Abstract
Abstract. Educational digitalization requires adequate infrastructure and competent human resources; however, field realities often present technical and geographical constraints. This study aims to analyze the roles of survival leadership and adaptive leadership of madrasah principals in improving the efficiency of administrative staff performance in the digital era. Employing a qualitative approach with a case study design at MA Al-Muttaqin Jayapura, data were collected through in-depth interviews with the madrasah principal and administrative staff. The findings reveal that: (1) the administrative system is implemented through a hybrid strategy (manual–digital) as an adaptive response to disruptions in centralized systems and infrastructural limitations in the Papua region; (2) adaptive leadership is manifested through direct mentoring, open communication, and flexible policies aligned with the school’s real conditions; (3) work efficiency is achieved through deliberative decision-making practices and task distribution based on digital accounts, which promote task decentralization; and (4) a humanistic work culture characterized by a familial approach serves as a supporting factor for staff loyalty and comfort in coping with dynamic system changes. This study concludes that the success of digitalization in regions with limited infrastructure is highly dependent on leaders’ ability to balance national digital regulations with local management wisdom.
Keywords: Adaptive Leadership; Administrative Efficiency; Madrasah Digitalization; Papua; Survival Leadership.