HST 318 - MODULE 4 EXAM QUESTIONS WELL ANSWERED LATEST UPDATE 2026
CORPORATIONS AND ENGINEERS - Answers
The Corporation in History - Answers Corporations are much more common today than in the
past
Most buisness were individual proprioterships, family firms, etc. before 1880
Why the change to Corporations? - Answers Large technology systems offer economies of scale
to large corps
Americas loose regulatory structure and changing legal practices
Businessmen pushing politicians to make incorporation easier
Corporations were up builders - funded, took entrepreneurial risks, etc.
Henry Ford - Model T — created automobile that was much more reasonably priced — people
had the option to choose how to travel
Bell Telephone system — allowed families to communicate
Standard Oil — kerosene rather than gasoline, quality emphasized — safe — saved Americans
money for illuminating their homes
Advantages to Corps - Answers Ability to raise money
Attract top engineering talent
Strong incentive to actually deliver a worthwhile product
Rise of corporations attracts lots of engineers
Disadvantages to Corps - Answers Products aimed at selling to those with the ability to pay —
not focused on improving social good
Often promote concentrations of wealth
Attentive to needs of consumers; less attentive to laborers
Environmental externalities
Distinction from other professions - Answers Most other professions are not as integrated with
corporations - Lawyers, etc.
Consequences for engineers - Answers Loyalty to employer often higher than to profession
Cost efficiency central for most engineers - will it pay versus will it work
, Anonymity resulting from working in large teams
Engineers become managers more frequently than those in most other professions
ENGINEERS AND MANAGEMENT - Answers
Engineers and management - Answers Engineers moving to management positions is much
more common than other professions
Half of engineers over 55 in US and Europe are in management positions
Why do engineers move to management - Answers PULL
Better pay
Desire to improve organizational performance
Improve engineering outcomes by adding technical perspective
Greater autonomy
PUSH
Routinization of much engineering work
Technological obsolescence - having trouble keeping up with new technologies
Engineers and management thelrh - Answers Engineers have often contributed to management
theory
Engineering education has evolved over time to include management theory
Engineers and the corporate bureaucracy - Answers For most engineers, the restrictions of
corporations have not been overly burdensome
- staying in a budget
- following orders from above is acceptable
- anonymity accepted as necessary consequence of working on large and exciting technologies
— not being recognized for work
George Campbell and loading coils - Answers AT&T engineer - assigned in 1899 to work on
distortion in sound transmission-given free reign
In Sept 1899, he experiments and a prototype is shown with considerable progress
Patent papers were not filed until March 1900
CORPORATIONS AND ENGINEERS - Answers
The Corporation in History - Answers Corporations are much more common today than in the
past
Most buisness were individual proprioterships, family firms, etc. before 1880
Why the change to Corporations? - Answers Large technology systems offer economies of scale
to large corps
Americas loose regulatory structure and changing legal practices
Businessmen pushing politicians to make incorporation easier
Corporations were up builders - funded, took entrepreneurial risks, etc.
Henry Ford - Model T — created automobile that was much more reasonably priced — people
had the option to choose how to travel
Bell Telephone system — allowed families to communicate
Standard Oil — kerosene rather than gasoline, quality emphasized — safe — saved Americans
money for illuminating their homes
Advantages to Corps - Answers Ability to raise money
Attract top engineering talent
Strong incentive to actually deliver a worthwhile product
Rise of corporations attracts lots of engineers
Disadvantages to Corps - Answers Products aimed at selling to those with the ability to pay —
not focused on improving social good
Often promote concentrations of wealth
Attentive to needs of consumers; less attentive to laborers
Environmental externalities
Distinction from other professions - Answers Most other professions are not as integrated with
corporations - Lawyers, etc.
Consequences for engineers - Answers Loyalty to employer often higher than to profession
Cost efficiency central for most engineers - will it pay versus will it work
, Anonymity resulting from working in large teams
Engineers become managers more frequently than those in most other professions
ENGINEERS AND MANAGEMENT - Answers
Engineers and management - Answers Engineers moving to management positions is much
more common than other professions
Half of engineers over 55 in US and Europe are in management positions
Why do engineers move to management - Answers PULL
Better pay
Desire to improve organizational performance
Improve engineering outcomes by adding technical perspective
Greater autonomy
PUSH
Routinization of much engineering work
Technological obsolescence - having trouble keeping up with new technologies
Engineers and management thelrh - Answers Engineers have often contributed to management
theory
Engineering education has evolved over time to include management theory
Engineers and the corporate bureaucracy - Answers For most engineers, the restrictions of
corporations have not been overly burdensome
- staying in a budget
- following orders from above is acceptable
- anonymity accepted as necessary consequence of working on large and exciting technologies
— not being recognized for work
George Campbell and loading coils - Answers AT&T engineer - assigned in 1899 to work on
distortion in sound transmission-given free reign
In Sept 1899, he experiments and a prototype is shown with considerable progress
Patent papers were not filed until March 1900
