Firms and Society - 5GMC0142

Goal(s)

What are the relations which exist between the 'company' and the whole society?
Does an engineer have a political or ethical responsibility when carrying out his work?

The course has two objectives:

• The first is to allow engineering students to better understand the place a 'company' holds in modern society. What are the relations which exist today between the 'company' and citizens, the State, other intermediate bodies of society such as the family, associations, schools, trade unions, local authorities and NGOs.

• The second aim is to encourage students to reflect on their own individual responsibilities as future industrial engineers in companies, from both political, moral and ethical points of view.

In our market societies, the companies' first aim is to satisfy shareholders, so they must generate profits. In such a context, how are major contemporary issues such as sustainable development, the development of science and technology, globalisation and the reduction of inequalities taken into account by companies? How is the 'company' situated in relation to markets and also to political or law contexts? To science and technology? To citizens and intermediary bodies? To moral and ethical situations?

The aim of the course is not to give an instruction booklet to the students but to allow them to think for themselves - via contemporary issues chosen from up to date news topics - about the consequences of social and collective decisions made by companies and the responsibilities of engineers.

Content(s)

To reach the course objectives, students study specific questions on contemporary issues and subjects. For example, concerning the subject 'company aims', the question of corporate patriotism could be developed or the governance of shareholders. Another example, concerning the subject 'sustainable development', the question of applying precautionary principles to technological innovations such as GMOs or nanotechnology could be developed or the question of organic products from organic agriculture.

As a result a discussion opens on the links between politics and business. On a more personal level too, students will discuss the differences between men and women in a business context and the link between a harmonious family life and a successful business life.

Keywords: individual responsibility as an engineer, business ethics, contemporary society, political side of a company, challenges facing society and public policy.