STRATEGI PENGEMBANGAN SUMBER DAYA APARATUR SIPIL NEGARA (ASN) DALAM MENGOPTIMALKAN KINERJA (Studi pada Dinas Perindustrian dan Perdagangan Provinsi Jawa Timur)

The demand for quality public services positions Aparatur Sipil Negara (ASN) in a strategic role as policy implementers. However, field realities reveal persistent challenges in human resource development, particularly disparities in experience and education levels among ASN, which impact performance quality. This condition poses a challenge for government institutions in achieving equitable and competitive performance. This study aims to examine strategies for ASN development to bridge these gaps and optimize performance in a comprehensive and sustainable manner. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, with data collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. Informants included several ASN participating in human resource development programs, the Sub-Coordinator of Development, and performance assessors at the Department of Industry and Trade of East Java Province, selected purposively based on the relevance of their roles and experiences. The findings indicate that development strategies have been implemented through technical training, study assignments, mentoring, job rotation, and internal coaching. However, challenges remain, including limited budget, suboptimal needs assessment, time constraints, heavy workloads, and lack of initiative among some individuals. Despite these obstacles, most informants reported positive impacts from the programs, particularly in terms of skill enhancement, cross-functional understanding, and readiness to adapt to changes. This research is expected to serve as a reference for government institutions in formulating more targeted, equitable, and sustainable ASN development strategies to support improved public service quality. Additionally, it offers academic contributions to the discourse on human resource management in the public sector.