Modeling and Optimizing Principal Managerial Effectiveness: The Role of Digital Leadership, Data Literacy, Religiosity, and Work Motivation

Abstract

The rapid digital transformation of vocational education demands adaptive leadership, yet principal managerial effectiveness often lags behind evolving expectations. Addressing this gap, this study developed and validated an integrative model that examines the direct and indirect influences of digital leadership, data literacy, religiosity, and organizational support on principals’ managerial effectiveness, mediated by work motivation. Using a quantitative explanatory design, survey data were gathered from 206 teachers across 19 private vocational high schools (SMK PGRI) in Jakarta, Indonesia. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) via SmartPLS 4.0 and optimized using the SITOREM method. The structural model explained 88.8% of the variance in managerial effectiveness (R2 = 0.888). Results reveal that digital leadership, data literacy, and religiosity exert significant direct positive effects on managerial effectiveness. Crucially, work motivation emerged as a powerful complementary partial mediator that translates personal competencies and spiritual values into administrative action. Conversely, organizational support showed a non-significant direct effect on managerial effectiveness. SITOREM optimization identified technology utilization, decision-making, and data analysis skills as immediate improvement priorities. This study concludes that enhancing principal effectiveness requires an integrated strategy that blends digital capabilities with values-based spiritual leadership, rooted in intrinsic motivation. Despite cross-sectional and contextual limitations, these results offer a concrete roadmap for evidence-based educational management.