Foreman Leadership for Sustainable Construction: Linking Productivity, Waste Reduction, and Energy Efficiency

¹ Universitas Diponegoro, Department of Civil Engineering, 50275, Semarang, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia
² Universitas Pelita Bangsa, Department of Civil Engineering, 17530 Kabupaten Bekasi, Jawa Barat, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Abstract

Foremen (mandor) hold a central position in the Indonesian construction industry as informal leaders who supervise the workforce and influence project outcomes. Nevertheless, studies on foreman leadership remain limited compared to formal managerial leadership. This research aims to develop a contextual foreman leadership model that integrates local wisdom with sustainable construction practices, focusing on productivity, waste reduction, and energy efficiency. The study adopts an embedded mixed-methods design, where qualitative exploration through field observations, interviews, and literature review serves as the main approach, supported by systematic analysis of recent studies. Findings reveal that adaptive foreman leadership fosters team cohesion which not only enhances productivity and quality but also reduces rework, minimizes material waste, and optimizes energy and resource utilization on site. Moreover, foremen act as cultural brokers who instill solidarity and work discipline, thereby reinforcing sustainable project delivery. This study contributes theoretically by filling the research gap on informal leadership in construction, while also offering practical implications for industry stakeholders and policymakers to promote foremen as change agents in advancing environmentally responsible and energy-efficient construction practices.