Keywords
Women’s Leadership
Edgar Schein
Ethnography of Communication
Elderly Care
How to Cite
Accepted 2026-06-30
Published 2026-06-30
Abstract
Organizational culture in social service institutions is not merely a static administrative framework but a living system of shared meanings constructed through daily interactions. This study aims to analyze the representation of organizational culture and communication practices at Panti Sosial Tresna Wredha Budi Pertiwi, an institution that has maintained a unique intergenerational women's leadership model since 1947. The research focuses on how the institution preserves its cultural integrity and caregiving values across different eras. Using a qualitative approach with an ethnography of communication lens, data were analyzed through Edgar Schein’s three levels of culture: artifacts, espoused values, and basic underlying assumptions. Information was gathered through in-depth interviews with key informants, field observations, and historical archive reviews. The findings show that the culture is manifested through spiritual artifacts and relational symbols that foster a sense of "sisterhood". Values of gotong royong, sincerity, and dignity are deeply internalized, rooted in the basic underlying assumption that caregiving is a form of sacred devotion. These cultural layers are transmitted across generations through dialogical and egalitarian communication patterns. This study concludes that the institution's ability to survive for decades is driven by its consistency in maintaining its historical identity through a leadership style that prioritizes human relationships.
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