Informal Leadership Patterns in Local Bureaucracy: Implications for Policy Responsiveness in Bandung Regency, Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61255/jupiter.v4i2.961Keywords:
Informal Leadership, Local Bureaucracy, Policy Responsiveness, Bandung RegencyAbstract
Purpose: This study aims to analyze the role of informal leadership in influencing policy responsiveness within the local bureaucracy of Bandung Regency, Indonesia. The study focuses on understanding how informal leadership patterns emerge and how they affect bureaucratic decision-making and public policy responsiveness. Methods: This research used a qualitative case study approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 25 informants consisting of government officials, bureaucratic staff, community leaders, NGO representatives, and local residents. Focus group discussions and policy document analysis were also conducted to support the data. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis with source and method triangulation to ensure validity. Findings: The results show that informal leadership develops through personal charisma, close relationships with the community, and political patronage networks. These informal leadership patterns help accelerate coordination and improve communication between the government and society, which supports faster policy responses. However, the findings also indicate several negative impacts, such as dependence on certain individuals, unequal access to influence, and potential bias in decision-making processes. Research Implications: The findings indicate the importance of understanding informal leadership dynamics in local governance. Local governments need to strengthen institutional transparency and accountability while maintaining constructive relationships with informal actors in policy processes. Originality: This study provides empirical evidence on how informal leadership operates within local bureaucracy in Bandung Regency. The study also highlights the dual role of informal leadership as both a supporting and limiting factor in bureaucratic responsiveness within decentralized governance. Conclusions: Informal leadership has an important role in increasing policy responsiveness in local bureaucracy, particularly in accelerating coordination and strengthening social legitimacy. Nevertheless, stronger institutional control is needed to minimize the risks of political bias and unequal policy representation.
Abstract views: 1
, 
PDF downloads: 0
Downloads
References
Alam, M. K. (2021). A systematic qualitative case study: Questions, data collection, NVivo analysis and saturation. Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management: An International Journal, 16(1), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1108/QROM-09-2019-1825
Ayres, S. (2022). A decentred assessment of the impact of informal governance on democratic legitimacy. Public Policy and Administration, 37(1), 22–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/0952076720904991
Azfar, O., Kahkonen, S., Lanyi, A., Meagher, P., & Rutherford, D. (2018). Decentralization, governance and public services: The impact of institutional arrangements. In J. Litvack & J. Seddon (Eds.), Devolution and development (pp. 45–88). Routledge.
Badan Pusat Statistik Kabupaten Bandung. (2023). Bandung regency in figures 2023. BPS Kabupaten Bandung.
Badan Pusat Statistik Kabupaten Bandung. (2024). Bandung regency in figures 2024. BPS Kabupaten Bandung.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2023). Toward good practice in thematic analysis: Avoiding common problems and being a knowing researcher. International Journal of Transgender Health, 24(1), 1–6.
Brooke, S. (2019). Winning hearts and votes: Social services and the Islamist political advantage. Cornell University Press.
Buchari, R. A., Abdillah, A., Widianingsih, I., & Nurasa, H. (2024). Creativity development of tourism villages in Bandung Regency, Indonesia: Co-creating sustainability and urban resilience. Scientific Reports, 14, Article 1381.
Chang, A., & Brewer, G. A. (2023). Street-level bureaucracy in public administration: A systematic literature review. Public Management Review, 25(11), 2191–2211.
Chernyl, E. A. (2021). Charismatic leadership: Perceptions and impacts on organizational health (Doctoral dissertation, Northcentral University).
Cigler, B. A. (2018). Public administration and the paradox of professionalization. In M. E. Guy & M. M. Rubin (Eds.), Democracy, bureaucracy, and the study of administration (pp. 355–391). Routledge.
Cohen, G., & Cohen, N. (2023). Understanding street-level bureaucrats’ informal collaboration: Evidence from police officers across the jurisdictional divide. Public Management Review, 25(2), 224–242.
Cox, R. W., Buck, S., & Morgan, B. (2019). Public administration in theory and practice. Routledge.
Dore, M. (2023). Designing with or against institutions? Dilemmas of participatory design in contested cities. Design and Culture, 15(1), 27–47. https://doi.org/10.1080/17547075.2022.2103957
Gammelgaard, B. (2017). The qualitative case study. The International Journal of Logistics Management, 28(4), 910–913.
Gennari, F. (2023). Responsiveness. In W. Leal Filho et al. (Eds.), Encyclopedia of sustainable management (pp. 2789–2794). Springer.
Habermas, J. (2020). The public sphere: An encyclopedia article. In S. Bronner & D. Kellner (Eds.), Critical theory and society (pp. 136–142). Routledge.
Hidayat, A. R., Hospes, O., & Termeer, C. (2025). Why democratization and decentralization in Indonesia have mixed results on the ground: A systematic literature review. Public Administration and Development, 45(2), 159–172.
Jimenez, A., Puche-Regaliza, J. C., Jiménez-Eguizábal, J. A., & Alon, I. (2017). Political discretion and corruption: The impact of institutional quality on formal and informal entrepreneurship. European Journal of International Management, 11(3), 280–300.
Kacowicz, A. M. (2018). Regional governance and global governance: Links and explanations. Global Governance, 24, 61–76.
Kantor, P. (2019). The dependent city revisited: The political economy of urban development and social policy. Routledge.
Koski, C., Siddiki, S., Sadiq, A.-A., & Carboni, J. (2018). Representation in collaborative governance: A case study of a food policy council. The American Review of Public Administration, 48(4), 359–373.
Kungu, T. G. J. N. (2020). The implication of political patron–client linkages on democratic governance in developing democracies (Doctoral dissertation).
Kurniawan, R. (2025). Patronage networks and power disparities: The legacy of political patronage in Indonesia’s governance and democracy. Jurnal Politik Profetik, 13(1), 1–32.
Lammers, C. J. (2019). Power and participation in decision-making in formal organizations. In C. J. Lammers (Ed.), Managing democratic organizations I (pp. 129–144). Routledge.
Lawrence, S. E., & De Lisi, R. (2023). The role of formal and informal leaders in governance: Locus of power and authority. In A guide for leaders in higher education (pp. 65–93).
Nasution, A. (2017). The government decentralization program in Indonesia. In C. A. T. Yuen (Ed.), Central and local government relations in Asia (pp. 276–305). Edward Elgar.
Nouman, H., & Luria, G. (2025). Beyond formal authority: Cultural perspectives on informal leadership in social work practice. The British Journal of Social Work. Advance online publication.
Oakley, A. A. (2018). Anatomy of authority: Informal political networks and the mobilization of Indonesia’s elite. Johns Hopkins University Press.
Ospina, S. M. (2017). Collective leadership and context in public administration: Bridging public leadership research and leadership studies. Public Administration Review, 77(2), 275–287.
Peters, B. G. (2018). The politics of bureaucracy: An introduction to comparative public administration. Routledge.
Pitono, A., Harahap, A. S., Kartiwi, K., & Baidhowah, A. R. (2023). Informal institutions, government regulatory functions, and development of governance studies. Jurnal Politik Pemerintahan Dharma Praja, 16(2), 107–123.
Potluka, O. (2021). Roles of formal and informal leadership: Civil society leadership interaction with political leadership in local development. In Handbook on city and regional leadership (pp. 91–107). Edward Elgar.
Saidah, Z., Wulandari, E., Hapsari, H., Alamsyah, R. T. P., Carsono, N., Kawashima, S., & Kang, S. W. (2024). Bridging the gap: The role of geographic proximity in enhancing seed sustainability in Bandung District. Open Agriculture, 9, Article 20220391.
Svensson, P. (2017). Cross-sector strategists: Dedicated bureaucrats in local government administration.
Tsako, V. (2020). The effect of political environment on service delivery: A study of political instability, patronage and factionalism in a municipal environment. Journal of Public Administration, 2(3), 6–18.
Undang, G., Resmiawati, E. N., Alamsyah, T., & Dina, D. (2022). Regional arrangement in the Province of West Java: A formulation policy. Sosiohumaniora, 24(3), 324–334.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Ednawan Prihana
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
