Engineering as a Social Profession

This paper examines the social properties of the purpose and practices of engineering to develop a social ontology of the profession. Its social elements are considered in terms of its engagement with society (its social purpose), and in regard to the engineer's engagement with the profession (the lived professional experience). Both aspects are important for the development of a social narrative. The social purpose of the profession has been explored by others, facilitating a review of the literature for this paper. The lived professional experience draws on autoethnographic observations of a curated, operational, engineering management system employed in daily professional practice, which in turn draws upon the accumulated experiences of many other professionals over lengthy periods of time. This is believed to be new for ethnographic studies of engineering practice. The findings collectively paint a comprehensive picture of engineering as a profession where social orientation is paramount, and the social skills of negotiation and collaboration are indispensable. The continuing gap between public perceptions and reality are a source of concern, especially when these perceptions may follow graduates into their early career experiences. Some factors that contribute to that gap are identified. For education, the study identifies the need for the curriculum to develop negotiation and collaboration skills.