--- title: "Importance of society to engineers" subject: "Engineering Professional Practice" chapter: 1 key: "semester_8/engineering_professional_practice:man-society-importance-engineer" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/man-society-importance-engineer site: BCT Engineering --- # Importance of society to engineers Engineering Professional Practice · Chapter 1: History of Engineering Practices - Asked in: 2073 Magh, 4 marks; 2070 Bhadra, 5 marks (asked 2 times) - Video: [Role of Engineers in Society](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckdh82sNtEY) — Izzati Husna - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/man-society-importance-engineer - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/chapter-1 ## Question Why are men and society so important to the engineering profession? Why is society necessary for engineers? What roles can an engineer play in the society? ## Short answer Engineering exists to serve human needs in society; society is the client, resource provider, and source of professional legitimacy. Engineers need society for market, training, legal protection, and moral guidance. Their roles include problem solver, planner, manager, protector of safety and environment, innovator, adviser, and ethical model. ## Answer Man is a social being; no one can live or work alone. Engineering is a service to people, so it exists only because of human needs in a society. #### Why man and society are important to the engineering profession - **Need creates engineering:** roads, water supply, housing, electricity and communication are built because society needs them. - **Society is the client and user:** engineers' designs are used, paid for and affected by the public; success is judged by public benefit and safety. - **Source of resources:** society provides education, finance, labour, materials and legal support for engineering work. - **Source of knowledge and recognition:** the profession is given status and licence (e.g. by Nepal Engineering Council) by society's consent. - **Feedback and acceptance:** social values, culture and environment decide which solutions are acceptable and sustainable. - **Man as team member:** engineering is done in teams of colleagues, workers, clients and communities. #### Why society is necessary for engineers - Gives a market and jobs, and protects engineers through laws. - Supplies the skilled people and institutions for training and research. - Gives social security, identity and moral guidance. #### Roles of an engineer in society 1. **Problem solver and designer:** converts needs into safe, economical works. 2. **Planner and developer:** helps in national development and poverty reduction. 3. **Manager and leader:** manages people, money and projects. 4. **Protector of public safety, health and environment.** 5. **Innovator and educator:** introduces new technology and trains others. 6. **Adviser to the government and community** in policy and technical decisions. 7. **Ethical role model** who follows the code of conduct and serves the public interest. ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Why does the engineering profession exist, according to the answer? A. To earn profit for engineers B. Because of human needs in a society C. Because of government orders only D. To compete with other professions Answer: B. Engineering is a service to people and exists because of human needs such as roads, water and electricity. (Key point: Need creates engineering) 2. How is the success of an engineer's design judged? A. By its low cost only B. By the engineer's personal satisfaction C. By public benefit and safety D. By how new the technology is Answer: C. Society is the client and user, so success is judged by public benefit and safety. (Key point: Society as client) 3. What is the role of society in giving the profession a licence, e.g. by Nepal Engineering Council? A. Status and licence are given by society's consent B. Licence is independent of society C. Only foreign bodies can give licence D. Licence is given by the engineers themselves without any authority Answer: A. The profession is given status and licence by society's consent. (Key point: Licence by consent) 4. Which is NOT one of the roles of an engineer in society? A. Protector of public safety and environment B. Adviser to government and community C. Problem solver and designer D. Maker of laws and judge of disputes Answer: D. Engineers design, plan, manage, protect, innovate and advise, but making laws and judging disputes is not listed. (Key point: Roles of an engineer) ## Related in Engineering Professional Practice - [Short note: Impact of engineering profession](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Aimpact-engineering-profession) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 1 - [Practical engineering profession; organizations](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Apractical-profession-organizations) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 3 - [Profession, code of ethics, tort and liability](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Aprofession-code-ethics-tort) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 2 - [Engineer's relation with client, contractor, fellows](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Aengineer-relation-client-contractor) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 3 - [Role of Nepal Engineers' Association](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Anea-role-golden-jubilee) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 3 - [Profession and its characteristics](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Fengineering_professional_practice%3Aprofession-characteristics) — Engineering Professional Practice, chapter 2, asked 3× ## Related in other subjects - [Roles of engineers in economic decisions](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fengineering_economics%3Aroles-of-engineers-economic-decision) — Engineering Economics, chapter 1 - [Important properties of civil engineering materials](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Aimportant-properties-civil-materials) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 1, asked 8× - [Importance of engineering economics for engineers](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fengineering_economics%3Aimportance-ee-decision-making) — Engineering Economics, chapter 1, asked 2× - [Sub-group of engineers, doctors, statisticians](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fprobability_and_statistics%3Aengineers-doctors-statisticians-subgroup) — Probability and Statistics, chapter 1