Hospitable Engineers

About Hospitable Engineers

Abstract

Current corporate trends of low organizational commitment and the resulting personnel turnover limit the full use of employee potential. This paper explores a means to counter this trend. By answering the admonition to be hospitable and entertain strangers, Christian engineers can make a positive impact on their companies, create opportunities for interpersonal outreach, and support corporate productivity and competitive creativity. Existing research is reviewed that correlates social connections in the cor porate environment with improved organizational commitment and increased individual and team performance. A claim is made that sharing meals is one such means to foster social connections. Applications to the engineering corporate environment are discussed. Recommendations are offered to help engineering educators address underlying concepts in the classroom and to promote the value of hospitality as a means to love corporate neighbors. General guidelines and activities at the program and course level that promote corporate hospitality are also discussed and attempts to implement them are reviewed.