Muttaqin Knowledge Worker in Halal Logistics: Conceptualization, Scale Development and Validation
Abstract
This study develops and validates an instrument for assessing the professional-competence domain of the Muttaqin Knowledge Worker (MKW) construct in halal logistics. While MKW is conceptually grounded in an Islamic normative framework, including the notion of taqwa, the present study focuses empirically on the knowledge-based professional capabilities that can be operationalized in halal logistics. An exploratory sequential design was employed. An initial pool of 18 items was developed from the MKW literature and reviewed by experts in logistics management, management, and Islamic studies. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was conducted with 82 managers and leaders in Indonesian logistics organizations, followed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with 200 respondents to assess the resulting factor structure. The EFA supported a one-factor structure, indicating that the measured indicators of knowledge, learning, experience, decision-making, problem-solving, teamwork, motivation, and professional responsibility represent a common underlying domain of professional competence in halal logistics. CFA supported the one-factor model, with generally strong fit across several indices, although the RMSEA indicated less optimal approximate fit. The resulting 12-item scale demonstrated very high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .984; McDonald’s ω = .984) and convergent validity (AVE = .835). This study provides an empirically validated measure of the manifestation of professional competence in MKW within halal logistics, extending knowledge-worker research into a context characterized by specialized halal requirements. The study also clarifies the distinction between the broader conceptualization of MKW and its present empirical operationalization. The current scale should not be interpreted as a direct measure of taqwa or Islamic spirituality; explicit measurement of these dimensions remains an important direction for future MKW scale development
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21043/iqtishadia.v19i1.39211
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