling technique based on percentage to select respondents. So, the pilot sample is 37 persons, and the research sample is 113 persons. A structured questionnaire was used to measure the variables of recognition, work–life balance, coworker support, and job satisfaction, and data were analyzed using SPSS. The findings reveal that rewards, work–life balance, and coworker support significantly influence job satisfaction (t-calculated > t-critical; 21.849, 14.508, 21.991 > 1.66). Rewards also impact work–life balance, which in turn affects coworker support, although they do not directly influence it. Implications of this research suggest that implementing a structured reward system can be an effective strategy to enhance job satisfaction in vocational education settings. Future studies are advised to employ mixed methods designs and broaden the sample to multiple institutions to verify and generalize these results. It is recommended that the management of Politeknik Pelayaran Sumatera Barat develop and implement integrated reward programs and flexible work policies to optimize employee well-being and productivity.

A Palm Sap-Based Brown Sugar Business Development Strategy Based on the Business Model Canvas

Amanda Putri Salsabila, Wahyu Syarvina, Aqwa Naser Daulay — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Through the nine elements of the business model canvas, this study seeks to identify or develop a strategy for the development of a palm sap-based brown sugar business at CV. Ritawati Silau Rakyat Brown Palm Sugar, Serdang Bedagai, Indonesia The goal is to establish partnerships to work together to increase revenue and market share. A qualitative approach combined with phenomenological analysis was used to investigate the phenomenon that arises in the field connected to the growth of a brown sugar enterprise based on palm sap in Silau Rakyat Village. Results of the Business Model Canvas Analysis at CV. Ritawati Palm Brown Sugar is a customer segment, local consumers who are looking for natural sweeteners. It has a distinctive taste and authentic aroma. Its distribution is carried out through collectors for the local market. Building customer relationships and communication directly and through social media. Revenue streams: The main source of income is the sale of palm sap brown sugar. Key Resources: The main resource includes palm sap water as a raw material. Key activities, including procurement of raw materials. Key Partnership: Partnership with oil palm farmers. Cost structure, including production, distribution, taxes, and packaging. However, challenges, such as seasonal dependence and raw material availability, remain. The solution to these challenges is to implement key partnerships in the form of procuring palm sap from surrounding areas to address declining palm sap production in Silau Rakyat Village.

Determinants of the Use of Cashless Transactions in Culinary MSME Consumers in Tebing Tinggi City

Putri Safa Aulia Lubis, Atika, Nurul Inayah — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Multiple linear regression analysis is one of the quantitative techniques used in this study. The data was processed using SPSS version 22. The population of this study is the people of Tebing Tinggi who use cashless transactions as a payment method for culinary MSMEs. The sample in this study amounted to 96 people. This study aims to find out the convenience, benefits, and digital literacy that affect individually and simultaneously the use of cashless transactions in culinary MSME consumers in the city of Tebing Tinggi. The analysis of the study shows that convenience has a positive and significant influence on the use of cashless transactions. Usefulness also has a positive and significant influence on the use of cashless transactions, while digital literacy has no influence on the use of cashless transactions. Convenience, Usefulness, and Digital Literacy simultaneously affect the use of cashless transactions.

Bridging Employees’ Perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility and Work Engagement through Organizational Commitment in an Indonesian Infrastructure Context

Oom Komalasari, Wiwi Hartati, Sylvani — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study investigates the extent to which employees’ perceptions of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) shape their level of work engagement, positioning organizational commitment as an intervening mechanism. The analysis draws on the case of PT Jasamarga Transjawa Tol in Indonesia. Grounded in the growing academic discourse on internal CSR implications, this research employs a quantitative methodology involving a saturated sample of 161 employees. It utilizes Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) for statistical evaluation. The findings reveal that employees’ perceptions of CSR have a positive and statistically significant effect on both organizational commitment and work engagement. Moreover, organizational commitment emerges as a key mediating construct that links CSR perception to employee engagement. These insights clarify the psychological mechanisms through which CSR initiatives impact employee attitudes, highlighting organizational commitment as a critical pathway to enhanced engagement. Ultimately, this study contributes to the literature on organizational behavior by presenting empirical evidence that reinforces the strategic relevance of internal CSR in fostering a committed and engaged workforce, particularly in the context of public infrastructure organizations.

A Combined Fuzzy AHP-Hybrid TOPSIS Methodology to Determine Smelter Project Selection

Dimas Rahfaditya Pradana, Utomo Sarjono Putro — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study aims to give recommendations on smelter project selection based on three alternatives: the Alumina Processing Plant, the Pig Iron Processing Plant, and MHP HPAL Nickel Plant by using a hybrid decision-making method Fuzzy AHP and Hybrid TOPSIS. The method integrates both qualitative expert judgments and quantitative data to ensure objectivity of analysis. Expert input was collected through structured interviews and questionnaires, capturing a diverse range of perspectives from technical, operational, and management roles. The Pairwise Comparison questionnaire data are analyzed using Fuzzy AHP to calculate the weights of these criteria, addressing the ambiguity in human judgment through triangular fuzzy numbers. These fuzzy weights were then combined with quantitative performance data for each project using Hybrid TOPSIS, ensuring the final ranking accounted for both qualitative and quantitative factors. The results showed that the Alumina Project achieved the highest closeness coefficient of 0.6, making it the most feasible and strategic project for immediate development. The Pig Iron Project ranked second, reflecting its stable production capacity and technical maturity, though it faces challenges from environmental impacts and a limited domestic market for pig iron. The MHP Nickel Project ranked third due to its complex environmental footprint, high capital intensity, and current market volatility, despite its relevance to the EV battery sector.

Advancing Digital Transformation through Business Process Orientation Maturity Models: A Systematic Literature Review

Budi Riyanto Prabowo, Adieb Mursyada, Nazriel Fahri Saifulloh — Sun, 31 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The growing pace of digital transformation has positioned Business Process Orientation Maturity Models (BPOMMs) as critical tools for managing organizational change. This systematic literature review (SLR) synthesizes findings from 40 peer-reviewed journal articles to examine how BPOMMs have evolved to support strategic transformation. The study aims to identify major themes, assess methodologies, and evaluate the incorporation of technology, sustainability, and ethics in maturity models. Using the PRISMA guidelines, a structured four-phase process was applied: identification, screening, eligibility assessment, and inclusion. Searches were conducted in major databases using targeted Boolean strings, followed by thematic synthesis and data tabulation. The review identifies six dominant themes: BPOMMs as enablers of digital transformation; the development of multidimensional, context-specific frameworks; the role of technologies such as AI and IoT; the integration of knowledge management and learning; the embedding of ESG practices; and the theoretical-methodological evolution. The study highlights a growing shift toward adaptive, user-centric, and ethically grounded models. This research contributes to academic and practical understanding by clarifying the strategic relevance of BPOMMs in modern digital ecosystems and proposing directions for more agile, sustainable frameworks.