The Influence of Leadership Style and Work Culture on Performance with Organizational Communication Mediation at the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Office of Jembrana Bali Regency

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FORMOSA NEWS - Badung - Strong Leadership and Work Culture Drive Public Sector Success in Bali Agriculture Department. Effective leadership styles and a strong internal work culture directly improve employee performance in local government agencies, with transparent organizational communication playing a crucial mediating role. The study was conducted by researchers I Made Suarnawa, Ni Ketut Dewi Irwanti, and Ni Luh Putu Agustini Karta from Universitas Triatma Mulya. Published in July 2026 in the Asian Journal of Management Analytics, the research investigated 77 employees at the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Office of Jembrana Regency in Bali, Indonesia. The findings provide valuable insights into how municipal civil service departments can optimize public service delivery, maintain food price stability, and enhance agricultural productivity through strategic human resource management.

Background and Relevance

In government organizations, employee performance directly influences the quality of public services. Within agricultural and food administrative sectors, staff efficiency affects local food distribution networks, crop yields, and regional economic stability, including food inflation control. Despite the critical nature of these responsibilities, public sector agencies frequently face challenges related to workplace communication, administrative bottlenecks, and varying levels of employee motivation. Understanding how internal management practices influence day-to-day operations is essential for local governments striving to implement responsive and sustainable agricultural policies.

Research Methodology
The researchers utilized a quantitative research design classified as explanatory research to prove cause-and-effect relationships among workplace variables. The study surveyed a total population of 77 employees at the Jembrana Regency Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Office using structured questionnaires. To evaluate the complex interactions between management practices and job outcomes, the team performed path analysis and Sobel testing. This statistical approach allowed the authors to measure both direct effects and indirect connections, specifically analyzing how organizational communication acts as an intermediate channel between leadership, work culture, and overall employee output.

Key Findings
The statistical evaluation demonstrated strong direct and indirect statistical linkages across all analyzed factors:

• Leadership Style Directly Enhances Performance: Leadership style demonstrated a significant positive direct effect on employee performance, yields a path coefficient of 0.281 ($p = 0.030$). Leaders who provide a clear vision, offer individual coaching, and lead by example foster higher workplace productivity.
  
• Work Culture Boosts Output: Work culture showed a significant positive direct effect on employee performance, with a path coefficient of 0.295 ($p = 0.009$). Shared values, self-confidence, initiative, and emotional management among staff directly elevate overall work quality.
  
• Communication Drives Daily Operations: Clear and open organizational communication directly improves worker performance, recording a path coefficient of 0.288 ($p = 0.004$).
  
• Mediating Role of Organizational Communication: Path analysis confirmed that leadership style ($p = 0.000$) and work culture ($p = 0.000$) strongly improve organizational communication. Sobel tests verified that organizational communication significantly mediates the relationship between leadership style and performance ($Z = 5.44 > 1.98$) as well as work culture and performance ($Z = 3.98 > 1.98$).
  

Implications and Real-World Impact
The study highlights that technical expertise alone is insufficient for optimal public administration; government agencies must actively build transparent communication channels. By establishing clear feedback loops and encouraging interactive management styles, local agencies can minimize work errors and streamline coordination across departments. For policymakers and municipal leaders, these insights offer a actionable roadmap to boost civil service productivity without relying strictly on top-down directives. Implementing mentorship programs and reinforcing shared institutional values directly strengthens food security initiatives and public service efficiency in regional economies.

Author Profile
I Made Suarnawa, S.S.T.Pa., M.M.: Researcher at Universitas Triatma Mulya, specializing in human resource management, public sector leadership, and organizational behavior.
Ni Ketut Dewi Irwanti, S.E., M.M.: Academic and researcher at Universitas Triatma Mulya, focusing on organizational development and human resource strategic planning.
Ni Luh Putu Agustini Karta, S.E., M.M.: Senior researcher at Universitas Triatma Mulya with expertise in management analytics, organizational communication, and performance evaluation.

Source

I Made Suarnawa, Ni Ketut Dewi Irwanti, Ni Luh Putu Agustini Karta. The Influence of Leadership Style and Work Culture on Performance with Organizational Communication Mediation at the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Office of Jembrana Bali Regency. Asian Journal of Management Analytics (AJMA), Vol. 5, No. 3 (2026), hal. 587–606.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/ajma.v5i3.16707
URL : https://journal.formosapublisher.org/index.php/ajma