Metadata-Driven Competency Modeling for Civil Servant Placement: A Structural Equation Approach

Introduction: The objective of this study is to examine both the direct and indirect effects of data communication competence, data-driven critical thinking, and data-informed leadership on the perceived suitability of job placement decisions based on data assessments within Indonesia’s civil service system, while specifically assessing the mediating role of data-driven critical thinking in these relationships. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional design was applied using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). A total of 256 civil servants from various Indonesian public institutions participated. Five hypotheses were tested to examine both direct and mediated relationships. Results: The findings revealed that both data communication competence (β = 0.123; p = 0.044) and data-driven critical thinking (β = 0.156; p = 0.006) significantly influenced perceived suitability. However, data-informed leadership did not have a significant direct effect (β = -0.061; p = 0.159). Mediation analysis showed that data-driven critical thinking significantly mediated the relationship between both communication competence and leadership with perceived suitability. Conclusions: The study highlights the pivotal role of cognitive competencies, particularly critical thinking, in influencing perceptions of data-based placement decisions. While leadership alone did not directly impact perceptions, its indirect role through critical thinking was substantial. These findings offer insights for refining leadership development and assessment practices within bureaucratic systems.