Job Specialization as a Driver of Employee Productivity: Evidence from Potong Ayam Abah MSME, Medan
Keywords:
Activities, Employee Productivity, Job Specialization, MSMEsAbstract
This study aims to analyze the contribution of job specialization in enhancing employee activity and productivity at UMKM Potong Ayam Abah in Medan City. Job specialization is viewed as a task division strategy based on individual expertise and skills to achieve optimal work effectiveness. This research employs a qualitative approach using the case study method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, direct observation, and documentation, and then thematically analyzed to identify patterns and meanings in work activities in the field. The results show that job specialization plays a role in directing employee activities to be more structured, efficient, and aligned with the skills they possess. Clear task allocation allows employees to master certain skills in depth, thereby improving work speed, consistency in the quality of cutting results, and customer service. In addition, initial training and the mentoring process also contribute to enhancing the readiness and competence of new employees. However, implementing job specialization also requires flexibility to remain adaptive to fluctuations in customer numbers and employee absenteeism. Overall, job specialization positively impacts employee activities and productivity and supports the sustainability of business operations. This study recommends implementing cross-training to overcome workforce limitations and maintain productivity stability.
Downloads
References
Adilla, S., & Budiono, B. (2022). Pengaruh rotasi kerja terhadap kinerja pegawai dimediasi dengan kepuasan kerja pada pegawai pemerintah. Jurnal Ilmu Manajemen, 10(1), 302–311. https://doi.org/10.26740/JIM.V10N1.P302-311
Affandi, Y., Ridhwan, M. M., Trinugroho, I., & Hermawan, D. (2023). Digital adoption, business performance, and financial literacy in ultra-micro, micro, and small enterprises in Indonesia. https://www.bi.go.id/en/publikasi/kajian/Pages/Digital-Adoption-Business-Performance-And-Financial-Literacy-In-Ultra-Micro-Micro-And-Small-Enterprises-In-Indonesia.aspx
Agniya, U., & Salim, T. A. (2023). Analisis pengaruh desain kerja terhadap knowledge productivity arsiparis di Arsip Nasional Republik Indonesia. Berkala Ilmu Perpustakaan dan Informasi, 19(1), 111–125. https://doi.org/10.22146/BIP.V19I1.6843
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-T
Al-Shami, S. A., Damayanti, R., Adil, H., Farhi, F., & Al Mamun, A. (2024). Financial and digital financial literacy through social media use towards financial inclusion among batik small enterprises in Indonesia. Heliyon, 10(15), e34902. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.HELIYON.2024.E34902
Ardani, A., & Firdaus, V. (2024). Meningkatkan kinerja industri jasa makanan di Indonesia melalui pelatihan keterampilan dan pengalaman. Journal of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, 1(1), 22–22. https://doi.org/10.47134/UMKM.V1I1.398
Arifa, I., Choiri, A., Wibowo, W., Aminuddin, A., & Panggabean, N. A. (2025). Peran UMKM dalam meningkatkan perekonomian nasional. PESHUM: Jurnal Pendidikan, Sosial dan Humaniora, 4(4), 5376–5385. https://doi.org/10.56799/PESHUM.V4I4.9530
Arsita, V., & Subiyantoro, H. (2025). Pengaruh literasi, efikasi keuangan, dan pembayaran digital terhadap pengelolaan keuangan pada wirausaha mahasiswa di Kabupaten Tulungagung. Benefit: Journal of Business, Economics, and Finance, 3(3), 283–303. https://doi.org/10.70437/BENEFIT.V3I3.1353
Astuti, Y. P. D. (2024). Analisis kesiapan transformasi digital UMKM dalam penggunaan aplikasi POS digital system dengan metode I-Toe framework. Jurnal Ekonomi Manajemen Akuntansi, 30(1), 175–184. https://doi.org/10.59725/EMA.V30I1.195
Baxter, P., & Jack, S. (2008). Qualitative case study methodology: Study design and implementation for novice researchers. The Qualitative Report, 13(4), 544–559. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2008.1573
Brozović, D., Jansson, C., & Boers, B. (2025). Strategic flexibility and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises: A study of enablers and barriers. Management Decision, 63(6), 1914–1935. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-05-2022-0577
Cannistrà, M., De Beckker, K., Agasisti, T., Amagir, A., Põder, K., Vartiak, L., & De Witte, K. (2024). The impact of an online game-based financial education course: Multi-country experimental evidence. Journal of Comparative Economics, 52(4), 825–847. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JCE.2024.08.001
Creswell, J. W. (2016). Penelitian kualitatif dan desain riset.
Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319–340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008
Dewi, P. K., Bayu, G., Parwita, S., Agus, P., & Rismawan, E. (2022). Pengaruh pendidikan, kompetensi dan spesialisasi kerja terhadap kinerja karyawan pada PT Republic Soap Bali. EMAS, 3(11), 111–119. https://doi.org/10.30388/EMAS.V3I11.4318
Elgin, C., & Elveren, A. Y. (2021). Informality, inequality, and feminization of labor. Women’s Studies International Forum, 88, 102505. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WSIF.2021.102505
Eng, I., Aboagye, E., Bergsten, E. L., & Strömberg, A. (2025). Balancing employee flexibility and organizational performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1518284. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPSYG.2025.1518284
Fatimah, S., Wibowo, W., Irfaniah, N. R., Harahap, R. A., & Panggabean, N. A. (2025). Local digital ecosystem: Peran komunitas digital dalam mendorong bisnis kreatif daerah. JUMINTAL, 4(1), 127–136. https://doi.org/10.55123/JUMINTAL.V4I1.5479
Gorsek, D., Schäfer, J., Prinz, C., & Kuhlenkötter, B. (2025). Correlation analysis of stress and strain parameters in a manual assembly. Production Engineering, 19(5), 1043–1061. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11740-025-01358-7
Hackman, J. R., & Oldham, G. R. (1976). Motivation through the design of work. Organizational Behavior and Human Performance, 16(2), 250–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/0030-5073(76)90016-7
Hasibuan, I. M., Erianto, R., & Sugianto. (2024). Contribution of MSMEs sector to Indonesian economy. Proceeding International Seminar of Islamic Studies, 580–588. https://doi.org/10.3059/INSIS.V0I1.18248
Hofmeister, J., Kanbach, D. K., & Hogreve, J. (2023). Measuring and managing service productivity. Review of Managerial Science, 18(3), 739–775. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11846-023-00620-5
Humphrey, S. E., Nahrgang, J. D., & Morgeson, F. P. (2007). Integrating motivational, social, and contextual work design features. Journal of Applied Psychology, 92(5), 1332–1356. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.92.5.1332
Ismail, I., Romadoni, A. I., Sholihah, W., & Firli, R. D. (2024). Optimalisasi jumlah karyawan dalam UMKM. Journal of Economics and Management Scienties, 68–73. https://doi.org/10.37034/JEMS.V6I2.47
Kurniasari, F., Hamid, N. A., & Lestari, E. D. (2025). Financial literacy and fintech adoption on SMEs performance. Cogent Business & Management, 12(1), 2487837. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2487837
Lubis, P. S. I., & Salsabila, R. (2024). Peran UMKM dalam pembangunan ekonomi. MUQADDIMAH, 2(2), 91–110. https://doi.org/10.59246/MUQADDIMAH.V2I2.716
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldana, J. (2018). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook. SAGE Publications.
Mlekus, L., & Maier, G. W. (2021). Meta-analysis on job and task rotation. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 633530. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPSYG.2021.633530
Moleong, L. J. (2019). Metodologi penelitian kualitatif. PT Remaja Rosdakarya.
Nugraha, D. P., Setiawan, B., Nathan, R. J., & Fekete-Farkas, M. (2022). Fintech adoption drivers for SMEs. Journal of Open Innovation, 8(4), 208. https://doi.org/10.3390/JOITMC8040208
OECD. (2023). OECD/INFE 2023 international survey of adult financial literacy. https://doi.org/10.1787/56003A32-EN
OJK. (2022). Survei nasional literasi dan inklusi keuangan 2022. https://ojk.go.id
Phillips, F., Chang, J., & Su, Y. S. (2019). Efficiency and flexibility determine firm performance. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 4(2), 88–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JIK.2017.12.003
Sekhar, C., & Patwardhan, M. (2023). Flexible working arrangement and job performance. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 72(5), 1221–1238. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-07-2020-0396
Surya, B., Menne, F., Sabhan, H., Suriani, S., Abubakar, H., & Idris, M. (2021). Economic growth and SMEs productivity. Journal of Open Innovation, 7(1), 20. https://doi.org/10.3390/JOITMC7010020
Wang, N., Luan, Y., & Ma, R. (2024). Work motivation and job performance. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1), 595. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03038-w
Widyaningsih, P., Adin, S., & Mujiaty, Y. (2025). Rotasi kerja dan disiplin kerja terhadap kinerja pegawai. PPIMAN, 3(4), 173–188. https://doi.org/10.59603/PPIMAN.V3I4.1126
Yang, C., Pang, L., Zhang, J., & Cao, X. (2024). Workload measurement method. Aerospace, 11(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/AEROSPACE11050406
Yasir, M., Majid, A., Yousaf, Z., Nassani, A. A., & Haffar, M. (2023). Innovative work behavior for SMEs. European Journal of Innovation Management, 26(2), 289–308. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-02-2021-0091
Yusuf, M. (2006). Metode penelitian kuantitatif, kualitatif, dan penelitian gabungan. Kencana.
Zelenyuk, V. (2023). Productivity analysis. Journal of Productivity Analysis, 60(3), 229–247. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11123-023-00692-1
Zatika, D. A., Yohanson, A. K., & Yuniwati. (2025). Efforts to increase employee productivity. JPMTB, 4(1), 128–134. https://doi.org/10.36448/JPMTB.V4I1.147