Professional and Social Engineering (ENCE 355) — Year III / Part II

CHAPTER 5: SOCIAL ENGINEERING

IOE, Tribhuvan University • 6 Hours • 8 Marks
The Past Exam Questions below are mapped from equivalent EPP (society, community, social change) and TES (participatory development) board questions. Stakeholder mapping and CSR are new-syllabus topics shown with practice questions.

5.1 CONCEPT AND SCOPE OF SOCIAL ENGINEERING 2081 2078 2077 2075 2073 2072

PAST EXAM QUESTIONS (mapped from EPP):

  1. Define Society and Social Change. [2] (2077 Chaitra, Q1)
  2. What is social change? What are the factors causing social change? [Part of 8] (2072 Ashwin, Q1)
  3. List down and explain the various theories of social change with example. [1+3] (2081 Shrawan, Q1)
  4. Explain the conflict theory of social change and its relevance in Nepal. [1+3] (2078 Kartik, Q1a)
  5. Explain what type of social change theory is suitable for your society. [4] (2075 Bhadra, Q1)
Social Engineering
The deliberate, planned effort to influence and shape social behaviour, attitudes and structures on a large scale — using policy, technology, education and institutions to guide society toward desired goals such as inclusion, development and equity.

For engineers, social engineering means designing not just physical structures but also the social processes around them — ensuring projects are accepted, equitable and sustainable. Its scope covers community mobilization, behaviour change (e.g. sanitation, safety), inclusion of marginalized groups and managing planned social change.

Social Change

Social change is the alteration of social structure, cultural patterns and behaviour over time; society is never static. Eight factors drive it: technological (the most powerful), cultural, physical/environmental, demographic, economic, social conflict, social movements and human ideas.

Evolutionary (Comte, Spencer) Linear: simple → complex → civilized Functionalist (Parsons) Parts adjust → equilibrium Conflict (Marx) Haves vs Have-nots → class struggle Nepal: Maoist insurgency, 2008 republic Cyclical (Spengler, Toynbee) Birth → growth → decline → death rise and fall, repeats
Figure 5.1: Four Theories of Social Change
Conflict theory in Nepal: Marx’s class-struggle model explains the Maoist insurgency (1996–2006), the shift from monarchy to republic (2008) and the Dalit/Janajati/Madhesi movements — changes driven by inequality between the “haves” and “have-nots.”

5.2 ELEMENTS OF SOCIETY AND COMMUNITY AND THEIR DIFFERENCE 2080 2079 2076 2074 2073 2072 2071 2069

PAST EXAM QUESTIONS (mapped from EPP):

  1. Define the term society and community. [1] (2080 Chaitra, Q1)
  2. Define society. Illustrate elements of society. Describe the relationship between man and society. [Part of 10] (2072 Magh, Q1)
  3. Explain the criteria of society. [4] (2074 Magh, Q1)
  4. Define society. What are the fundamental social needs to be addressed for the survival of every type of society? [4] (2071 Magh, Q1a)
  5. Write down briefly the characteristic features of society. What are the elements of community? [5] (2074 Bhadra, Q1a)
  6. What are the differences between community and society? Briefly describe the theories of social change. [2+3] (2069 Bhadra, Q1a)
  7. Why is society necessary to a man, or to an engineer? Explain. [4] (2076 Bhadra, Q1)
Society vs Community
Society (Latin socius, companionship) is an abstract web of social relationships — not a mere collection of people. A community is a concrete group of people living in a definite locality with a shared “we-feeling.”
BasisSocietyCommunity
NatureAbstract (relationships)Concrete (people in a place)
GeographyNo fixed areaDefinite locality
SentimentNot essential“We-feeling” indispensable
ScopeWiderSmaller
CharacterHeterogeneousMore homogeneous

Criteria & Elements of Society

Four criteria of society: population, common territory, government/political authority and common culture. Characteristics/elements: plurality of individuals, web of social relationships, likeness and difference, interdependence, cooperation and conflict, permanence, dynamic nature, abstract nature, social control and culture.

Elements of community: a group of people, definite locality, community sentiment (we-feeling), cultural similarity, permanency, naturality, no legal status and a particular name.

Parsons’ six fundamental social needs: organizing activities, protection, replacement (reproduction), transmission of knowledge, motivation and conflict resolution. The five basic social institutions are Family, Religion, Economy, Education and the State.

Why society matters to an engineer: engineers serve society’s needs, draw resources and labour from it, and their works (roads, water, power) reshape it — making the man–society relationship reciprocal and essential to the profession.

5.3 SOCIAL INCLUSION AND DECISION MAKING 2079 2078 2076 2074 2072 2070

PAST EXAM QUESTIONS (mapped from TES):

  1. What are the essential features of the participatory approach? Write the advantages and disadvantages of public participation in a development project. [2+6] (2076 Bhadra, Q2)
  2. Why is a participatory planning approach important for sustainable infrastructure development? [4] (2079 Jestha, Q2)
  3. Describe how the participatory approach empowers the community in development activity. [6] (2078 Chaitra, Q2)
  4. Do participatory approaches empower community? Justify your answer. [5] (2070 Magh, Q3)
Social Inclusion
The process of ensuring that all people — especially marginalized groups (women, Dalits, Janajatis, Madhesis and persons with disabilities) — can participate in and benefit from development decisions on an equal footing.

Ladder of Participation

Manipulation Information Consultation Partnership Delegated Power rising citizen power →
Figure 5.2: Ladder of Citizen Participation (non-participation → tokenism → citizen power)

How participation empowers: it creates ownership and responsibility, builds skills and capacity, gives a voice to marginalized groups (e.g. the 50% women requirement in community-forestry committees), delivers economic empowerment and strengthens local institutions. Nepal’s inclusive development rests on the “3 I’s”: Inclusion, Investment, Infrastructure.

Advantages of participation
  • Ownership & sustainability
  • Demand-driven, relevant design
  • Local knowledge & transparency
  • Conflict minimization
Disadvantages
  • Time-consuming & costly
  • Risk of elite capture
  • Conflicting interests
  • Needs skilled facilitation

5.4 STAKEHOLDERS: IDENTIFICATION, MAPPING, ANALYSIS & ENGAGEMENT 2081 2079 2071

MAPPED / PRACTICE QUESTIONS:

  1. List the main data-collection methods in an ethnographic survey. Explain the importance of ethnographic survey to understand societal dynamics. [3+5] (mapped from TES 2081 Chaitra, Q2)
  2. What do you understand by the ethnographic data-collection approach? [3] (mapped from TES 2079 Jestha, Q2)
  3. What is stakeholder mapping? Explain the power–interest grid with examples. [4] (practice)
Stakeholder
Any individual, group or organization that can affect, or is affected by, a project — including clients, users, communities, government, contractors, funders and civil society.

Identification and Analysis

Identification lists everyone with a stake. Analysis assesses each stakeholder’s power (influence) and interest (stake). To understand social dynamics on the ground, engineers use ethnographic methods: participant observation, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), field notes, case studies, surveys and content analysis — which reveal power relations, inequality and marginalization.

Stakeholder Mapping: the Power–Interest Grid

Keep Satisfied (high power, low interest) Manage Closely (high power, high interest) Monitor (low power, low interest) Keep Informed (low power, high interest) POWER → INTEREST →
Figure 5.3: Stakeholder Power–Interest Grid (Mendelow’s Matrix)

Engagement & communication is then tailored to each quadrant — manage high-power/high-interest stakeholders closely, keep others satisfied, informed or merely monitored. Participatory tools such as PRA (Participatory Rural Appraisal), KII (Key Informant Interview), beneficiary feedback and outcome mapping support ongoing engagement.

5.5 CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR)

LIKELY / PRACTICE QUESTIONS:

  1. Define Corporate Social Responsibility. Explain Carroll’s CSR pyramid. [4]
  2. Discuss the benefits of CSR for an engineering company. [4]
  3. Write short notes on: CSR provisions in Nepal. [2]
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
A company’s commitment to operate ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of its workforce, the local community and society at large — going beyond profit and legal compliance.

Carroll’s CSR Pyramid

Philanthropic Ethical Legal Economic (be profitable)
Figure 5.4: Carroll’s Four-Level CSR Pyramid

The pyramid builds from the base upward: be profitable (economic), obey the law (legal), be ethical (do what is right) and be a good corporate citizen (philanthropic).

Benefits and Nepal Context

  • Improved reputation, brand value and stakeholder trust.
  • Better community relations and a “social licence to operate.”
  • Employee motivation and retention; long-term sustainability.
Nepal: the Industrial Enterprises Act requires medium and large industries to allocate at least 1% of annual net profit to CSR activities — typically education, health, disaster relief and local infrastructure. Hydropower and cement companies commonly fund local schools, roads and drinking water.

QUICK REFERENCE: KEY FACTS

  • Society = abstract web of relationships; Community = concrete group in a locality with “we-feeling.”
  • 4 theories of social change: Evolutionary, Functionalist, Conflict (Marx), Cyclical.
  • Criteria of society: population, territory, government, culture.
  • Participation ladder: Manipulation → Information → Consultation → Partnership → Delegated Power.
  • Nepal 3 I’s: Inclusion, Investment, Infrastructure.
  • Power–Interest grid: Manage Closely / Keep Satisfied / Keep Informed / Monitor.
  • CSR pyramid: Economic → Legal → Ethical → Philanthropic; Nepal 1% of net profit.

PAST QUESTION FREQUENCY SUMMARY

TopicFrequencyTypical Marks
Society & community (5.2)★★★★★ Very High1–5
Social change theories (5.1)★★★★ High2–4
Participatory approach / inclusion (5.3)★★★★ High4–8
Stakeholders / ethnography (5.4)★★★ Medium3–8
CSR (5.5)★ New topic2–4
Exam Tip: Society-vs-community and social-change theories are near-certain. Always give the Nepal example for conflict theory (Maoist movement, 2008 republic) and name marginalized groups (women, Dalits, Janajatis, Madhesis) for inclusion answers.

My Mnemonics