Overview of Indonesian Organizational Work Ethics: A Literature Review

Abstract

Recent developments in research on organizational work ethics in Indonesia over the past few years have shown a fairly significant increase across various sectors, such as education, industry, SMEs, and healthcare. However, existing studies still tend to be sectoral and have not yet provided an integrated overview of work ethics in the broader organizational context. This situation highlights the need for a comprehensive synthesis to achieve a more holistic understanding of the role of work ethics in organizations in Indonesia. The method used in this study is a systematic literature review (SLR) following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The research process involved literature searches via Google Scholar and Garuda for the period 2019–2026, article selection based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, and analysis using narrative synthesis techniques. From this process, 36 relevant articles were obtained for analysis. The findings indicate that work ethics consistently influences employee performance across various organizational sectors, both directly and through mediating variables such as work discipline, job satisfaction, and leadership. Additionally, work ethics plays a role in improving work quality, productivity, organizational commitment, and fostering positive work behaviors. These findings affirm that work ethics is one of the key factors in supporting organizational effectiveness. Therefore, efforts are needed to strengthen work ethic values supported by a conducive work environment. Future research is recommended to develop more diverse approaches and consider contextual factors that have not yet been extensively studied.