Perbincangan tentang naratif akademik memang penting, dan saya setuju bahawa seorang ilmuwan perlu jelas dengan arah sumbangannya.
Namun, kita juga perlu jujur melihat realiti bidang yang kita ceburi.
Dalam ekosistem global, institusi pelopor seperti Massachusetts Institute of Technology tidak membina kekuatan melalui disiplin yang sempit atau naratif yang terlalu linear.
Sebaliknya, mereka berkembang melalui integrasi, menghubungkan kejuruteraan, pengurusan, teknologi dan alam sekitar dalam menyelesaikan masalah dunia sebenar.
Di sinilah saya melihat peranan saya di Jabatan Pengurusan Pembinaan (JPP), Fakulti Pengurusan Teknologi dan Perniagaan (FPTP).
Bidang pengurusan pembinaan bukan sekadar tentang tapak atau teknikal semata-mata.
Ia adalah titik pertemuan antara:
– sistem pembinaan
– keputusan pengurusan
– risiko dan ketidakpastian
– kelestarian dan impak alam sekitar
– serta keperluan industri
Atas sebab itu, kajian dalam bidang ini jarang bersifat satu dimensi.
Hari ini kita mungkin membincangkan bahan binaan lestari.
Esok kita menyentuh pengurusan risiko.
Lusa kita melihat polisi, pendidikan atau teknologi.
Kelihatan seperti “lompat sana sini”.
Tetapi hakikatnya, ia adalah usaha memahami satu sistem yang kompleks secara menyeluruh.
Sepanjang perjalanan saya daripada kejuruteraan → pengurusan pembinaan → pengurusan alam sekitar,
satu persoalan kekal menjadi teras:
Bagaimana kita boleh membina dengan lebih cekap, lestari dan berdaya tahan dalam dunia sebenar?
Di JPP, FPTP, itulah konteks sebenar naratif ini.
Menghubungkan ilmu teknikal dengan pemikiran pengurusan.
Menghubungkan teori dengan keperluan industri.
Menghubungkan penyelidikan dengan impak sebenar.
Mungkin persoalan sebenar bukan sekadar:
adakah naratif kita kelihatan linear,
tetapi:
adakah naratif kita cukup relevan dengan kompleksiti dunia sebenar?
Kerana dalam bidang seperti ini,
yang kelihatan tidak linear itu,
sebenarnya lebih hampir kepada realiti.
From Engineering to Construction Management: Building a Cross-Disciplinary Academic Narrative
The conversation around academic narrative is important, and I agree that scholars should be clear about the direction of their contributions.
However, we also need to be careful not to oversimplify the reality of today’s academic landscape.
Globally, leading institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology do not build strength through narrowly defined, linear academic paths.
They thrive on integration, connecting engineering, management, technology, and environmental thinking to address real-world complexity.
This is precisely how I see my role within the Department of Construction Management (JPP), Faculty of Technology Management and Business (FPTP).
Construction management is not a single-dimensional field.
It sits at the intersection of:
– engineering systems
– managerial decision-making
– risk and uncertainty
– sustainability and environmental impact
– and industry-driven needs
Because of this, research in this space rarely follows a single straight line.
One study may focus on sustainable construction materials.
Another may explore risk-based decision frameworks.
Others may touch on policy, education, or emerging technologies.
At a glance, this may appear as “jumping across topics.”
But in reality, it reflects an attempt to understand a complex system in a holistic way.
Throughout my journey, from engineering to construction management to environmental managemen,
one central question has remained consistent:
How can we build systems that are more efficient, sustainable, and resilient in an increasingly complex world?
At JPP, FPTP, this is where the narrative finds its context,
bridging technical knowledge with strategic thinking,
linking research with real industry challenges,
and ensuring that academic work translates into meaningful impact.
So perhaps the real question is not:
whether a narrative appears linear,
but:
whether it is relevant to the complexity of the real world.
Because in fields like ours,
what appears non-linear
is often closer to reality.
