--- title: "Society elements, man-society relation, public vs private" subject: "Engineering Professional Practice" chapter: 1 key: "semester_8/engineering_professional_practice:society-elements-man-relation" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/society-elements-man-relation site: BCT Engineering --- # Society elements, man-society relation, public vs private Engineering Professional Practice · Chapter 1: History of Engineering Practices - Asked in: 2072 Magh, 10 marks - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/society-elements-man-relation - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/engineering_professional_practice/chapter-1 ## Question Define society. Illustrate elements of society. Describe the relationship between man and society. Differentiate public and private sectors for engineering practice. ## Short answer Society is an organised group with common culture, territory, and institutions. Elements include population, territory, social relationships, culture, institutions, norms and structure. Man and society are interdependent: society shapes individuals through socialisation, while individuals contribute back. Public sector is government-owned, service-focused, with job security; private sector is profit-driven, flexible, and merit-based. ## Answer #### Society Society is an organised group of people living together in an area, linked by common culture, relationships and institutions, who cooperate to satisfy their needs. It is "a web of social relationships". #### Elements of society 1. **Population (people):** a group of members. 2. **Territory:** a defined place to live (usually). 3. **Social relationships and interaction:** cooperation, exchange, even conflict. 4. **Culture:** shared language, values, customs, beliefs and arts. 5. **Social institutions:** family, education, economy, government, religion. 6. **Norms, laws and social control:** rules for behaviour. 7. **Social structure (status and roles):** division of labour among members. 8. **Common goals and interdependence.** 9. **Continuity** over generations. #### Relationship between man and society - **Man is a social animal** (Aristotle); he cannot survive alone because of long dependence in childhood. - **Society makes the individual:** gives language, personality, education, values and security through socialisation. - **Individual builds society:** through work, ideas, leadership and innovation members develop and change society. - **Interdependence:** the person has rights from society and duties towards it; society needs individuals' contribution and individuals need society's protection. - **Balance:** individual freedom is limited by social rules and welfare of others. Engineers, as members, use knowledge to meet societal needs while society grants them recognition. #### Public vs private sector for engineering practice | Basis | Public sector | Private sector | |---|---|---| | Ownership | Government | Individuals/companies | | Objective | Public service, development | Profit, market share | | Employer examples | DoR, DWSSM, NEA, DUDBC, municipalities | Consulting firms, contractors, IT companies | | Job security | High, permanent posts, pension | Less, contract based | | Recruitment | Public Service Commission, rules fixed | Company interview, flexible | | Pay | Fixed scale, moderate | Often higher, performance-linked | | Work nature | Planning, design approval, supervision, administration | Design, construction, production, services | | Decision making | Slow, bureaucratic | Fast, flexible | | Growth | Seniority based | Merit and skill based | ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which is NOT listed as an element of society? A. Social institutions B. Norms, laws and social control C. Private ownership of profit D. Culture Answer: C. Population, territory, relationships, culture, institutions, norms, structure, goals and continuity are listed; private profit is not. (Key point: Elements of society) 2. Why can man not survive alone, according to the answer? A. Because of long dependence in childhood B. Because he dislikes solitude C. Because laws forbid it D. Because of the economy only Answer: A. Man is a social animal (Aristotle); long dependence in childhood means he needs society. (Key point: Man as social animal) 3. How does the individual contribute to society? A. By giving it language and personality B. By obeying without ideas C. By work, ideas, leadership and innovation that develop and change society D. By avoiding relationships Answer: C. Through work, ideas, leadership and innovation members develop and change society. (Key point: Individual and society) 4. What is the main objective of the public sector compared with the private sector? A. Public: profit; private: public service B. Public: public service and development; private: profit and market share C. Both aim only at profit D. Both aim only at service Answer: B. The public sector aims at public service and development; the private sector at profit and market share. 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