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Together, we build a better future.

Name: Ong Seng Peng

Student ID: 0319016

Subject: Introduction to Construction Industry (The Building Team-Developer)

Tutor: Puan Hasmanira Mokhtar

Construction Developer

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Introduction

I n this assignment, our tasks are to interview a developer as a group work and rec-

ord a documentary video during our interview. Each of us need to produce a

magazine to demonstrate our understanding for our chosen construction team.

Well, we went to several places to interview the developers but we failed twice,

because the 1st is a software developer and the 2nd is a worker of the developer. We

found the real developer in the 3rd time. Nevertheless, we found that developer has

many types such as software developer, website developer and construction developer.

In completion of this assignment we will able to understand more about a developer in

construction industry.

What is construction developer?

I n the construction industry, a developer can

wear one or two hats in a construction project.

He can just be the owner or both owner and

contractor. He is the one who have a piece of

land and initiates the project, financing it base

on the company fund, and develops land

through construction. After the project is

finished, he will becomes an owner of the de-

veloped land. The developer seeks a profit

from development of the land, either by selling

a development, such as a tract of residential

homes, a shopping mall, or an office build-

ing, or by holding the developed property to

reap a return on the investment.

N o single path leads automatically

to success in real estate development.

Developers come from a variety of

disciplines— construction, lending, ar-

chitecture, law and accounting, among

others. The late Arthur N Levien a

prominent developer once described a

real estate developer as follows "a real

estate developer is a person who is not

an architect, engineer, plumber, iron

worker, attorney, appraiser, or any of

the dozens of other professionals in-

volved in the real estate development

process. It is however someone that

knows what each one of them does in

detail so as to get exactly what he or

she wants from each of them."

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Well, what are the responsibility

of a developer?

A developer is the pioneer of the construction project, he

plays an important role throughout the project, Below are the

several task he need to perform.

Assess the project feasibility He need to look at all aspects of construction viability including

construction site acquisition, planning consents, financing and

appointing a professional team to undertake the design and

construction. Historically, a developer's role was the remit of an

architect and for many projects still is, but for larger projects

it's more common for developers to take a managerial role and

apportion work to construction professionals who can under-

take and complete their own specialized roles within a project.

Financing and Set Project Timing Developers are often the main financiers of construction projects. It is difficult to

estimate or determine some of the costs of construction work because the costs are

constantly changing. Some developers will have in-house accountants that are aware

of the financial aspects of running construction projects and more importantly when

to begin them. Nowadays, many building are built speculatively relative to econom-

ic trends which can quickly change.

Developer need to scheme their project carefully.

Assembling a Team The logistics of running construction projects is complex and one of the key objectives

for a developer is the appointment of a professional team to undertake the design and

construction. Though some development companies will have all the resources within

their establishment, it's far more common to appoint consultants with specific

experience of the nature of the project they are engaged in. One of the greatest

demands on developers is the organization of the design and construction their liaison

to meet project deadlines.

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Management

A developer should well-versed in project

management and knowing the demands of

running a project in terms of resources and

manpower.

Working with multiple construction professionals

who often have their own agendas requires

patient and disciplined managers that are able to

get different groups working together towards a

combined goal. Meeting deadlines ranks among

the most important aspects of a developers

responsibilities so time management is very

important for a developer.

Cooperate with project manager

The developers will be responsible for carrying out the design and development

goals of the project and will work under the direction of their development manager

with the guidance of the lead architect and to respect the project schedule. They will

be expected to be motivated, with the ability to work in a dynamic team based

environment. The developers will hold the primary responsibilities of ensuring that

the designs and initial development efforts are going as planned and will be expected

to communicate with the development manager regarding any issues that arise on the

project that need attention.

Development Process

Here is a simplified version of

the real estate development flow

chart. The whole process actual-

ly will take a long time to go,

especially during the period to

get the approval from govern-

ment or the authority organiza-

tion. Sometimes it took about

half year to get the approval.

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Interview session

Developer Profile

Name: Mr. Tan Soon Meng

Position: Managing Director

Company: Soon Sin Hin Development

Company Location: 26&28 Jalan Medan Ni-

aga 4, Medan Niaga Kuala Selangor, 45000

Kuala Selangor, Selangor D. E. ,Malaysia

Below is our interview conversation.

Interviewer: Good afternoon

Mr.Tan could you introduce

yourself?

Mr.Tan: Hi everyone. My name

is Tan Soon Meng, you can call

me Mr.Tan. I am from Kuala Se-

langor, my company is Soon

Sin Hin Development. Currently

doing a lot of project in Kuala

Selangor.

Interviewer: What inspire you to

become a developer?

Mr. Tan: Because it is my family

business from my father I come

back to Malaysia in 2002 and

took over the business.

Interviewer: How long did you

took to build up your business?

Mr. Tan: Just now I told you all

already I come back in 2002….

Interviewer: So you start your

business from that time?

Mr.Tan: Ya

Interviewer: What obstacle are

you facing upon reaching your

goal for the project?

Mr.Tan: A lot of problem.

( smile)

Interviewer: What were your

positive thought when you facing

those obstacle?

Mr. Tan: My mind just think

about everything can be settle. It

only take some time to follow

(compromise) their (other con-

struction professional) rules.

Interviewer: How do you cooper-

ate with other construction team?

Mr.Tan: I just believe I want to

do my best and be very a good

quality to my purchaser and my

client.

Interviewer: Why did you choose

this career path?

Mr. Tan: Because it is done by

my father, my father passed away

and I come to take over.

Interviewer: What specific skills

are needed to perform this job?

Mr. Tan: I think it needs a very

good concept for whole develop-

ment, what are your selling point,

people why must buy your house,

people why need to spend their

money to buy your shop lot. You

have know the market if not you

cannot success your project.

Interviewer: Are you happy with

the system and regulation set by

our government?

Mr. Tan: I’m not very happy

Interviewer: ( laugh)

Interviewer: What would you

like to change or improve?

Mr.Tan: Hopefully government

can give a lot of subsidy, can let

the developer build a lot of af-

fordable houses to the young

people and the low income peo-

ple.

Interviewer: Thank you Mr.Tan

for your time.

Mr. Tan: You are welcome.

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10 Qualities that a developer should possess

Reflection:

I agree on what Mr Tan said “building afford-

able house for the low income people.

”However, there are some people hoard the

properties and sell it higher prices in order to

earn more profit. This makes more foreigner

and localers to invest the houses in Malaysia

because they know the price will increase.

However, this harden the life of the low-

income people. I think they should consider

to design and build the economic-friendly

houses for the lower income people to help

the society live a better life.

1. Perspective. Ability to look from business perspective apart from developing estate.

Look for the market.

2. Questions. Asking why something is done that way. Discussing answers. Showing own

point of view. Trying to be objective in the whole thing.

3. Communication. It doesn’t have to be great but you should be able to talk with non-

developers in a way which is understandable by the other side.

4. Make mistakes. Actually everyone make mistakes, but not everyone is able to admit

that.

5. Experience. Had experience from different situation, different systems, different issues,

different architectures, different teams, different technologies, different environments. The

more the better.

6. Learning. Will and ability to self-develop, learn (quickly) new things and adapt to new

environments.

7. Digging. Understanding a problem to the very bottom. Trying to find out what’s hap-

pening under the hood. Rejecting easy trial-and-error explanations. Deal with the flaws,

Seek for higher and seek for improvement of your current achievement.

8. Reason. Every thing which is developed serves some purpose and using common sense

one can easily decide which actions are justified and which are not.

9. Passion. Treating development as at least something more than just a job. Will to do de-

velop something just for yourself, not because you were forced to.

10. Time management. Be able to manage his own schedule and meet the deadline of the

project.