Stakeholders’ communication in times of crisis: A case of COVID-۱۹ pandemic in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Purpose: The objective of this study was to explore the coordination and communication governance processes utilized by the Yogyakarta provincial government in addressing the COVID-۱۹ pandemic. Methods: Qualitative research with a phenomenological approach was performed with a total of twelve informants from various stakeholder, including government institutions, professional organizations, and task forces collaborating with the Yogyakarta Provincial Health Office to address the challenges posed by COVID-۱۹ in the region. Data collection techniques employed include in-depth interviews and observations. The analysis in this study employed the Colaizzi’s method. Findings: Two primary themes was produced, including, (۱) training and development of human resources for the management of the crisis, with two sub themes emerged, including, (a) healthcare stage in handling and (b) recruitment in human resources fulfillment, and (۲) the communication governance of the Yogyakarta Special Region's government, with four key themes, including, (a) effective information through easily accessible applications, (b) comprehensive information from reliable sources, (c) diverse media for socialization meetings during coordination, and (d) dissemination of recommendations. Conclusion: The pivotal importance of stakeholder collaboration in efficiently addressing the COVID-۱۹ outbreak in Yogyakarta was evident in our findings. We observed that an effective response to the pandemic hinged on a cooperative strategy that brought together diverse stakeholders, such as government entities, healthcare organizations, and community leaders.

Keywords:

coordination , communication , COVID-۱۹ , Indonesia , phenomenology , stakeholder