International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Carbon emissions from the daily activities of urban populations are a primary contributor to climate change. The city of Surakarta, characterized by high mobility and significant emissions, necessitates an approach that emphasizes individual participation in efforts to reduce carbon footprints. This research aims to assess the community's willingness to reduce their carbon footprint based on five key indicators: housing, food, waste and water management, energy use, and transportation. Additionally, an analysis is conducted to identify the dominant factors influencing the community's preferences for environmentally friendly behavior.
METHODS: This study was conducted across five sub-districts in Surakarta City: Mojosongo, Sumber, Jayengan, Serengan, and Sondakan, selected for their high levels of urban activity and environmental relevance. The analytical method employed was Principal Component Analysis, a multivariate statistical technique used to reduce the dimensions of data and identify latent structures within a set of correlated variables. Principal Component Analysis enabled the researchers to extract principal components that represent key behavioral dimensions related to the willingness to decrease carbon footprint. The analysis was performed using STATA-13 and Minitab software for statistical computation and data visualization.
FINDINGS: The research findings indicate that the primary factors influencing WDC are community preferences regarding energy efficiency, waste management, and food consumption, which collectively account for 49.7% of the variability. The preference for sustainable living spaces and environmentally friendly transportation emerges as the second major factor, explaining 21.7% of the variability. The overall willingness of the community to reduce its carbon footprint is categorized as moderate. Among the five sub-districts, Jayengan exhibits the highest WDC index at 1.30, followed by Sumber (1.19), Semanggi (1.14), and both Sondakan and Mojosongo, which have the lowest indices of 1.10 each.
CONCLUSION: Research shows that residents in Surakarta City's five sub-districts have a moderate desire to lower their carbon footprint. Although awareness and concern, particularly about housing and transportation, are increasing, this has not yet translated into strong actions across all behaviors.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Strategic Human Resource Development (HRD) is crucial for enhancing organizational performance and reputation within the competitive higher education sector. Lecturer productivity is a key indicator of institutional success; however, the efficiency of integrated HRD approaches in academic settings requires further empirical investigation. This study evaluates the impact of core human resource development practices, training, career development, and compensation on lecturer productivity at the National School of Administration in Muha Commune. It aims to identify gaps in HRD implementation and provide evidence-based recommendations for enhancement.
METHODS: A quantitative methods design was employed. Using convenience sampling, 24 lecturers were selected from a population of 27. Primary data were collected via a structured, self-administered questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale. Data analysis was conducted with SPSS 25.0, utilizing descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and multiple linear regression to identify relationships and predictive power.
RESULTS: The results revealed strong positive correlations among all Human Resource Development practices and lecturer productivity. Training demonstrated a strong correlation (r = 0.714, p < 0.009), career development a very strong correlation (r = 0.851, p < 0.001), and remuneration a moderate correlation (r = 0.604, p < 0.002). Regression analysis also confirmed that these three dimensions explain 76.2% of the variance in productivity (R² = 0.762, Adjusted R² = 0.732).
CONCLUSION: The study concludes that sustained, integrated investments in Human Resource Development are essential for enhancing lecturer productivity. It is recommended that the institution adopt a comprehensive strategy, including implementing a long-term training program based on a Training Needs Analysis (TNA), formalizing career feedback and goal-setting mechanisms, and reviewing the compensation structure to ensure equity and competitiv

Abstract This study examined 114 operational electric train stations in Thailand across seven rail networks: Sukhumvit, Silom, Airport Rail Link, Krung Thonburi, Thani Ratthaya, Nakhonwithi, and Chat Chai. The evaluation of TOD performance was conducted using six criteria: Density, Design, Diversity, Connectivity/Demand Management, Destination Accessibility, and Distance to Transit, within catchments of 500 and 1,000 meters. Population density, residential units, and Floor Area Ratio (FAR) were examined; design included sidewalks, parking, and road density; diversity was represented by land-use mix through Points of Interest (POI) distribution; connectivity was assessed via bus routes, station accessibility, and POIs; distance was quantified by park-and-ride proximity and POI distance from stations. The research sought to accomplish three objectives: 1) evaluate station performance via TOD Scores to discern strengths and shortcomings, 2) propose improvements to promote transit usage, and 3) deliver web application for station planning. The findings highlighted Density, Design, and Connectivity as the key factors, suggesting that measures should augment population density, integrate amenities that appeal to inhabitants, and fortify transportation infrastructure. A web application was developed to present TOD data, enabling stakeholders to compare stations and use high-performing ones as benchmarks. This framework enables future planning and guides the development of the public transport network.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: With sustained socio-economic development, problems such as resource constraints, ecological damage, and food safety have become increasingly prominent and have become important factors constraining sustainable development. To address these challenges, this study applies the stimulus–organism–response framework to examine key factors that shape consumers’ green purchase intention in the food industry in China. Green advertising, environmental attitude, product attributes, and social media influence are conceptualized as external stimuli, while customer perceived value represents the internal psychological mechanism driving behavioural intention.
METHODS: A total of 371 valid survey responses were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (version 27.0) and Analysis of Moment Structures (version 28.0) to conduct reliability testing, factor analysis, structural modelling, and mediation analysis.
FINDINGS: All four external variables significantly increase customer perceived value, which in turn strengthens green purchase intention. Mediation results show that customer perceived value partially mediates the effects of green advertising and product attributes, and fully mediates the effects of environmental attitude and social media influence.
CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that customer perceived value plays a central role in transforming external green marketing stimuli into purchase intention. These findings provide theoretical insight for stimulus–organism–response-based green marketing research and practical guidance for food enterprises seeking to promote sustainable consumer behaviour.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This article examines the phenomenon of caged balconies in Da Lat, Vietnam, to explain how informal spatial extensions mediate tensions between residents’ everyday survival needs and aesthetic governance in a heritage-linked tourist city. Rather than treating caged balconies as isolated architectural violations, the study conceptualizes them as socio-spatial responses to housing scarcity under tourism-oriented visual regulation. Building on debates on urban informality, everyday urbanism, spatial justice, and the politics of visibility, the research aims to: (i) identify the drivers behind caged-balcony construction; (ii) compare their morphologies and interfaces with shared space; (iii) analyze mechanisms of surveillance, regulation, and stigmatization; and (iv) advance an Urban Aesthetic Justice framework to interpret these practices as contested claims to spatial legitimacy.
METHODS: The study adopts a qualitative comparative case design focusing on two contrasting sites: Ngo Quyen Apartment (formal housing) and the To Ngoc Van canal-side settlement (informal housing). Data were triangulated through field observation and photographic documentation, 60 semi-structured interviews with residents, typological analysis of balcony extensions, and review of planning regulations and secondary documents. Materials were analyzed using thematic and content analysis across micro (household), meso (neighborhood), and macro (policy–market) scales.
FINDINGS: Clear contrasts emerge between the two sites. In the formal apartment compound, caged balconies are typically small, standardized, and used for auxiliary functions such as drying and storage. In the canal-side settlement, extensions are larger, built from salvaged materials, and essential for cooking, sleeping, or livelihood activities. These differences reflect interacting micro-level household pressures, meso-level infrastructural and management conditions, and macro-level shortages of affordable housing under image-conscious planning. Field evidence further reveals uneven enforcement and differentiated stigma, in which visually “orderly” extensions are tolerated while precarious yet life-sustaining structures are marginalized within the tourism-oriented urban landscape.
CONCLUSION: The study advances an Urban Aesthetic Justice framework, emphasizing that spatial legitimacy in tourist cities is shaped not only by legality and safety but also by aesthetic regimes and politics of visibility. Caged balconies thus emerge as material indicators of how tourism-driven governance produces uneven tolerance of informality and reinforces socio-spatial inequality. Policy implications include expanding affordable housing supply, strengthening participatory planning, adopting flexible, area-specific regulations that legalize small, safe extensions while removing hazardous ones, and upgrading infrastructure in canal-side neighborhoods. Although limited to two case sites and primarily qualitative evidence, the framework offers a transferable lens for analyzing informal spatial practices in other heritage- and tourism-oriented cities.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The rapid expansion of social media has introduced a digital layer into the production and experience of urban public spaces, particularly influencing gendered patterns of movement, visibility, and access. This study investigates how social media platforms mediate and reshape gendered behaviors on Ferdowsi Street in Sanandaj, Iran, examining the interaction between physical design, cultural norms, and digital representations in producing spatial inequalities.
METHODS: A mixed-methods approach was employed using a triangulation strategy to ensure validity. Behavioral mapping was conducted to identify spatial behavior patterns. Additionally, semi-structured walk-along interviews were conducted with 46 participants (24 males and 22 females), and thematic analysis was carried out, incorporating both deductive coding based on the Monitoring Cycle of Gender Behavior Differences in Public Space and inductive coding to identify emerging digital-behavioral themes.
FINDINGS: Results show clear gendered spatial segmentation: adolescent and young men predominantly clustered at peripheral, high-visibility nodes, while women concentrated in central and safer segments of the street. Social media played a significant mediating role in producing these patterns. Adolescent boys were highly sensitive to viral, geotagged, and event-driven content, translating online visibility into rapid physical presence. Young women selectively responded to cultural and commercial posts, shaping their spatial use more cautiously. Across all age groups, social media amplified specific nodes along the street, effectively branding certain areas and transforming them into digitally driven hubs of activity. These patterns reflect a hybrid physical-digital public space in which digital representations contribute to the reproduction of gender norms and influence the distribution of agency, comfort, and access.
CONCLUSION: The study concludes that spatial behaviors in contemporary urban environments cannot be understood solely through physical design or socio-cultural norms; digital representations now function as an active component in the production of space. Social media platforms mediate gendered access and reinforce spatial inequalities by commercializing visibility and shaping collective perceptions of safety, desirability, and social value. As a result, designing inclusive and gender-sensitive public spaces requires coordinated interventions in both the physical environment and the digital sphere.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Political parties played a strategic role in preparing and promoting candidates for the 2024 regional head elections in Indonesia, which were held nine months after the presidential election. The political dynamics from the presidential contest were expected to influence public perception and candidate selection at the regional level. This study examined the role and political communication strategies employed by political parties to promote their cadres in the 2024 regional elections.
METHODS: This research adopted a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative methods—interviews, observations, and literature studies—with quantitative analysis through surveys distributed to 117 respondents across West Java. The qualitative component explored communication patterns and internal strategies, while the quantitative component measured public opinion and media preferences.
FINDINGS: The survey results revealed that 42.7% of respondents supported PKS, followed by Gerindra (16.2%), PDIP (10.3%), Golkar (8.5%), and PKB (6%). Social media was the most utilized political communication channel, with 76.9% of respondents accessing messages through Instagram (61.5%) and TikTok (14.5%). Most political parties preferred to promote native cadres and conducted face-to-face campaigns in addition to digital outreach. The data showed that message consistency and community proximity were key variables influencing voter trust.
CONCLUSION: Political parties in West Java employed relatively similar communication strategies, integrating both digital and conventional media channels. Despite the proximity of the presidential election, its residual effects on public opinion during the regional elections appeared limited, due to the overlapping coalitions among parties. Internal cadre strengthening and social media engagement were pivotal in shaping favorable public perceptions.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study investigated how Flexible Manufacturing Systems—including workstations, automated handling/storage, inspection equipment, ancillary components, and computer control—were related to Human Resource sustainability (justice, job well-being, and employee development) at the Samarra Pharmaceutical Factory. The objective was to identify which FMS dimensions most strongly supported sustainable HR outcomes.
METHODS: A descriptive–analytical design was used. A structured questionnaire was administered to 230 employees; 207 valid responses were obtained (response rate = 90%). The measurement model and hypotheses were tested in AMOS v26 using standard validation criteria and structural equation modeling.
RESULTS: Overall FMS capability was positively associated with HR sustainability (standardized regression weight = 0.932; unstandardized estimate = 2.079; 95% CI = 0.896–0.971; p = 0.02). Bivariate correlations between individual FMS components and HR sustainability were significant: workstations r = 0.841 (α = 0.05), handling & storage r = 0.833 (α = 0.05), inspection equipment r = 0.644 (α = 0.05), computer control systems r = 0.902 (α = 0.05), and other components r = 0.928 (α = 0.05). Model fit indices met accepted thresholds (e.g., GFI = 0.927, AGFI = 0.916, RMR = 0.068, NFI = 0.913, RFI = 0.905).
CONCLUSION: Strengthening Flexible Manufacturing Systems—particularly computer control systems—was associated with higher HR sustainability by improving safety, reducing physical/psychological strain, and expanding development opportunities. Managers seeking technology investments that advance operational efficiency and workforce well-being could prioritize FMS upgrades aligned with these results.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Micro, small, and medium enterprises play a vital role in Indonesia’s urban economy, contributing 60.5% to Gross Domestic Product and fostering employment and economic resilience. However, despite policy support through Law No. 20/2008 on MSMEs, performance gaps persist in secondary cities where over 60% of MSMEs fail within five years due to managerial, financial, and adaptive constraints, a critical concern for Indonesia's 98 secondary cities, housing 40% of national micro, small, and medium enterprises. This study examines how entrepreneurial orientation, owner’s education, and business capital influence MSME performance, with strategic agility as a mediating variable, in Mojokerto, East Java.
METHODS: A quantitative-explanatory design was applied using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) in SmartPLS 4.0. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews conducted from February to March 2024 with 60 micro, small, and medium enterprise owners registered under the Badan Usaha Milik Desa or village-owned enterprises in Mojokerto Regency. Five constructs, entrepreneurial orientation (5 indicators), owner’s education level (4), business capital (4), strategic agility (4), and MSME performance (4), were measured using five-point Likert scales. The measurement model was tested for reliability and validity, followed by structural model evaluation and hypothesis testing via bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples at α = 0.05.
FINDINGS: All constructs demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability, with indicator loadings above 0.787, composite reliability (CR) ranging from 0.878 to 0.928, and average variance extracted ranging from 0.644 to 0.766. The owner’s education level had a significant positive effect on MSME performance (β = 0.342, t = 2.203, p = 0.028), accounting for 12.6% of its variance. Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) did not significantly affect performance (β = -0.152, p = 0.296) or strategic agility (β = -0.180, p = 0.263). Likewise, business capital had no significant effect on either performance (β = 0.184, p = 0.168) or agility (β = -0.041, p = 0.755). The effect of strategic agility on performance was positive but not statistically significant (β = 0.237, p = 0.101). Mediation analysis confirmed that strategic agility did not significantly mediate any relationships (all p > 0.40).
CONCLUSION: Owner’s education level emerges as the primary determinant of MSME performance in Indonesia’s secondary cities, exerting a direct influence rather than through strategic agility. Strengthening human capital is therefore essential for urban entrepreneurial resilience. These findings suggest that while Law No. 20/2008 on MSMEs provides the legal framework for MSME development, implementation should prioritize human capital enhancement over capital provision alone. Policymakers should emphasize accessible education, managerial development, and digital literacy for MSME owners through targeted programs aligned with Presidential Regulation No. 2/2022 on Job Creation, over financial or promotional incentives.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Low-carbon tourism was recognized as a crucial contributor to mitigating the effects of climate change; however, tourists often failed to translate pro-environmental intentions into actions. This study examined the influence of Digital Information Perception, the perceived credibility and usefulness of online information, and Social Media Engagement, the active interaction with social media content and peer networks, the perceived behavioral control through social media, on pro-environmental attitudes among urban, well-educated, and digitally literate seniors. The research aimed to identify the predictors of intention and behavior toward low-carbon tourism within a digital context.
METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 400 respondents. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling to test the extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model incorporating digital constructs. The variables included DIP, SME, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intention, and low-carbon behavior.
FINDINGS: The primary evidence from the SEM analysis reveals the significant predictors of intention to adopt low-carbon practices. The mean score discrepancy highlights the large gap between pro-environmental intentions and actual behaviors, with 78% of respondents reporting high pro-environmental intentions, reflected in a mean score of 4.29, in contrast to only 54% exhibiting consistent low-carbon behaviors, indicated by a lower mean score of 2.56. Additionally, the beta coefficient for the pathway from behavioral intention to low-carbon tourism behavior was found to be β = 0.610, emphasizing its strong influence in the model. These findings underscore the substantial intention–behavior gap in the context of low-carbon tourism among urban seniors.
CONCLUSION: The model fit was satisfactory, with indices indicating a good fit (CFI > 0.90, RMSEA < 0.08). This supports the validity of the extended Theory of Planned Behavior model in predicting low-carbon tourism intentions among urban seniors. This suggests that seniors find the credibility and usefulness of general online information (DIP) more influential for intention than active interaction with social media. So, to develop eco-friendly tourism among elders, the focus should be on low-carbon tourism options. Due to purposive, non-random sampling of urban, digitally literate seniors, the results should be interpreted as exploratory; future studies should employ representative and longitudinal designs to examine the persistence of low-carbon behaviors over time.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Forest honey is a non-timber forest product that supports community welfare while maintaining ecosystem biodiversity. This study aimed to evaluate the level of sustainability of forest honey production in Riau Province by determining and analyzing the sustainability index.
METHODS: Data were collected through literature review, focus group discussions, and expert questionnaires involving practitioners and stakeholders with more than five years of experience in forest honey production and management. The data obtained were then analyzed using a multidimensional scale technique covering environmental, economic, social, technological, and institutional aspects. Monte Carlo analysis and the alternating least-squares algorithm were used to examine the sustainability status and significant characteristics.
FINDINGS: The results showed that the sustainability index reached 76.26 percent, categorized as highly sustainable. The environmental, economic, and social dimensions were found to be sustainable, while institutional and technological aspects remained moderately sustainable and need further strengthening. Key attributes influencing sustainability include distribution systems, product prices, training opportunities for honey collectors, digital marketing, and product certification.
CONCLUSION: Strategic recommendations include improving institutional capacity, expanding the use of digital technology, continuous technical training, and developing long-term business strategies. This study introduces a multidimensional sustainability assessment model that integrates ecological, economic, social, technological, and institutional aspects, offering a replicable framework for sustainable forest honey management in Indonesia and beyond.

Abstract Rapid urbanisation has transformed cities into both concentrations of health risks and key arenas for improving population health. Understanding how urban environmental conditions influence multiple dimensions of health has therefore become a central concern for health‑oriented urban planning and design. This study synthesises global scientific evidence on the relationships between urban environmental exposures and health outcomes published between 1984 and 2025 and develops an analytical framework for integrating health considerations into urban planning and design practice.
A systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‑Analyses) guidelines. Relevant studies were identified through structured searches in major international and national academic databases. The records were screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and eligible studies were systematically coded and analysed. The reviewed studies were classified according to key categories of urban environmental exposure, including green and blue spaces, public and recreational spaces, built form and urban morphology, transport systems and walkability, and environmental risks such as air pollution, noise, and urban heat exposure. Health outcomes were examined across four domains: physical, mental, social, and cognitive health. The findings reveal consistent evidence that access to green and blue spaces and high‑quality public spaces is associated with improved mental health, increased physical activity, and higher overall quality of life. Urban form characteristics—particularly density, land‑use configuration, and walkability—are systematically linked to patterns of physical activity, obesity, and non‑communicable diseases. Conversely, exposure to environmental hazards such as air pollution, noise, and heat stress is strongly associated with mortality and the urban burden of disease. Recent research has also expanded to include cognitive health, child development, healthy ageing, and the mediating roles of perceptual and social factors. Despite these advances, important knowledge gaps remain regarding spatial health equity, the evaluation of urban design interventions, and empirical evidence from low‑ and middle‑income countries. Based on this synthesis, the study proposes a multi‑level analytical framework linking urban spatial structure and design, environmental exposures and behavioural pathways, perceptual and social mediators, and multidimensional health outcomes. The framework provides a conceptual basis for systematically integrating health considerations into urban policy, planning, and design.