The Role and Function of Mandor in Construction Project Organization in Indonesia

Abstract

In a typical construction project organization in Indonesian, mandors are positioned as personnel responsible for leading a group of workers in the construction industry, who are also often regarded as the most important agent in the construction operation. Having the status of being the key linkage between the management and the construction workforce, mandors are expected to play important role in influencing workers’ performance and productivity, as well as the safety and quality of construction works. Traditionally, mandors functioned as the supplier of workers to the construction project. Mandors, many of whom are also relatives or having closed tie to workers, are responsible to bring the workers from the village to the construction sites in the cities. As informal leaders with strong social and emotional binding with their fellow workers, mandors played important role in reshaping workers attitude toward work.In recent years the role and function of mandors have shifted from traditional supplier of workers to become foremen who lead group of workers that do not necessarily possess the traditional closed bonding with them. With the shifting from traditional to a more modern construction method and technology, many believed that the industry can make use mandors’ key role for the improvement of the construction industry in Indonesia. This paper discusses result of research involving survey to both the management and construction workers that seeks to determine the shifting role and function of mandors in construction project organization, as well as finding ways for improvement that are more appropriate to the new setting of the construction industry.