Dalam bidang Pengurusan Pembinaan (Construction Management), konsep role model tidak semestinya merujuk kepada individu yang terkenal secara umum.
Sebaliknya, role model sebenar ialah mereka yang memberi impak besar terhadap cara projek dirancang, diurus, dan disampaikan dalam dunia sebenar.
Individu-individu ini bukan sahaja memahami teori, tetapi mampu mengaplikasikannya dalam situasi kompleks yang melibatkan masa, kos, risiko, dan pelbagai pihak berkepentingan.
Tokoh Global dalam Pengurusan Pembinaan
Sir John Egan

Sumbangan utama:
- Penulis laporan Rethinking Construction (1998)
- Mengubah perspektif industri pembinaan di United Kingdom terhadap:
- Produktiviti
- Kolaborasi
- Penyampaian projek
Pemikiran utama:
Pembinaan bukan sekadar aktiviti fizikal, tetapi satu sistem yang perlu diurus secara efisien.
Sir Michael Latham
Sumbangan utama:
- Penulis laporan Constructing the Team (1994)
- Memperkenalkan konsep:
- Kerjasama strategik (partnering)
- Kolaborasi dalam projek
Impak:
Mengubah budaya konflik kepada budaya kerjasama dalam industri pembinaan.
Glenn Ballard
Sumbangan utama:
- Pelopor pendekatan Lean Construction
- Pembangun Last Planner System
Fokus:
- Kecekapan proses kerja
- Aliran kerja yang sistematik
- Pengurangan pembaziran
Greg Howell

Sumbangan utama:
- Pengasas bersama Lean Construction Institute
- Membentuk pendekatan moden dalam pengurusan pembinaan
Impak:
Peralihan daripada pengurusan reaktif kepada perancangan aliran kerja yang sistematik.
Bent Flyvbjerg

Sumbangan utama:
- Pakar global dalam pengurusan projek berskala besar (megaproject management)
- Fokus kepada:
- Kelewatan dan lebihan kos
- Pengurusan risiko
- Kecenderungan dalam membuat keputusan
Pandangan utama:
Kegagalan projek sering berpunca daripada keputusan manusia, bukan semata-mata isu teknikal.
Perspektif Malaysia
Dalam konteks Malaysia, role model dalam Pengurusan Pembinaan mungkin tidak begitu dikenali secara umum, tetapi memainkan peranan penting dalam industri, seperti:
- Pengarah projek bagi projek mega (contohnya MRT, TRX)
- Pengurus projek dalam syarikat kontraktor G7
- Pegawai kanan dalam agensi seperti CIDB dan JKR
Ciri utama mereka:
- Keupayaan mengurus kompleksiti sebenar projek
- Kecekapan membuat keputusan dalam tekanan
- Kebolehan menyiapkan projek berskala besar dalam kekangan yang mencabar
Apakah Ciri Role Model Sebenar?
Dalam bidang ini, role model bukanlah semata-mata individu yang:
- Mempunyai banyak penerbitan akademik
- Menguasai kemahiran teknikal secara mendalam sahaja
Sebaliknya, role model sebenar ialah individu yang:
Mampu menyampaikan projek kompleks dengan berjaya dalam persekitaran sebenar.
Perspektif Strategik
Dalam konteks pembangunan kerjaya dan kepimpinan, definisi role model dalam Pengurusan Pembinaan boleh dirumuskan seperti berikut:
Role model bukanlah individu yang paling banyak pengetahuan,
tetapi individu yang mampu membuat keputusan yang tepat dalam keadaan yang tidak sempurna.
Penutup
Dalam industri pembinaan yang semakin kompleks, keperluan terhadap individu yang mampu mengurus dan membuat keputusan semakin meningkat.
Oleh itu, memahami siapa role model dalam bidang ini bukan sekadar inspirasi—
tetapi juga panduan untuk membentuk laluan kerjaya yang lebih strategik dan berimpak tinggi.
🏗️ Who Are the Role Models in Construction Management?
In the field of Construction Management, the concept of a role model does not necessarily refer to individuals who are widely known or publicly visible.
Instead, true role models are those who have made a significant impact on how projects are planned, managed, and delivered in real-world conditions.
These individuals do not only understand theory—they are able to apply it effectively in complex situations involving time, cost, risk, and multiple stakeholders.
🌍 Global Figures in Construction Management
👤 Sir John Egan

Key contributions:
- Author of Rethinking Construction (1998)
- Transformed the UK construction industry’s perspective on:
- Productivity
- Collaboration
- Project delivery
Core thinking:
Construction is not merely a physical activity—it is a system that must be managed efficiently.
👤 Sir Michael Latham

Key contributions:
- Author of Constructing the Team (1994)
- Introduced concepts such as:
- Strategic partnering
- Collaborative project delivery
Impact:
Shifted the industry from a culture of conflict to one of collaboration.
👤 Glenn Ballard

Key contributions:
- Pioneer of the Lean Construction approach
- Developer of the Last Planner System
Focus:
- Process efficiency
- Structured workflow
- Waste reduction
👤 Greg Howell

Key contributions:
- Co-founder of the Lean Construction Institute
- Played a key role in shaping modern construction management practices
Impact:
Transitioned the industry from reactive management to systematic workflow planning.
👤 Bent Flyvbjerg

Key contributions:
- Global expert in megaproject management
- Focus areas:
- Cost overruns
- Risk management
- Decision-making bias
Key insight:
Project failures are often driven by human decision-making, not purely technical issues.
🇲🇾 The Malaysian Perspective
In the Malaysian context, role models in Construction Management may not always be widely recognised, but they play critical roles in the industry, such as:
- Project Directors of mega projects (e.g., MRT, TRX)
- Project Managers in G7 contracting firms
- Senior officials in agencies such as CIDB and JKR
Key characteristics:
- Ability to manage real project complexity
- Strong decision-making under pressure
- Capability to deliver large-scale projects within constraints
🎯 What Defines a True Role Model?
In this field, a role model is not necessarily someone who:
- Has extensive academic publications
- Possesses deep technical expertise alone
Rather, a true role model is someone who:
Can successfully deliver complex projects in real-world environments.
✍️ A Strategic Perspective
From a career and leadership standpoint, a role model in Construction Management can be defined as:
Not the person who knows the most,
but the one who can make the right decisions under imperfect conditions.
📩 Closing
As the construction industry becomes increasingly complex, the demand for individuals who can manage and make decisions continues to grow.
Understanding who the true role models are in this field is not only a source of inspiration—
but also a guide for building a more strategic and impactful career path.

