What is Development Engineering?
Three definitions of Development Engineering
This article provides three definitions of development engineering. These definitions are derived from the meaning of the word's development and Engineering.
Development Engineering as a Problem Solving Process
Conventionally, engineering is defined as a problem-solving process. Engineering as a problem-solving process differs from mathematical problem-solving. Mathematical problems are usually precise, and they have unique solutions. Unlike these kinds of problems, the engineering problems are wicked, and there exist more than one solutions to them. Engineers typically solve technical issues, for example, the structure design of a bridge or designing an efficient algorithm to process a large volume of data. A professional engineer is expected to have mastered the process of solving a problem and acquired the domain-specific knowledge required for a particular discipline; it may be Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering or Electrical engineering.
Development engineering problems differ from conventional engineering problems. When development engineering is viewed as a problem-solving process, in general, it is defined as the process to overcome humanity's or society's problems. A development engineer solves humanity's or societal issues and not any specific problems related to an engineering product or a service. A development engineer designs appropriate technological interventions} for problems that have a broader impact. Few examples of such problems include poverty elimination, providing food for all, and providing essential health services to all. The issues faced by development engineers are broad and systemic, often requiring knowledge of Economics, Societal Context, Culture, Project Management, and Passion for improving the lives of underprivileged people.
Development Engineering as an Economic Development
Another way of defining development engineering is to adopt an engineering approach or a systematic approach to economic growth. This definition of development engineering is based on the economist's definition of development. It implicitly assumes that a community's development is manifested through its economic growth. Here, a systematic or engineering approach means adopting and executing steps such as planning, designing, implementing, and evaluating the community's progress in terms of economic growth.
A development engineer plays the role of a technology developer. The primary aim is to develop the appropriate technologies to propel economic growth in a community. These technological interventions aim to improve underprivileged people's financial condition either by enhancing their income or by saving their effort and finances. To improve people's economic situation, a development engineer needs to know local economics, an understanding of local people's behaviour and their culture. These aspects of a community, i.e. culture, behaviour and economics, are usually studied under ethnography.
Like Amartya Sen, a Noble Laureate, some economists think that development shall not be restricted and measured in terms of economic growth. These economists have a broader notion of development that goes beyond economic growth and includes all dimensions of human development, such as education, health, and the existence of democratic institutions.
The development consists of the removal of various types of unfreedoms that leave people with little choice and little opportunity of exercising their reasoned agency.
Amartya Sen,1999
Development Engineering as a Technological Empowerment
Another definition of Development Engineering is empowering people, community, or nations with modern technologies and tools. The objective of technological empowerment is to overcome the community's limitations or improve their economic status. This definition is often attributed to President Truman, who narrated an alternative vision of providing aid based on technological empowerment. He prescribes empowering societies with knowledge and technology instead of financial aid.
we must embark on a bold new program for making the benefits of our scientific advances and industrial progress available for the improvement and growth of underdeveloped areas. More than half the people of the world are living in conditions approaching misery. Their food is inadequate. They are victims of the disease. Their economic life is primitive and stagnant. Their poverty is a handicap and a threat both to them and to more prosperous areas. For the first time in history, humanity possesses the knowledge and skill to relieve the suffering of these people. The United States is pre-eminent among nations in the development of industrial and scientific techniques. The material resources which we can afford to use for the assistance of other peoples are limited. But our imponderable resources in technical knowledge are constantly growing and are inexhaustible.
President Truman, Inaugural Address 1949
Summary
The three central elements that underlie all the definitions as mentioned above for Development Engineering are: (i) solving a domain-specific problem of an underprivileged society, (ii) improving economic conditions and (iii) use of technologies.
In short, we define development engineering as a discipline concerned with the design and development of products and services considering the societal context and resource-poor characteristics of a society in a particular domain, including Agriculture, Education, Energy, Health, Transportation or Public Administration.
Development Engineering is also known as humanitarian engineering, engineering for change, or engineering for impact.