Morowali – The success of community-managed village infrastructure projects depends not only on technical construction quality but also on the effective application of social engineering that actively involves local communities throughout every stage of development. This conclusion was presented by Mukhlis Laasi, Fahira F., and Gideon Turruallo from the Master's Program in Civil Engineering, Graduate School of Tadulako University, in a study published in 2026 in the East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR). The research found that social engineering strategies contribute 80 percent to the effectiveness of community-managed village infrastructure development.
Village infrastructure development has become one of Indonesia's primary strategies for improving community welfare, strengthening regional connectivity, and accelerating rural economic growth. In recent years, the government has promoted a self-managed development model that places local communities at the center of planning and implementation. This approach aims not only to reduce construction costs but also to foster a stronger sense of community ownership, ensuring that public infrastructure is maintained and utilized sustainably over the long term.
Despite these efforts, many rural infrastructure projects continue to encounter challenges that extend beyond engineering and construction. Limited community participation, conflicts of interest, weak communication, and inadequate transparency frequently undermine project effectiveness. To address these issues, the concept of social engineering integrates social and technical dimensions of project management, enabling communities to participate actively in planning, implementation, monitoring, and maintenance rather than serving merely as project beneficiaries.
The study employed a mixed-methods approach using a sequential explanatory design, combining quantitative and qualitative research. Data were collected from five villages in Bungku Tengah District, Morowali Regency—Bahomoleo, Bahontobungku, Bente, Puungkoilu, and Sakita. A total of 126 respondents, including village officials, Activity Implementation Team (TPK) members, community leaders, and local residents, completed structured questionnaires. These findings were further validated through in-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs).
The quantitative analysis revealed that the implementation of social engineering strategies achieved a high average score of 3.72, while construction management effectiveness recorded an average score of 3.69. Statistical testing demonstrated a very strong relationship between the two variables, with a correlation coefficient of 0.894 and a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.800. These results indicate that approximately 80 percent of the effectiveness of village infrastructure projects is determined by the successful implementation of social engineering strategies, while the remaining 20 percent is influenced by other technical factors.
The qualitative findings revealed that social engineering was implemented through various community-centered approaches, including encouraging public participation in village assemblies, utilizing local labor and resources, promoting mutual cooperation (gotong royong), and strengthening communication between village governments and residents. Bahomoleo and Puungkoilu villages demonstrated the strongest implementation, with community members actively participating from project planning through construction and long-term maintenance.
The researchers also identified several significant challenges. Some villages experienced shortages of technically skilled workers, limited understanding of self-managed construction systems among village officials, weak project administration, and ineffective communication between local governments and residents. These constraints reduced community participation and limited public understanding of development processes and decision-making mechanisms.
One of the study's most notable findings is that community participation remains largely operational rather than substantive. While many residents contribute labor during project implementation, they are often excluded from strategic decision-making processes. Youth and women also continue to have limited opportunities to participate, particularly during planning and management stages. According to the researchers, sustainable village development requires broader and more inclusive participation from all community groups from the very beginning of each project.
According to Mukhlis Laasi and colleagues from Tadulako University, successful village infrastructure development requires much more than technical engineering expertise. Strengthening public communication, ensuring budget transparency, promoting participatory leadership, improving human resource capacity, optimizing village deliberation forums, and preserving local traditions such as gotong royong are essential strategies for improving the effectiveness of community-managed development. These efforts help create stronger community ownership, ensuring that completed infrastructure continues to benefit local residents over the long term.
The study provides valuable insights for local governments, village administrations, and development practitioners seeking to design more inclusive and sustainable infrastructure policies. It demonstrates that successful development depends not only on engineering quality and construction technology but also on strong social relationships, transparent governance, effective communication, and meaningful community participation throughout the development process.
Author Profile
Mukhlis Laasi – Master's Program in Civil Engineering, Graduate School, Tadulako University, Palu, Indonesia.
Fahira F. – Master's Program in Civil Engineering, Graduate School, Tadulako University, Palu, Indonesia.
Gideon Turruallo – Master's Program in Civil Engineering, Graduate School, Tadulako University, Palu, Indonesia.
Research Source
Article Title: Strategies for Implementing Social Engineering in Self-Managed Village Infrastructure Construction Management.
Journal: East Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (EAJMR), Vol. 5, No. 7, 2026.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/eajmr.v5i7.240
Journal Website: https://journaleajmr.my.id/index.php/eajmr
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