Ngupi communication

Ngupi communication refers to informal morning interactions between leaders and employees in plantation settings. This study examined how ngupi communication operates as a strategic communication practice in addressing the palm oil production crisis at PT Perkebunan Nusantara in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The research employed a qualitative case study design conducted at one plantation unit, involving purposively selected informants consisting of managerial staff and field employees. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, non-participant observation, and document analysis, and were analysed using an interactive model of data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that ngupi communication functions through three empirically grounded dimensions. First, dialogical interaction enables the circulation of production-related information and facilitates problem identification during declining output. Second, the practice of humility is reflected in leaders’ communicative openness, allowing employees to express concerns and negotiate meanings of organisational directives. Third, critical reflection emerges as employees collectively interpret production challenges and adjust their work practices in response to crisis conditions. These dimensions demonstrate that ngupi communication is not merely symbolic but operates as a situational communication mechanism that supports coordination and adaptive decision-making. This study contributes to organisational communication and theology-informed communication studies by conceptualising ngupi as a culturally embedded communication model that integrates relational ethics, collective awareness, and adaptive organisational responses in times of crisis.

Crisis communication · Field research · Models of communication · Negotiation · Organizational communication · Qualitative research · Situational ethics · Interdisciplinary Studies and Sociocultural Dynamics · Management Theory and Practice · Oil Palm Production and Sustainability