Unit VI: Responsibilities and Management (AGM)

Unit VI: Responsibilities and Management

❖ Responsibility for the Environment

❖ Engineering as Social Experimentation
❖ Safety and Risk Management
❖ IT Professional relationship management

Responsibility for the Environment

The engineering profession plays a critical role in shaping the built environment and
infrastructure that supports the modern society. At such, engineers have a unique
responsibility to consider this environmental impact of their work and to take steps to
minimize the negative environmental effect. This is where importance of environment
consciousness comes in. Environmental consciousness refers to awareness of the impact
that human activities have on the natural world and the need to take steps to minimize
negative effects on the environment. This is especially important in the engineering
profession as engineers are responsible for designing, building and maintaining the
infrastructure that supports modern society. Engineers work in variety of fields from
transportation and energy to water resources and waste management. In each of these
areas environmental concerns are critical considerations.

One of the primary reasons why environmental consciousness is so important in the

engineering profession is because of the scale of the impact that engineering projects
can have on the environment. For example, transportation infrastructure such as
highways and airports can have significant impact on local ecosystems and wildlife
habitat. Energy infrastructures such as power plants and oil refineries can contribute to
air and water pollution and have negative effect on human health. Engineers must be
aware of these potential impacts and take steps to minimize them. Another reason why
environmental consciousness is crucial in the engineering profession is because of the
long-term nature of the engineering projects. Projects can last for decades if not
centuries, and can have lasting impact on environment. For example, a poorly designed
waste management facility can lead to pollution and health risk for generations to come.
Similarly, an energy infrastructure project that realise on non-renewable resources can
contribute to climate change for decades even after the project has been completed.
Engineers must consider the long-term impact of their work and designs solutions that
are sustainable and environmentally responsible.

In addition to ethical responsibility to protect the environment there are also legal and
regulatory requirements that must be considered. Environmental regulations are
becoming increasingly strict and engineers must be aware of these requirements and
ensure that their work complies with them. Failure to do so can result in legal and
financial consequences as well as damage to the engineer’s reputation and the
reputation of their employer. The most crucial question arises, what can engineers do
to incorporate environmental consciousness into their work? There are several steps
that engineers can take to minimize the environmental impact of their projects. One of
the most important is to incorporate sustainable design principles into their work.

1|Page
 Unit VI: Responsibilities and Management (AGM)

Sustainable design aims to minimize negative environmental impacts while maximizing

the positive impacts of the project. This can include using renewable resources,
minimizing waste and designing for energy efficiency.

Another important step is to consider the life cycle of the project. Engineers must think
beyond the design and construction phases and consider the entire life cycle of the
project. This includes considering how the project will be used, maintained, and
ultimately decommissioned. Engineers can design solutions that are more
environmentally responsible & sustainable. Engineers can also work with stakeholders
including community members, environmental groups and government agencies to
incorporate environmental concerns into their projects. Engineers can gain a better
understanding of the local environment and identify potential environmental concern
early in the design process. This can help to prevent negative environmental impacts
and ensure that project is more sustainable.

Environmental consciousness is becoming increasingly important in the engineering

professional have a unique responsibility to consider the environmental impact of their
work and to take steps to minimize negative environmental effect. This is important not
only from an ethical perspective but also from legal and regulatory perspective. By
incorporating sustainable design principles considering the life cycles of the project and
working with stakeholders engineers can designs solutions that are more
environmentally responsible and sustainable.

Engineering as Social Experimentation

Social experimentation is a concept that recognises the importance of social and cultural
factors in engineering. Engineers must be willing to experiment with new ideas and
technologies to improve society, take risks, make mistakes and learn from their failures.
They must also be aware of the social and political factors that influence their work,
design, products and system that meet the needs of the society, assess the risk
associated with their design and communicate those risk effectively to policy makers
and the public. The idea behind this concept is that engineering is not just about
designing and building things but also about experimenting with new ideas and
technologies to improve society. It suggests that engineers have a social responsibility
to use their skills and knowledge to make the world a better place. In other words,
engineers are not just technical problem solvers but also social problem solvers.

Engineering as a social experimentation has several implications. Firstly, it implies that

engineering is a human activity that is influenced by social cultural and political factors.
Engineers do not work in a vacuum but are part of the larger social context that shapes
their work. For example, the design of a bridge is not just technical problem but also
social and political issue that involves consideration such as cost, safety and aesthetics.
Second, it implies that engineering is not a deterministic process. Engineers do not
always know what the outcome of their work will be. They must experiment with new
ideas and technologies to find out what works and what does not. In the sense,
engineering is more like a scientific process than the technical process. Engineers must

2|Page
 Unit VI: Responsibilities and Management (AGM)

be willing to take risk, make mistakes a;9nd learn from their failure. Third, engineering
as social experimentation implies that engineering is an iterative process. Engineers
must design, build, test and refined their ideas until they achieve the desired outcomes.
This requires a willingness to adapt and change as new information becomes available.
Engineers must also be open to feedback and criticism from others including the public,
policy makers and other stakeholders.

The concept of engineering as social experimentation has several practical applications.

One of the most important is in the field of design. Engineers must design products,
systems and structures that made the needs of the society. This requires an
understanding of a social and cultural factors that influence design decisions. For
example, engineers designing a new transportation system must consider the needs of
different users such as commuters, tourist and people with disabilities. They must also
consider the environmental impact of their design such as emissions and land use.
Another practical application of engineering as social experimentation is in the field of
risk assessment. Engineers must assess the risk associated with their designs and
communicate those risk to the policymakers and public. This requires and
understanding of the social and political factors that influence risk perception. For
example, engineers designing a new nuclear power plant must considered the risk
associated with the nuclear accidents and potential impact on public health and safety.
They must also consider the social and political factors that influence public perception
of nuclear power such as fear of radiation and potential of nuclear weapon proliferation.

Finally, engineering as social experimentation has implications for education and

training of engineers. Engineers must be train not just in technical skills but also in
social and cultural awareness. They must understand the social and political factors that
influence their work and be able to communicate effectively with policymakers,
stakeholders and public. They must also be willing to work collaboratively with other
disciplines such as social scientist, economists and policymakers to find solution to
complex social problems.

Safety and Risk Management in Engineering

Safety and risk management in engineering refers to the processes and practices that
engineer used to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with engineering products
and Systems. Safety and risk management are critical components of Engineering
because many Engineering projects involve complex systems that have the potential to
cause harm or damage if not designed, built, or operated safely.

Safety management involves identification, analysis and control of hazards associated

with Engineering projects and systems. Safety management begins with hazard
identification, which involves identifying potential sources of harm or danger associated
with the project or system. Once hazards are identified, engineers assess the level of risk
associated with each hazard and determine best approach to control or mitigate risk.
This may involve implementing design features or engineering controls to eliminate or
reduce the risk, or establishing procedure or guidelines for safe operation of the system.

3|Page
 Unit VI: Responsibilities and Management (AGM)

Risk management on the other hand is the process of identifying, assessing and
prioritizing risk associated with the project or system. Risk management involves both
identification and analysis of risks, as well as the development and implementation of
risk mitigation strategies. The goal of risk management is to reduce the likelihood and
impact of adverse event that could potentially harm people, the environment or project
itself. Some examples of safety and risk management in engineering include:

❑ Buildings and bridge construction: Engineers most ensure that buildings and bridges
are design built and operated safely. This may involve performing rigorous safety
inspections, implementing redundant safety features such as fire alarm and sprinkler
systems and designing structures to withstand natural disasters such as earthquakes
and hurricanes.

❑ Aerospace and aviation: Aviation industry is highly regulated and requires a

comprehensive approach to safety and risk management. Engineers working in
aerospace and aviation must identify and mitigate risk associated with aircraft
design, maintenance, and operation. This may involve implementing redundant
systems and procedures, such as backup power systems and providing
comprehensive training for pilots and maintenance crews.

❑ Chemical processing and manufacturing: Engineers working in chemical processing

and manufacturing must identify and mitigate the risk associated with hazardous
materials and chemicals. This may involve implementing restrict safety protocols,
such as proper labelling, storage and handling procedures, as well as establishing
emerging response plans in case of accidents or spills.

IT Professional Relationship Management

Professional Relationship Management (PRM) refers to the process of building and
maintaining positive, productive relationships with clients, colleagues, and others stake
holders in IT industry. It involves establishing trust, managing expectations, and
communicating effectively to ensure that projects are completed successfully and
relationships are maintained over a long term. Effective PRM can have significant
impact on the success of IT project and long-term success of IT professionals. By
building and maintaining positive relationships with clients and others stakeholders IT
professionals can established a strong reputation and attract new business.

In addition, effective PRM can help to mitigate risk and prevent issues from arising,
resulting in more successful project outcomes and higher level of customer satisfaction.
The following are some examples of PRM with different stakeholders in the IT
industries:

❑ Employers: IT professionals need to manage relationships with their employers

effectively to ensure that they are meeting their expectations and contributing to the
success of the organization. This involves maintaining open lines of communication,
taking on new challenges, and providing regular updates on progress.

4|Page
 Unit VI: Responsibilities and Management (AGM)

❑ Clients: Building strong relationships with clients is essential for IT professionals.

This involves understanding their needs, providing clear communication, managing
expectations, and delivering high quality work. In addition, IT professionals should
be proactive in identifying opportunities to add value and improve client
satisfaction.

❑ Suppliers: IT professionals need to work collaboratively with suppliers to ensure

that they have necessary resources to deliver projects effectively. This involves
managing expectations, negotiating contracts and maintaining open lines of
communication to ensure that all parties are aligned on a project goals.

❑ IT Users: IT professionals need to manage relationships with IT users to ensure that

they are satisfied with the technology and services being provide provided. This
involves providing training, support and troubleshooting services, as well as
listening to user feedback and making changes as necessary.

❑ Other professionals: IT professionals often work with other professionals, such as

designers, project managers, and marketing specialist. PRM involves building
positive relationships with these individuals and collaborating effectively to ensure
that projects are completed successfully.

❑ Society: IT professionals also have a responsibility to manage relationships with

society at large particularly in the area related to privacy, security, and sustainability.
This involves adhering to ethical and legal guidelines, being transparent about the
data collection and usage, and minimizing environmental impact of technology.

❑ Nation at large: IT professionals need to be aware of their impact on the nation and
take steps to ensure that they are contributing positively. This involves being
responsible citizens, complying with regulatory requirements, and actively seeking
opportunities to support local communities and economies.

Important Questions:

1. Describe the responsibility of engineer for the environment.

2. Explain the concept of Engineering as social experimentation in brief.
3. Explain safety and risk management in engineering.
4. Discuss the concept of professional relationship management in IT industries.

5|Page