FACTORS AFFECTING INNOVATIVE WORK BEHAVIOR AMONG GENERATION Z OF STARTUP EMPLOYEES IN JAKARTA

  • Renata Alifia(1*)
    Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Trisakti
  • Netania Emilisa(2)
    Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Trisakti
  • Zelda Dhiya Sulthoni(3)
    Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Trisakti
  • Anggita Agustia(4)
    Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Trisakti
  • Marsha Anita Muhadi(5)
    International Hotel and Tourism Management, International Management Institute
  • (*) Corresponding Author
Keywords: Ethical Leadership, Proactive Personality, Work Engagement, Innovative Work Behavior

Abstract

This study aims to examine the influence of Ethical Leadership and Proactive Personality on Innovative Work Behavior mediated by Work Engagement among Generation Z employees working in startup companies in Jakarta. A quantitative approach was applied through the distribution of questionnaires to 145 respondents using a purposive sampling method. The findings indicate that Ethical Leadership has a positive effect on Innovative Work Behavior, while Proactive Personality shows a negative direct influence. However, when mediated by Work Engagement, Proactive Personality exerts a positive effect on innovative behavior. These results suggest that proactive traits do not always directly result in innovation but can foster it when employees feel engaged and energized in their work. This study is limited to startups in Jakarta; therefore, future research is encouraged to broaden the geographical scope and incorporate additional variables to enhance understanding.

Keywords: Ethical Leadership; Proactive Personality; Work Engagement; Innovative Work Behavior

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adawiyah, W. R., Baliartati, B. O., & Fauzan, M. F. (2021). Pengaruh Employee Engagement terhadap Kepemimpinan Etis terhadap Kinerja Karyawan. Akuntabel, 18(1), 130–135.

Agustian, Z., & Didit Darmawan. (2024). Pengaruh Servant Leadership Terhadap Kinerja Guru. Tarunaedu: Journal of Education and Learning, 2(2), 80–97. https://doi.org/10.54298/tarunaedu.v2i2.386

Al-Azab, M. R., & Al-Romeedy, B. S. (2024). Servant leadership and tourism businesses’ outcomes: a multiple mediation model. Tourism Review, 79(1), 184–204. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-11-2022-0538

Aloulou, W. J., Almarshedi, R. F., Alharbi, S. S., & Alharbi, H. S. (2025). Fueling Innovation from Within: The Psychological Pathways to Innovative Work Behavior in Saudi Public Authorities. Administrative Sciences, 15(8), 295.
https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15080295

Alvianita, R. H., Emilisa, N., & Tiarapuspa. (2023). Pengaruh Supervisor Support Terhadap Employee Performance Dengan Organizational Identification Dan Office De-Clutter Sebagai Variabel Intervening Pada Karyawan Gen-Z Perusahaan Bidang Jasa Di Jakarta. Jurnal Ekonomi Trisakti, 3(2), 2175–2184.
https://doi.org/10.25105/jet.v3i2.16888

Amelia, T. N. (2017). Pengendalian Internal Bisnis Startup Indonesia: Sebuah Konsep. INOBIS: Jurnal Inovasi Bisnis Dan Manajemen Indonesia, 1(1), 59–67. https://doi.org/10.31842/jurnal-inobis.v1i1.18

Anugrahito, D., & Muafi, M. (2021). Pengaruh Proactive Personality, Core Self-Evaluation Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan Dimediasi Work Engagement. JBTI : Jurnal Bisnis : Teori Dan Implementasi, 11(3), 229–243.
https://doi.org/10.18196/jbti.v11i3.10331

Arsyad, N. A., Narimawati, U., & Aseanty, D. (2025). Ethical Leadership & Digital Leadership Dalam Work Engagement Terhadap Keterlibatan Generasi Z Yang Bekerja Di Kantor Pelayanan Pajak Di Jakarta. Management Studies and Entrepreneurship Journal, 6(4), 7728–7736.
http://journal.yrpipku.com/index.php/msej

Arum, L. S., Zahrani, A., & Duha, N. A. (2023). Karakteristik Generasi Z Dan Kesiapannya Dalam Menghadapi Bonus Demografi 2030. In Accounting Student Research Journal (Vol. 2, Issue 1).

Azzahra, A., Amar, F., Zainita, A., & Pelita, P. J. (2025). Pengaruh Proactive Personality, Knowledge Sharing, Dan Openness Terhadap Innovative Work Behavior Pada Karyawan Perusahaan X. Referensi : Jurnal Ilmu Manajemen Dan Akuntansi, 13(1), 34–47. https://doi.org/10.33366/ref.v13i1.6789

Brown, M. E., Treviño, L. K., & Harrison, D. A. (2005). Ethical leadership: A social learning perspective for construct development and testing. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 97(2), 117–134.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2005.03.002

Daeli, D., F. Hulu, P., Bu’ulolo, N. A., & Bate’e, M. M. (2024). The Influence of Financial Knowledge and Financial Attitudes on Financial Management Behavior on UMKM Actors in Lahomi Sub-District. Golden Ratio of Data in Summary, 4(2), 511–521. https://doi.org/10.52970/grdis.v4i2.575

Dhafa, A. F., & Netania, E. (2024). Peran Empowering Leadership Dan Affective Commitment Terdahap Work-Life Balance Dimediasi Oleh Work Engagement Pada Karyawan Organisasi Perbankan Di Jakarta Barat. Journal of Social and Economics Research, 6(1), 418–431.
https://doi.org/10.54783/jser.v6i1.434

Emilisa, N., Febriant, R., Masa, A. N., & Simarmata, I. C. E. (2025). The Influence Of Work-Related Social Media Use ( WSMU ) And Ethical Leadership On Innovative Work Behavior Mediated By Psychological Well-Being At Gojek Company In South Jakarta Pengaruh Work Related Social Media Use ( WSMU ) Dan Ethical Leadership Terhad. Jurnal Fokus Manajemen, 5(3), 349–362. https://doi.org/DOI: https://doi.org/10.37676/jfm.v5i3.8543

Emilisa, N., Yudhaputrib, E. A., & Karimah, N. W. (2024). The impact of leader’s humor styles on creativity and work engagement of call center employees in Jakarta. Journal of Management Info, 8(2), 120–133.
https://doi.org/10.31580/jmi.v8i2.2003

Fairnandha, M. M. (2021). Pengaruh Perceived Organizational Support, Job Demands, dan Job Satisfaction terhadap Work Engagement. Jurnal Ilmu Manajemen, 9(3), 920–930. https://doi.org/10.26740/jim.v9n3.p920-930

Fanani, M., Lifchatullaillah, E., Sa’diah, L., Kewirausahaan, P. S., & Soebandi, U. D. (2023). Pengaruh Gaya Kepemimpinan Terhadap Perilaku Kerja yang Inovatif. Jurnal Simki Economic, 6, 365–375. https://jiped.org/index.php/JSE

Fitwaturrusuliyah, N. V., & Sawitri, D. R. (2017). Hubungan Antara Kepribadian Proaktif Dengan Efikasi Diri Dalam Mengambil Keputusan Karir Pada Mahasiswa Tahun Ketiga Fakultas Psikologi Universitas Diponegoro. In Jurnal Empati, Oktober (Vol. 6, Issue 4).

Gunarso, P., Kirana, K. C., Hadi, S., Sarjanawiyata, U., & Yogyakarta, T. (2025). The Role of Psychosocial Well-Being in Mediating the Effects of Ethical Leadership and Employee Ethical Behavior on Innovation at Work. Jurnal REKOMEN, 8(1), 541–557.

Hair, J. F., Howard, M. C., & Nitzl, C. (2020). Assessing measurement model quality in PLS-SEM using con fi rmatory composite analysis. Journal of Business Research, 109(August 2019), 101–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.11.069

Hasanah, P., Seswandi, A., & Ariyanto, A. (2025). Pengaruh Pelatihan Terhadap Innovative Work Behavior Pada Tim Pendamping Keluarga (Tpk) Kabupaten Siak. Baseline : Jurnal Mahasiswa Magister Manajemen, 2(2), 1–7.

Hastari, L., & Netania Emilisa. (2023). Pengaruh Transformational Leadership, Knowledge Sharing, Innovative Work Behaviour terhadap Organizational Performance pada Karyawan Perusahaan Ekspedisi di Jakarta. JSMA (Jurnal Sains Manajemen Dan Akuntansi), 15(2), 206–219. https://doi.org/10.37151/jsma.v15i2.146

Hibatullah, S. A., & Berliyanti, D. O. (2024). Faktor Faktor Yang Mempengaruhi Innovative Work Behavior Pada Karyawan Industri Perbankan Bca Di Jakarta. Journal of Social and Economics Research, 6(2), 704–721.

Iba, Z., & Wardhana, A. (2023). Metode Penelitian. In M. Pradana (Ed.), Metode Penelitian Kualitatif.https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aditya-Wardhana/publication/382060657_

Indriyani, R., Natajaya, R., & Palumian, Y. (2024). Developing Innovative Work Behaviour: The Influence of Entrepreneurial Leadership through Creative Self-Efficacy and Employee Engagement. Ecopreneur.12, 7(2), 145–161. https://doi.org/10.51804/econ12.v7i2.145-161

Jia, K., Zhu, T., Zhang, W., Rasool, S. F., Asghar, A., & Chin, T. (2022). The Linkage between Ethical Leadership, Well-Being, Work Engagement, and Innovative Work Behavior: The Empirical Evidence from the Higher Education Sector of China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095414

Khairunnisa, S. F., & Setiasih. (2023). Pengaruh Persepsi Kepemimpinan, Innovative Work Behaviour Terhadap Workforce Agility pada Perusahaan. Psyche 165 Journal, 16(3), 210–215. https://doi.org/10.35134/jpsy165.v16i3.274

Khan, M. M., Ahmed, S. S., Mubarik, M. S., & Islam, T. (2021). Innovation with flow at work: exploring the role of servant leadership in affecting innovative work behavior through flow at work. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 45(September), 94–115.

Kong, Y., & Li, M. (2018). Proactive personality and innovative behavior: The mediating roles of job-related affect and work engagement. Social Behavior and Personality, 46(3), 431–446. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.6618

Kwak, S. (2023). Are Only p-Values Less Than 0.05 Significant? A p-Value Greater Than 0.05 Is Also Significant! Journal of Lipid and Atherosclerosis, 12(2), 89–95. https://doi.org/10.12997/jla.2023.12.2.89

Li, W., Gill, S. A., Wang, Y., Safdar, M. A., & Sheikh, M. R. (2022). Proactive Personality and Innovative Work Behavior: Through the Juxtapose of Schumpeter’s Theory of Innovation and Broaden-And-Build Theory. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.927458

Liu, X., Huang, Y., Kim, J., & Na, S. (2023). How Ethical Leadership Cultivates Innovative Work Behaviors in Employees? Psychological Safety, Work Engagement and Openness to Experience. Sustainability (Switzerland),
15(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043452

Novrandy, R. A., & Tanuwijaya, J. (2022). Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Bisnis Dan Inovasi Universitas Sam Ratulangi (Jmbi Unsrat) Pengaruh Work-Family Conflict Dan Work Engagement Terhadap Task Performance Dan Turnover Intention Dengan Mediasi Supervisor Support. Jurnal Ilmiah Manajemen Bisnis Dan Inovasi Universitas Sam Ratulangi (Jmbi Unsrat), 9(1), 414–430. https://doi.org/10.35794/jmbi.v9i1.40908

Purdiarini, C. A., & Tanuwijaya, J. (2023). Hubungan Person Organization Fit yang dimediasi oleh Knowledge Sharing Behavior dan Intrinsic Motivation terhadap Innovative Work Behavior. Jesya, 6(1), 272–281.
https://doi.org/10.36778/jesya.v6i1.924

Purnomo, N. M., & Setiawan Nuraya, A. (2023). Pengaruh Kepemimpinan Transformasional, Identifikasi Organisasi, Kepribadian Proaktif Dan Ocb Terhadap Work Engagement (Studi Pada Guru Dan Tenaga Kependidikan Di SMK Negeri 67 Jakarta). Journal of Accounting, Management and Islamic Economics, 1(2), 607–620. https://doi.org/10.35384/jamie.v1i2.474

Rahmat, A., & Seswandi, A. (2023). Ethical Leadership Cultivates Innovative Work Behaviors In Employees Work Engagement. JURNAL KOMUNITAS SAINS MANAJEMEN, 2(3), 151–162. http://www.jkmk.akademimanajemen.or.id

Riani, H. E., & Harsono, M. (2024). The Impact of Ethical Leadership on Innovative Work Behavior: The Role of Perceived Organizational Support, Proactive Personality and Psychological Safety. American Journal of Economic and Management Business (AJEMB), 3(5), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.58631/ajemb.v3i5.83

Riswan, A. A., Salsabila, C., Mulya, D. P. R., & Saputra, N. (2021). Innovative Work Behavior pada Pegawai di DKI Jakarta: Pengaruh Learning Agility, Work Engagement, dan Digital Readiness. Studi Ilmu Manajemen Dan Organisasi, 2(2), 151–165. https://doi.org/10.35912/simo.v2i2.833

Sanaky, M. M., Saleh, L. M., & Titaley, H. D. (2021). Analisis Faktor-Faktor Keterlambatan Pada Proyek Pembangunan Gedung Asrama Man 1 Tulehu Maluku Tengah. Jurnal Simetrik, 11(1), 432–439. https://doi.org/10.31959/js.v11i1.615

Sari, A. P., & Najmudin. (2021). Perceptions Of Proactive Personality And Innovative Work Behavior During The Covid-19 Pandemic. South East Asia Journal of Contemporary Business, Economics and Law, 24, 162–170.

Schaufeli, W. B., Bakker, A. B., & Salanova, M. (2006). The measurement of work engagement with a short questionnaire: A cross-national study. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 66(4), 701–716.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164405282471

Selti, S., & Hendra, R. (2024). Peran Manajemen Sumber Daya Manusia dalam Mencapai Tujuan Strategis Perusahaan. Pajak Dan Manajemen Keuangan, 1(5), 75–82. https://doi.org/10.61132/pajamkeu.v1i5.680

Setyowati, S., & Etikariena, A. (2019). Peran Gaya Pemecahan Masalah dalam Hubungan Kepemimpinan Transformasional dengan Perilaku Kerja Inovatif. Jurnal Diversita, 5(2), 115–125. https://doi.org/10.31289/diversita.v5i2.2857

Shin, S. J., Yuan, F., & Zhou, J. (2017). When perceived innovation job requirement increases employee innovative behavior: A sensemaking perspective. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 38(1), 68–86. https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2111

Supriandi, Rahmat, A., & Bastian, A. (2022). Ethical Leadership and Employee Innovative Work Behavior: The Role of Thriving at Work as a Mediation Variable. Sains Organisasi, 1(3), 221–230.
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.55356/so.v1i3.28

Syavitra, T., & Ardianto, F. (2023). Faktor Penentu Kesuksesan Startup di Indonesia Pasca Covid-19 (Studi Kasus: Komunitas Startup). JAMIN : Jurnal Aplikasi Manajemen Dan Inovasi Bisnis, 5(2), 175. https://doi.org/10.47201/jamin.v5i2.141

Tekeli, M., & Gökhan Özkoç, A. (2022). The Effect of Proactive Personality and Locus of Control on Innovative Work Behavior: The Mediating of Work Engagement. Jurnal Studi Pariwisata Brasil, 1–12. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8420-8228

Widiaristi, M. S., & Etikariena, A. (2024). Perilaku Kerja Inovatif Karyawan Gen Z: Perbandingan pada Perusahaan yang Menerapkan Pengaturan Kerja Fleksibel dengan yang Menerapkan Work from Office Innovative Work Behaviour of Gen Z Employees: Comparison between Companies Using Flexible Work Arrangem. In Jurnal Psikogenesis (Vol. 12, Issue 1).

Zargar, P., Daouk, A., & Chahine, S. (2025). Driving Innovative Work Behavior Among University Teachers Through Work Engagement and Perceived Organizational Support. Administrative Sciences, 15(7), 1–20.
https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15070246

Zhang, W. G., Ding, Y., & Xu, F. (2024). How does proactive personality affect employee creativity and ostracism? The mediating role of envy. Heliyon, 10(4), e25457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25457

Zulhapiz, M. H., & Rahayu, M. K. P. (2025). Unlocking Innovation Through Psychological Capital: The Hidden Mediator Between Transformational Leadership and Innovative Work Behavior. Jurnal Manajemen Bisnis, 16(2), 346–371. https://doi.org/10.18196/mb.v16i2.26326

PlumX Metrics

Published
2025-12-05
How to Cite
Alifia, R., Emilisa, N., Sulthoni, Z., Agustia, A., & Muhadi, M. (2025). FACTORS AFFECTING INNOVATIVE WORK BEHAVIOR AMONG GENERATION Z OF STARTUP EMPLOYEES IN JAKARTA. Journal of Management : Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), 18(3), 2269-2283. https://doi.org/10.35508/jom.v18i3.26235

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Obs.: This plugin requires at least one statistics/report plugin to be enabled. If your statistics plugins provide more than one metric then please also select a main metric on the admin's site settings page and/or on the journal manager's settings pages.