Linking Job Crafting to Sustainability: A Qualitative Study on Bureaucratic Reform in Indonesia

¹ Public Sector Human Resource Management Study Program, Faculty of Government Management, Institut Pemerintahan Dalam Negeri, West Java, Indonesia
² Political Science Programme, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia

^* Corresponding author: citra.firma@ipdn.ac.id

Abstract

Sustainability is an issue that requires attention from all sectors, including civil servants in public sector organizations. Job crafting is an approach that has a positive influence on proactive and adaptive behaviors, enabling employees to contribute to sustainability efforts. This has been demonstrated by civil servants themselves during the adaptation process to the delayering policy as part of bureaucratic reform in Indonesia. This study employs a qualitative design with thematic analysis and involves employees affected by the delayering policy. The aim of this study is to explore how job crafting can operate as an adaptive response to bureaucratic reform and, at the same time, be adopted to promote sustainability among public sector employees in Indonesia. The findings indicate that during the transition period, functional officials were able to endure despite facing career uncertainty. They reframed their perspectives on work, which helped them to overcome existing challenges. Supervisors and colleagues also played an important role in facilitating successful adaptation. Therefore, job crafting can be considered a viable approach in advancing sustainability initiatives.