disposisi

Disposisi is a term used in Indonesian and Malay to denote a directive, disposition, or arrangement attached to a document, as well as a broader sense of predisposition or tendency in people. The word originates from Latin dispositio and entered regional languages through colonial and administrative lending, evolving to cover both concrete routing of papers and more abstract meanings.

In administrative and bureaucratic contexts, disposisi refers to the directive or note placed on an official document to indicate how it should be handled. A disposisi typically records routing instructions, the responsible unit or person, required actions, and deadlines. It acts as an internal control and accountability mechanism, tracing the flow of documents from receipt to completion. In many organizations, a surat disposisi (disposition of a letter) accompanies correspondence to guide staff on follow-up tasks and timelines.

In legal or judicial settings, the term can appear in phrases like disposisi perkara, describing the final disposition of a case, such as decisions, settlements, or other outcomes determined by the court or authority. The exact usage varies by jurisdiction and institution, but the core idea remains the recording of how a matter is resolved or processed.

In psychology and everyday language, disposisi also means disposition or predisposition—the characteristic traits, tendencies, or temperament that influence behavior. This sense contrasts with situational explanations, emphasizing stable internal factors as drivers of actions.

With the rise of digital records, disposisi has expanded to metadata and workflow fields that capture the current status, required actions, and responsible parties for electronic documents, supporting traceability and efficiency in information management.