The Effect of Digitalization and Digital Leadership Style Through Organizational Commitment Mediation on Employee Performance at PT. PLN (Persero) UP3 Situbondo
Abstract
The rapid advancement of digital technology necessitates organizational transformation, compelling state-owned enterprises like PT PLN (Persero) to adopt digital services such as the Yanbung Mobile application. However, its implementation at UP3 Situbondo has yielded inconsistent employee performance outcomes, highlighting a gap in understanding the precise mechanisms at play. This study aims to analyze the effect of digitalization implementation and digital leadership style on employee performance, with organizational commitment as a mediating variable. Using an explanatory quantitative design, data was collected via questionnaires from all 81 Customer Connection Service Officers at PT PLN UP3 Situbondo. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling with the Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) approach. The results indicate that digital leadership style has a significant positive direct effect on employee performance. While digitalization implementation significantly increases organizational commitment, it does not directly improve performance. Furthermore, organizational commitment does not significantly affect performance nor mediate the relationships between the independent variables and performance. These findings underscore the paramount importance of competent digital leadership over mere technological adoption in driving performance during digital transformation.
Downloads
References
Akinlabi, A. A., Dahunsi, F., Popoola, J., & Okegbemi, L. B. (2025). Real-time mobile broadband quality of service prediction using AI-driven customer-centric approach. Advances in Computing and Engineering. https://doi.org/10.21622/ace.2025.05.1.1332
AlNuaimi, B. K., Kumar Singh, S., Ren, S., Budhwar, P., & Vorobyev, D. (2022). Mastering digital transformation: The nexus between leadership, agility, and digital strategy. Journal of Business Research, 145, 636–648. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.03.038
Benkarim, A., & Imbeau, D. (2021). Organizational commitment and lean sustainability: Literature review and directions for future research. In Sustainability (Switzerland) (Vol. 13, Issue 6). mdpi.com. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13063357
Björkdahl, J. (2020). Strategies for Digitalization in Manufacturing Firms. California Management Review, 62(4), 17–36. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008125620920349
Chen, B., Wang, L., Li, B., & Liu, W. (2022). Work stress, mental health, and employee performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1006580
Correani, A., Massis, A. De, Frattini, F., Petruzzelli, A., & Natalicchio, A. (2020). Implementing a Digital Strategy: Learning from the Experience of Three Digital Transformation Projects. California Management Review, 62, 37–56. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008125620934864
Di Giulio, M., & Vecchi, G. (2023). Implementing digitalization in the public sector. Technologies, agency, and governance. Public Policy and Administration, 38(2), 133–158.
Fantahun, B., Dellie, E., Worku, N., & Debie, A. (2023). Organizational commitment and associated factors among health professionals working in public hospitals of southwestern Oromia, Ethiopia. BMC Health Services Research, 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09167-3
Hasan, T., Jawaad, M., & Butt, I. (2021). The influence of person–job fit, work–life balance, and work conditions on organizational commitment: Investigating the mediation of job satisfaction in the private sector of the emerging market. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126622
Henderikx, M., & Stoffers, J. (2022). An Exploratory Literature Study into Digital Transformation and Leadership: Toward Future-Proof Middle Managers. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020687
Indrayani, I., Nurhatisyah, N., Damsar, D., & Wibisono, C. (2023). How does millennial employee job satisfaction affect performance? Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning. https://doi.org/10.1108/heswbl-01-2023-0004
Isbahi, M. B., Zuana, M. M. M., & Toha, M. (2024). The Multi-Social Relation of the Cattle Industry in the Plaosan Subdistrict Animal Market of Magetan Regency. Malacca: Journal of Management and Business Development , 1(1), 31–46. https://doi.org/10.69965/malacca.v1i1.51
Kassem, B., Rossini, M., Frecassetti, S., Costa, F., & Staudacher, A. P. (2024). An implementation model for socio-technical digital tools. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/jmtm-06-2023-0230
Khalid, S., & Meyer, A. J. (2023). The Utility Digital Transformation. Climate and Energy, 39(8), 15–21.
Kunaifi, A., Aris Saputra, T., & Subri, S. (2023). Kewirausahaan dalam Pemberdayaan Pesantren: Best Practice pada Pondok Pesantren Mambaul Ulum Sampang. Istithmar, 7(1), 66–78. https://doi.org/10.30762/istithmar.v7i1.654
Kunaifi, A., Djamaluddin, B., Fauzia, I. Y., Ritonga, I., Nurhayati, Syam, N., Widiastuti, T., & Ahsan, M. (2025). Conservative-Political Global Islamic Economy Movement, Face of Entrepreneurship Constructivism of The Indonesian Hijra Community. IQTISHODUNA: Jurnal Ekonomi Islam, 14(2), 531–550. https://doi.org/10.54471/iqtishoduna.v14i2.3192
Kunaifi, A., & Qomariyah, L. (2021). Developing Company Images Through Spiritual Public Relations Facing Covid-19 Outbreak. Jurnal Iqtisaduna, 1(1), 13. https://doi.org/10.24252/iqtisaduna.v1i1.15808
Kunaifi, A., & Syam, N. (2021). Business Communication in Developing the Halal Tourism Industry. Indonesian Interdisciplinary Journal of Sharia Economics (IIJSE), 4(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.31538/iijse.v4i1.1305
Latupeirissa, J. J. P., Dewi, N. L. Y., Prayana, I. K. R., Srikandi, M. B., Ramadiansyah, S. A., & Pramana, I. B. G. A. Y. (2024). Transforming Public Service Delivery: A Comprehensive Review of Digitization Initiatives. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072818
Martinez, F. (2019). Process excellence the key for digitalisation. Bus. Process. Manag. J., 25, 1716–1733. https://doi.org/10.1108/bpmj-08-2018-0237
McCarthy, P., Sammon, D., & Alhassan, I. (2021). Digital Transformation Leadership Characteristics: A Literature Analysis. Journal of Decision Systems, 32, 79–109. https://doi.org/10.1080/12460125.2021.1908934
Müller, S. D., Konzag, H., Nielsen, J. A., & Sandholt, H. B. (2024). Digital transformation leadership competencies: A contingency approach. Int. J. Inf. Manag., 75, 102734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2023.102734
Nayem, Z., & Uddin, Md. A. (2024). Unbiased Employee Performance Evaluation Using Machine Learning. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2024.100243
Olphin, T. P. A., Miller, O., Portnell, N., Prescott-Mayling, L., Young, C., & Hewitt, J. (2025). Testing application-based tasking and hotspots policing in a geographically large, non-metropolitan police service: A two-in-one randomised trial. Cambridge Journal of Evidence-Based Policing, 9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41887-024-00096-7
Pandya, V. (2025). Organizational Commitment: Evolution, Measurement, Antecedents, and Knowledge Gaps. International Journal of Academic Excellence and Research. https://doi.org/10.62823/mgm/ijaer/01.02.72
Rosyid, Abd., Kunaifi, A., & Asyari, Q. (2021). Corporate Spiritual Leadership: Model Kepemimpinan Bisnis Era Milenial dalam Menciptakan Great Corporate. Transparansi : Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Administrasi, 4(1), 85–93. https://doi.org/10.31334/transparansi.v4i1.1609
Sagar, Ms. N., & Haque, Dr. S. N. (2025). Perceived Relationship Between Performance Management System and Employee Performance. International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews. https://doi.org/10.56975/ijrar.v12i2.312242
Schiuma, G., Santarsiero, F., Carlucci, D., & Jarrarb, Y. (2024). Transformative leadership competencies for organizational digital transformation. Business Horizons. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2024.04.004
Simbolon, M. R., Alifiah, E., & Nurdiana, E. (2025). Optimizing Employee Performance. IJEBD (International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Development). https://doi.org/10.29138/ijebd.v8i3.3218
Şimşekli, D., Öztürk, K., & Karahan, T. F. (2025). Factors affecting organizational commitment among nurses: A cross-sectional study on job satisfaction, life satisfaction, and demographic characteristics. BMC Nursing, 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-03930-z
Soleh, N., Fajriah, F., & Rahman, F. (2024). Kontribusi mahasiswa dalam meningkatkan kualitas sumber daya manusia dan mewujudkan visi Indonesia Emas 2045. Journal of Smart Education and Learning, 1(1), 22–28. https://doi.org/10.53088/jsel.v1i1.978
Tagscherer, F., & Carbon, C. (2023). Leadership for successful digitalization: A literature review on companies’ internal and external aspects of digitalization. Sustainable Technology and Entrepreneurship. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stae.2023.100039
Triansyah, F. A., Hejin, W., & Stefania, S. (2023). Factors Affecting Employee Performance: A Systematic Review. Journal Markcount Finance. https://doi.org/10.55849/jmf.v1i2.102
Vuong, T. D. N., & Nguyen, L. T. (2022). The Key Strategies for Measuring Employee Performance in Companies: A Systematic Review. In Sustainability (Vol. 14, Issue 21, p. 14017). mdpi.com. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114017
Worku, Y., Lulseged, B., Megersa, H., Seyoum, M., & Mohammed, J. (2025). Predictors of organizational commitment among nurses in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Health Services Research, 25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-13561-4
Yu, M., Zhou, R., Cai, Z., Tan, C., & Wang, H. (2020). Unravelling the relationship between response time and user experience in mobile applications. Internet Res., 30, 1353–1382. https://doi.org/10.1108/intr-05-2019-0223
Zaki, M. (2019). Digital transformation: Harnessing digital technologies for the next generation of services. Journal of Services Marketing, 33(4), 429–435.
Zhao, S., Wang, T., Luo, S., Mi, Y., Wang, Y., Ma, H., & Wei, X. (2025). The impact of organizational commitment on job performance in primary healthcare: A motivation internalization perspective. Frontiers in Public Health, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1685420
Copyright (c) 2026 Imbang Satrio Pakerti, Endang Suswati, Tri Cicik Wijayanti
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
