FACTORS INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES INNOVATIVE BEHAVIOR : A QUALITATIVE STUDY IN PEKANBARU CITY

Abstract

This study aims to explore innovative behavior among government employees in Pekanbaru City using the Theory of
Planned Behavior (TPB) as an analytical framework. A qualitative approach was employed to gain an in-depth
understanding of how attitudes toward innovation, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control are
interpreted and experienced by employees within a bureaucratic context. Data were collected through in-depth
interviews and document analysis involving civil servants and structural officials in the Pekanbaru City
Government. The findings indicate that innovative behavior emerges from a dynamic interaction between personal
attitudes, social influences, and perceptions of structural opportunities and constraints. Positive attitudes toward
innovation are generally grounded in beliefs about work efficiency, yet they are often accompanied by concerns
regarding the risk of failure and bureaucratic consequences. Subjective norms, reflected in support from supervisors
and colleagues, along with perceived behavioral control related to the availability of resources and autonomy, are
understood as key elements in fostering innovative intentions. Furthermore, organizational context, particularly
transformational leadership, psychological safety, and bureaucratic flexibility, plays an important role in
translating innovative intentions into actual practices. These findings underscore that fostering innovation in the
public sector requires a holistic approach integrating individual, social, and organizational dimensions.