Counting Competence: Evaluating the Civil Servant Professionalism Index Policy in West Kutai Regency, Indonesia

Civil servant professionalism is a foundational pillar of merit-based, result-oriented governance. This study evaluates implementation of the Civil Servant Professionalism Index (IP ASN) measurement policy under Regulation of the Minister for Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform No. 38 of 2018 in West Kutai Regency, East Kalimantan. Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through interviews, observation, documentation, and a Likert-scale questionnaire administered to 32 respondents, comprising BKPSDM leadership, system administrators, performance-appraisal officials, regional agency representatives, the Inspectorate, Bappeda, and civil servants. Data were analyzed using William Dunn's policy evaluation criteria: effectiveness, efficiency, adequacy, equity, responsiveness, and appropriateness. Findings show IP ASN implementation is categorized as effective overall, with a total score of 2,725 out of a maximum 3,720, a mean of 3.66, and a percentage index of 73.25 percent. Appropriateness scored highest (3.81), while efficiency scored lowest (3.56). IP ASN measurement has successfully reflected professionalism across qualification, competence, performance, and discipline, yet implementation continues to face suboptimal system integration, incomplete data updating, insufficient documentation, constrained competency-development budget, and uneven understanding among civil servants and agencies. The study concludes that IP ASN measurement is effective but requires strengthening in data quality, system integration, competency development, and utilization of results for merit-based decisions.