Talk with the professors - Laurens Rook
Laurens Rook
Laurens Rook is an Assistant Professor at Delft University of Technology's Faculty of Technology, Policy, and Management in the Netherlands. He holds a Ph.D. from the Rotterdam School of Management, as well as bachelor's and master's degrees in Communication Studies from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Laurens' research focuses on online customization, creativity, and decision making in the context of human-computer interaction. He examines how 'smart' (machine learning-based) information systems may provide users with online individualized decision help. Laurens is particularly interested in how technology helps individuals to make life choices that are innovative, prosocial, environmentally sustainable, or good to their physical and mental health. These types of choosing behavior are investigated in laboratory experiments, offline user studies, online search and browse logs, and through linguistic analysis of online narrative contributions.
According to you, why should engineers choose to pursue MOT?
This depends on the personal goals and ambitions of the engineering student. In general, I think that the MOT MSc Program is relevant for those engineering students that wish to move beyond the practical and functional engineering problems of their respective BSc Programs. The MOT MSc Program likely appeals most to those candidates that – in addition to their functional background – wish to learn more about the societal and corporate embeddedness of technology and innovation. For me, students who wish to pursue a managerial or technical consultancy career then come to mind.
What should students expect from the MOT programme?
Prospective students should anticipate courses in which the economics, commercialization and corporate management of high-technology products and services are addressed from an interdisciplinary point of view. Each course addresses technology management from a different theoretical perspective. In a way, the sum of the master’s program is more than its parts. As a MSc program, the curriculum also contains dedicated courses on research methods, statistics and scientific reflection. Other than that, students should realize that – in terms of weather conditions – the Netherlands do not exactly have a Mediterranean climate.
What do you think makes MOT different from other programmes in management?
Unlike many other management programs, the MOT MSc Program is strongly rooted in responsible research and innovation and thinking about value-sensitive design. This means that technology and innovation are not only discussed from an engineering and commercial point of view, but also from a societal and ethical perspective. This is important, because many of the problems relating to technology that are central to the curriculum are so complex (they are grand societal challenges) that possible solutions do not derive from a single scientific or functional perspective. The interdisciplinary orientation of the MOT Program, with lectures on management and engineering that take a wide range of values into account, is different from many traditional management programs.
What is your research area and how does this relate to the MOT programme?
I work on human-centered intelligent systems, especially on systems that support their users to live more sustainable and healthy lives. I specialize in the statistical analysis of human-computer interactions over time. This relates to the MOT course on Research Methods, where I lecture on statistics. The systems I work with are persuasive technologies designed to trigger (pro-environmental, pro-health) behavior change. Persuasive appeals and digital nudging techniques feature prominently in my High-Tech Marketing course. More in general, my marketing course is grounded in the responsible research and innovation and value-sensitive design philosophy of the MOT Program.
How has your experience been at the faculty of TPM?
It is a great pleasure to be able to work with highly talented young people. I am always impressed with the drive, passion and energy that new students bring to the MOT Program. I am proud that several students who graduated under my supervision were awarded Best MOT or Best TPM MSc Thesis Awards on statistics, analytics and marketing-related topics.
