The engineer and the changing business world

The expanding role of engineers in the modern business enterprise has implications for the engineers themselves, for engineering schools, and for corporations. The author presents his view that education in engineering must be broadened to give engineers a more comprehensive view of international forces and trends, and a clear understanding of the engineer's role in that world. In corporations there is a need for policies that will foster the multiple roles of engineers, and for education and training in non–engineering fields that are also of vital importance to the corporation. The broadening role of engineers also implies a commitment by corporations to career–long education for their engineering workforces. Individual engineers will need to recognize their new roles in the corporate structure and prepare themselves to meet the new challenges.