Revision 1.3 18/06/2004
Range and Contextual Definitions
Attribute
1 Preamble
Complex Problems
(Engineering) problems which cannot
be
resolved
without
in-depth
engineering knowledge and having
some or all of the following
characteristics:
2 Range of conflicting Involve wide-ranging or conflicting
requirements
technical, engineering and other issues
Broadly-defined Problems
Well-defined Problems
(Engineering) problems having some or all of (Engineering) problems having some or all of
the following characteristics:
the following characteristics:
3 Depth
of
required
Can be solved by application of well-proven Can be solved in standardised ways
analysis techniques
analysis Have no obvious solution and require
abstract thinking, originality in analysis
to formulate suitable models
4 Depth of knowledge Requires in-depth knowledge that
required
allows a fundamentals-based first
principles analytical approach
5 Familiarity of issues
Involve infrequently encountered issues
6
7
8
9
Involve a variety of factors which may impose Involve several issues, but with few of these
conflicting constraints
exerting conflicting constraints
Requires knowledge of principles and applied Can be resolved using limited theoretical
procedures or methodologies
knowledge but normally requires extensive
practical knowledge
Belong to families of familiar problems which Are frequently encountered and thus familiar
are solved in well-accepted ways
to most practitioners in the practice area
Level of problem
Are outside problems encompassed by May be partially outside those encompassed Are encompassed by standards and/or
standards and codes of practice for by standards or codes of practice
documented codes of practice
professional engineering
Extent of stakeholder Involve diverse groups of stakeholders Involve several groups of stakeholders with Involve a limited range of stakeholders with
involvement and level of with widely varying needs
differing and occasionally conflicting needs
differing needs
conflicting requirements
Consequences
Have significant consequences in a Have consequences which are important Have consequences which are locally
range of contexts
locally, but may extend more widely
important and not far-reaching
Interdependence
Are high level problems possibly Are parts of, or systems within complex Are discrete components of engineering
including many component parts or engineering problems
systems
sub-problems
Revision 1.3 18/06/2004
Attribute
1 Preamble
Broadly-defined Activities
Broadly defined activities means
(engineering) activities or projects that have
some or all of the following characteristics:
Well-defined Activities
Well-defined activities means (engineering)
activities or projects that have some or all of
the following characteristics:
2 Range of resources
Involve a variety of resources (and for this
purposes resources includes people, money,
equipment, materials, information and
technologies)
Involve a limited range of resources (and for
this purpose resources includes people,
money, equipment, materials, informaion and
technologies)
3
Require resolution of occasional interactions Require resolution of interactions between
between technical, engineering and other limited technical and engineering issues with
issues, of which few are conflicting
little or no impact of wider issues
4
5
6
Complex Activities
Complex activities means
(engineering) activities or projects that
have some or all of the following
characteristics:
Involve the use of diverse resources
(and for this purpose resources
includes people, money, equipment,
materials,
information
and
technologies)
Level of interactions
Require resolution of significant
problems arising from interactions
between wide-ranging or conflicting
technical, engineering or other issues,
Innovation
Involve creative use of knowledge of
engineering principles in novel ways.
Consequences
to Have significant consequences in a
society
and
the range of contexts
environment
Familiarity
Can extend beyond previous
experiences by applying principlesbased approaches
Involve the use of new materials, techniques
or processes in innovative ways
Have consequences that are most important
locally, but may extend more widely
Involve the use of existing materials
techniques, or processes in new ways
Have consequences that are locally important
and not far-reaching
Require a knowledge of normal operating Require a knowledge of practical procedures
procedures and processes
and practices for widely-applied operations
and processes
The practice area of a professional engineer, engineering technologist or engineering technician is defined by both the area in which he or she holds
engineering knowledge and the nature of the activities performed.
(Engineering Problem: is one that exists in any domain that can be solved by the application of engineering knowledge and skills and generic competencies).
Solution: means an effective proposal for resolving a problem, taking into account all relevant technical, legal, social, cultural, economic and environmental
issues and having regard to the need for sustainability.
Manage: means managing in respect of risk, project, change, financial, compliance, quality, ongoing monitoring, control and evaluation.