Organizational Ethnography Analysis: Participation of Islamic Religious Leaders in Handling Covid-19 through Integrative Communication

Abstract

This study aims to explain the participative actions of researchers (ethnographers) in synergising culture and values between Public Relations Officers from the Bogor City Government, West Java, Indonesia, and Islamic religious leaders in handling the Covid-19 pandemic through integrated communication. The research method used is organisational ethnography to identify and find sociocultural barriers between informants (public relations officers of the Bogor government and Islamic religious leaders) with data from semi-structured interviews, centralised discussions, and participatory efforts during a mutually agreed period. The findings of the study show that the application of communication integration recommended by researchers to Bogor City Government Public Relations Officers can encourage collaboration in activities and reduce cultural barriers between them in handling the Covid-19 crisis through the use of conventional media and social media can create an accelerated life that is deliberative, healthy and optimistic during a pandemic. In particular, the precision and intensity of organisational ethnography implementation can reduce conflicts of interest among public relations officers to build a sense of identity and sustainably shared culture.