The Role of Ethical Leadership and Managerial Competence in Improving Human Resource Innovation at the Civil Service and Human Resource Development Agency (BKPSDM) Office in Bekasi City and Bekasi Regency, West Java Province

Abstract

This study investigates the extent to which ethical leadership and managerial competence contribute to human resource (HR) innovation within government organisations, focusing on the BKPSDM offices of Bekasi City and Bekasi Regency in Indonesia. Using a quantitative survey design, the research measures the relationship between the two independent variables and HR innovation among civil servants. The analysis shows that ethical leadership and managerial competence each exert a significant positive influence, jointly accounting for 47.39 per cent of the variance in HR innovation. The findings suggest that when leaders demonstrate integrity, fairness, and moral clarity—combined with managerial abilities in planning, coordination, decision-making, and change management—organisations become more conducive to creativity and innovation. The study contributes theoretically by reinforcing the complementary role of ethical behaviour and managerial capability in public-sector innovation. However, the limited variable scope and single-regional setting constrain generalisation, indicating the need for broader models in future research.