Application of Strategic Management Through Military Leadership

Abstract

The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) unit has specific duties as mandated by Law No. 34 of 2004. Soldiers are expected to adhere to values derived from the nation's military doctrine, encapsulated in the Sapta Marga, the Soldier's Oath, and the 8 Obligations of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. Essential qualities for soldiers include loyalty to superiors, decisiveness, discipline, and responsibility towards their duties. The Indonesian National Armed Forces organizational structure is permanent and non-profit, which limits social interactions among soldiers, particularly those from different units or ranks. There are no specific guidelines for leadership styles at different rank levels, leading leaders to rely on the organizational culture established during military training. According to Wawan (2020), leadership in the military, underpinned by organizational culture values, motivates soldiers to improve their performance. Leaders play a critical role in applying organizational culture by making decisions based on Indonesian National Armed Forces doctrines. The responsibilities of officers within the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) evolve with their rank. Career development is determined by rank following the completion of general development education (Dikbangum), which involves rigorous selection processes evaluating various aspects supporting the required skills and competencies for higher ranks. Proportional stratified random sampling was used among officer students in Dikbangum for Secapa, Selapa, Sesko Indonesian National Armed Forces, and Seskoad. The study included 640 respondents: 111 from Secapa, 278 from Selapa, 190 from Seskoad, and 61 from Sesko Indonesian National Armed Forces. Research findings indicate that leadership positively affects soldier performance through organizational culture and work motivation within the Indonesian National Army. However, data from the overall sample revealed a negative impact of work motivation on soldier performance, both directly and through leadership roles incorporating work motivation elements. This negative effect is attributed to age, rank, job responsibility, and unit type differences among the research subjects in each cluster group. The study on officer students undergoing general development education in 2023 within the Indonesian National Army shows that leadership directly influences soldier performance, positively affects work motivation, and impacts organizational culture. Leadership also affects performance through work motivation and organizational culture. Leadership approaches at different rank levels have positively influenced soldiers' responses, enabling them to perform their duties effectively in accordance with directives from higher units, such as MABES Indonesian National Armed Forces.