Definitions:
Complex engineering problems means engineering problems which cannot be resolved without in-depth engineering knowledge and having some or all of the following characteristics:

• Involve wide-ranging or conflicting technical, engineering and other issues
• Have no obvious solution and require originality in analysis
• Involve infrequently encountered issues
• Are outside problems encompassed by standards and codes of practice for professional engineering
• Involve diverse groups of stakeholders with widely varying needs
• Have significant consequences in a range of contexts

Broadly defined engineering problems means engineering problems having some or all of the following characteristics:

• Can be solved by application of well-proven analysis techniques
• Are parts of, or systems within complex engineering problems
• Involve a variety of factors which may impose conflicting constraints
• Belong to families of familiar problems which are solved in well-accepted ways
• May be partially outside those encompassed by standards or codes of practice
• Involve several groups of stakeholders with differing and occasionally conflicting needs
• Have consequences which are important locally, but may extend more widely
  

Well defined engineering problems means engineering problems having some or all of the following characteristics:

• Can be solved in standardised ways
• Are discrete components of engineering systems
• Involve several issues, but with few of these exerting conflicting constraints
• Are frequently encountered and thus familiar to most practitioners in the practice area
• Are encompassed by standards and/or documented codes of practice
  
• Involve a limited range of stakeholders with differing needs
  
• Have consequences which are locally important and not far-reaching
  
• Can be resolved using limited theoretical knowledge but normally requires extensive practical knowledge

General responsibilities of an engineer include:

• Social responsibilities including ethics, health and safety and other legislation
• Cultural responsibilities including, in New Zealand, the Treaty of Waitangi
  
• Environmental responsibilities including the need for sustainable development and design and legislative responsibilities
• Life long learning