HANGING TOUGH : A STUDY OF HOW ENGINEERS COPE WITH ALIENATION

Abstract

The objectives of this study is to explore how engineers cope with the experience of work alienation and establish a connection between their coping tactics and the shortage of engineers in Singapore. This study argues that the experience of alienation estranges engineers from themselves, which may impel engineers to abandon their profession. More seriously, work alienation stifles the spirit of creativity and innovation and the estranged engineer is unable to perform his work and acts as only the guardians of his technological creations and responsibilities. Engineers may choose to adopt passive and escapist coping tactics against the experience or may actively attempt to combat alienation. Generally, engineers lack support from social institutions, such as schools, organizations and the state, in their battle against their experience of alienation. The study concludes that by granting engineers more opportunities to exercise their expertise and knowledge and by granting them more social support, they then may be able to perform the technically creative work they had initially been trained for. There will, thus, be less urgency for both the state and private enterprises to seek foreign talent to meet this shortage in the engineering profession.