Prof. dr. F.J. (Fabian) Sting

Full Professor

Department of Technology and Operations Management

Rotterdam School of Management (RSM)

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Member ERIM

Field: Logistics & Information Systems

Affiliated since 2010

T: +31 10 4081869

E: fsting@rsm.nl

Prof. Dr. Fabian Sting is chaired professor of Digital Supply Chain Innovation at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (part-time). As main affiliation, he holds the chair of Supply Chain Management – Strategy and Innovation at University of Cologne, Germany (see here).

He explores how organizations implement, reinforce, and shape their strategy by innovating their operations and processes. Specific research and teaching topics include:

Implementing digital innovation and Industry 4.0
Leading change initiatives and collaborative projects
Managing employee behavior in agile operations and projects
Sparking and integrating frontline employee ideas and innovation

This research has been published or is forthcoming in leading academic journals such as Academy of Management Journal, Management Science, Production and Operations Management, Journal of Operations Management as well as in premier practitioner journals such as Harvard Business Review, and MIT Sloan Management Review. For his scholarship he received prestigious awards, including the Richard Beckhard Memorial Prize by the MIT Sloan Management Review, the Jürgen Hausschildt Award for Innovation Management by the German Association of Business Research (VHB), and the Top Academic Article Award by the Erasmus Institute of Management (ERIM).

He teaches courses on undergraduate, graduate, and executive levels. For his courses "Operations Management" and "Primaire Processen" Fabian Sting earned multiple teaching awards.

Collaborating with the business schools IESE (Spain), INSEAD (France) and WHU (Germany), he serves as Academic Director of the Industrial Excellence Award in Europe (see here).

Before joining RSM Fabian Sting was Postdoctoral Research Fellow at INSEAD's Technology and Operations Management Department and visiting scholar at Northwestern University. He holds a Doctorate from WHU and graduate degrees in Management Science (KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt) and Applied Mathematics (FU Hagen).

Publications (29)

Key Publications (18)

P.B. Cornelius, B. Gokpinar & F.J. Sting (2021). Sparking Manufacturing Innovation: How Temporary Interplant Assignments Increase Employee Idea Values. Management Science, 67 (4), 1993-2656. doi: 10.1287/mnsc.2020.3673 [go to publisher's site]
P.B. Cornelius, B. Gokpinar & F.J. Sting (2021). How Temporary Assignments Boost Innovation. MIT Sloan Management Review, 2021 (March). [go to publisher's site]
P. Schneider & F.J. Sting (2020). Employees’ Perspectives on Digitalization-Induced Change: Exploring Frames of Industry 4.0. Academy of Management Discoveries, 6 (3). doi: 10.5465/amd.2019.0012
F.J. Sting, C. Fuchs, M. Schlickel & O. Alexy (2019). How to Overcome the Bias We Have Toward Our Own Ideas. Harvard Business Review, hbr.org (online). Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2019/05/how-to-overcome-the-bias-we-have-toward-our-own-ideas? [go to publisher's site]
C. Fuchs, F.J. Sting, M. Schlickel & O. Alexy (2019). The Ideator’s Bias: How Identity-induced Self-efficacy Drives Overestimation in Employee-driven Process Innovation. Academy of Management Journal, 62 (5). doi: 10.5465/amj.2017.0438 [go to publisher's site]
F.J. Sting, M. Stevens & M. Tarakci (2019). Temporary deembedding buyer-supplier relationships: A Complexity Perspective. Journal of Operations Management, 65 (2), 114-135. doi: 10.1002/joom.1008
P. Crama, F.J. Sting & Y. Wu (2019). Encouraging Help across Projects. Management Science, 65 (3), 955-1453. doi: 10.1287/mnsc.2017.2988
A. Chandrasekaran, K. Linderman & F.J. Sting (2018). Avoiding epistemological silos and empirical elephants in OM: How to combine empirical and simulation methods? Journal of Operations Management, 63 (November), 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jom.2018.11.003
F.J. Sting & C.H. Loch (2016). Implementing Operations Strategy: How Vertical and Horizontal Coordination Interact. Production and Operations Management, 25 (7), 1177-1193. doi: 10.1111/poms.12537
A. Chandrasekaran, K. Linderman, F.J. Sting & M. Benner (2016). Managing R&D Project Shifts in High-Tech Organizations: A Multi-Method Study. Production and Operations Management, 25 (3), 390-416. doi: 10.1111/poms.12410
J. Mihm, F.J. Sting & T. Wang (2015). On the Effectiveness of Patenting Strategies in Innovation Races. Management Science, 61 (11), 2662-2684. doi: 10.1287/mnsc.2014.2128
F.J. Sting, C.H. Loch & D. Stempfhuber (2015). Accelerating Projects by Encouraging Help. MIT Sloan Management Review, 56 (3), 1-9.
F.J. Sting & A. Huchzermeier (2014). Operational Hedging and Diversification under Correlated Supply and Demand Uncertainty. Production and Operations Management, 23 (7), 1212-1226. doi: 10.1111/poms.12196
Y. Kim, F.J. Sting & C.H. Loch (2014). Top-Down, Bottom-Up, or Both? Toward an Integrative Perspective on Operations Strategy Formation. Journal of Operations Management, 32 (7-8), 462-474. doi: 10.1016/j.jom.2014.09.005
C.H. Loch, F.J. Sting, A. Huchzermeier & C. Decker (2012). Finding the Profit in Fairness. Harvard Business Review, 90 (10), 111-115. [go to publisher's site]
F.J. Sting & A. Huchzermeier (2012). Dual Sourcing – Responsive Hedging Against Correlated Supply and Demand Uncertainty. Naval Research Logistics, 59 (1), 69-89. doi: 10.1002/nav.21473
C.H. Loch, F.J. Sting, N. Bauer & H. Mauermann (2010). How BMW Is Defusing the Demographic Time Bomb. Harvard Business Review, 88 (3), 99-102. [go to publisher's site]
F.J. Sting & A. Huchzermeier (2010). Ensuring Responsive Capacity: How to Contract with Backup Suppliers. European Journal of Operational Research, 207 (2), 725-735. doi: 10.1016/j.ejor.2010.05.044

Articles (21)

P.B. Cornelius, B. Gokpinar & F.J. Sting (2021). Sparking Manufacturing Innovation: How Temporary Interplant Assignments Increase Employee Idea Values. Management Science, 67 (4), 1993-2656. doi: 10.1287/mnsc.2020.3673 [go to publisher's site]
P.B. Cornelius, B. Gokpinar & F.J. Sting (2021). How Temporary Assignments Boost Innovation. MIT Sloan Management Review, 2021 (March). [go to publisher's site]
P. Schneider & F.J. Sting (2020). Employees’ Perspectives on Digitalization-Induced Change: Exploring Frames of Industry 4.0. Academy of Management Discoveries, 6 (3). doi: 10.5465/amd.2019.0012
C. Fuchs, F.J. Sting, M. Schlickel & O. Alexy (2019). The Ideator’s Bias: How Identity-induced Self-efficacy Drives Overestimation in Employee-driven Process Innovation. Academy of Management Journal, 62 (5). doi: 10.5465/amj.2017.0438 [go to publisher's site]
F.J. Sting, M. Stevens & M. Tarakci (2019). Temporary deembedding buyer-supplier relationships: A Complexity Perspective. Journal of Operations Management, 65 (2), 114-135. doi: 10.1002/joom.1008
P. Crama, F.J. Sting & Y. Wu (2019). Encouraging Help across Projects. Management Science, 65 (3), 955-1453. doi: 10.1287/mnsc.2017.2988
A. Chandrasekaran, K. Linderman & F.J. Sting (2018). Avoiding epistemological silos and empirical elephants in OM: How to combine empirical and simulation methods? Journal of Operations Management, 63 (November), 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jom.2018.11.003
A. Chandrasekaran, K. Linderman, F.J. Sting & M. Benner (2016). Managing R&D Project Shifts in High-Tech Organizations: A Multi-Method Study. Production and Operations Management, 25 (3), 390-416. doi: 10.1111/poms.12410
F.J. Sting & C.H. Loch (2016). Implementing Operations Strategy: How Vertical and Horizontal Coordination Interact. Production and Operations Management, 25 (7), 1177-1193. doi: 10.1111/poms.12537
F.J. Sting, C.H. Loch & D. Stempfhuber (2015). Accelerating Projects by Encouraging Help. MIT Sloan Management Review, 56 (3), 1-9.
J. Mihm, F.J. Sting & T. Wang (2015). On the Effectiveness of Patenting Strategies in Innovation Races. Management Science, 61 (11), 2662-2684. doi: 10.1287/mnsc.2014.2128
F.J. Sting & A. Huchzermeier (2014). Operational Hedging and Diversification under Correlated Supply and Demand Uncertainty. Production and Operations Management, 23 (7), 1212-1226. doi: 10.1111/poms.12196
Y. Kim, F.J. Sting & C.H. Loch (2014). Top-Down, Bottom-Up, or Both? Toward an Integrative Perspective on Operations Strategy Formation. Journal of Operations Management, 32 (7-8), 462-474. doi: 10.1016/j.jom.2014.09.005
C.H. Loch, F.J. Sting, A. Huchzermeier & C. Decker (2012). Finding the Profit in Fairness. Harvard Business Review, 90 (10), 111-115. [go to publisher's site]
C.H. Loch, F.J. Sting, D. Stempfhuber & A. Huchzermeier (2012). Das Prinzip der Roten Karte. Harvard Business Manager, 2011 (January), 44-51.
F.J. Sting & A. Huchzermeier (2012). Dual Sourcing – Responsive Hedging Against Correlated Supply and Demand Uncertainty. Naval Research Logistics, 59 (1), 69-89. doi: 10.1002/nav.21473
C.H. Loch, F.J. Sting, A. Huchzermeier & C. Decker (2012). Fairness zahlt sich aus. Harvard Business Manager, October (Oktober), 1-8.
C.H. Loch, F.J. Sting, N. Bauer & H. Mauermann (2010). Keine Angst vor der alternden Belegschaft. Harvard Business Manager, 2010 (April), 68-74.
C.H. Loch, F.J. Sting, N. Bauer & H. Mauermann (2010). How BMW Is Defusing the Demographic Time Bomb. Harvard Business Review, 88 (3), 99-102. [go to publisher's site]
F.J. Sting & A. Huchzermeier (2010). Ensuring Responsive Capacity: How to Contract with Backup Suppliers. European Journal of Operational Research, 207 (2), 725-735. doi: 10.1016/j.ejor.2010.05.044
H. Kuhn & F.J. Sting (2005). Bestimmung von Losgrößen, Transportzyklen und Sicherheitsbeständen in mehrstufigen Wertschopfungsketten. In Operations Research Proceedings 2005. Berlin: Springer

Book Contributions

F.J. Sting, M. Braun & A. Huchzermeier (2010). Simulationsstudie: Exogene Risiken in der Beschaffung - Zusammenspiel von Diversifikation und Flexibilitat. In Supply Management Research: Aktuelle Forschungsergebnisse 2009 (pp. 147-171). Wiesbaden: Gabler doi: 10.1007/978-3-8349-8833-1_6

Professional Publications (7)

F.J. Sting, C. Fuchs, M. Schlickel & O. Alexy (2019). How to Overcome the Bias We Have Toward Our Own Ideas. Harvard Business Review, hbr.org (online). Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2019/05/how-to-overcome-the-bias-we-have-toward-our-own-ideas? [go to publisher's site]
P. Schneider & F.J. Sting (2019). Die Sicht der Mitarbeiter. Harvard Business Manager, 2019 (April). Retrieved from https://www.harvardbusinessmanager.de/heft/d-162831754.html [go to publisher's site]
F.J. Sting (2016). Shift happens: how to manage changing projects. RSM Discovery - Management Knowledge, 25 (1), 17-19.
F.J. Sting (2015). Encouraging help speeds up product development projects. RSM Discovery - Management Knowledge, 21 (1), 16-17.
F.J. Sting & A. Huchzermeier (2012). Hedge Risks Appropriately With Backup Suppliers. Inside Supply Management. Retrieved from https://www.instituteforsupplymanagement.org/pubs/ISMMag/ismarticle.cfm?ItemNumber=23210&SSO=1 [go to publisher's site]
F.J. Sting (2009). Flexible Sourcing—Operational Hedging, Diversification and Contracting under Supply and Demand Uncertainty. In BVL 26. Deutscher Logistik-Kongress Berlin. Berlin: DVV Media Group
C.H. Loch & F.J. Sting (2009, januari 1). A Seismic Shift in the Car Industry: The Management Challenge and Responsibility. Automotive Industries, pp. 70.

PhD Tracks (2)

Dynamic Decision Making under Supply Chain Competition

Role: Member Doctoral Committee
PhD Candidate: Xishu Li
Time frame: 2013 - 2019

: Challenges of Early Stage Entrepreneurs: The Roles of Vision Communication and Team Membership Change

Role: Member Doctoral Committee
PhD Candidate: Timo van Balen
Time frame: 2014 - 2019

Recognitions (19)

Editorial positions (13)

Operations Research

Ad Hoc Reviewer
European Journal of Operational Research

Ad Hoc Reviewer
Production and Operations Management

Ad Hoc Reviewer
International Journal of Production Economics

Ad Hoc Reviewer
Decision Sciences

Ad Hoc Reviewer
International Journal of Production Research

Ad Hoc Reviewer
IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management

Ad Hoc Reviewer
Manufacturing and Service Operations Management

Ad Hoc Reviewer
Journal of Product Innovation Management

Ad Hoc Reviewer
Administrative Science Quarterly

Ad Hoc Reviewer
Management Science

Ad Hoc Reviewer
Organization Science

Ad Hoc Reviewer
Production and Operations Management

Associate Editor

Organization Memberships (5)

Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)

http://www.informs.org/

Member
German Operations Research Society (GOR)

http://www.gor-ev.de/

Member
European Operations Management Association (EUROMA)

http://www.euroma-online.org/

Member
Production and Operations Management Society (POMS)

HTTP://WWW.POMS.ORG/

Member
Academy of Management (AM)

http://www.aomonline.org/

Track Chair

Side positions

European Industrial Excellence Award (www.industrial-excellence-award.eu)

Academic Director and Jury Member

Events (7)

2021

May

The effect of routine communication within and across teams of knowledge workers: A field experiment in the kitchen industry

Research Seminar

As: Speaker

2012

February

Economic Lot-sizing with Remanufacturing: Complexity and Efficient Formulations

Research Seminar

As: Coordinator

2012

February

Towards a Theory of Service Improvisation Competence: Empirical Evidence from the Hospitality Industry

Research Seminar

As: Coordinator

2012

February

The Impact of Category Captainship on the Breadth and Appeal of Retail Assortment

Research Seminar

As: Coordinator

2012

January

Optimal Policies for Recovering the Value of Consumer Returns

Research Seminar

As: Coordinator

2012

January

Real-Time Delay Prediction in Customer Service Systems

Research Seminar

As: Coordinator

2010

January

How Top-Down and Bottom-Up Strategy Processes are Combined in Manufacturing Organizations

Research Seminar

As: Speaker

Award (1)

ERIM Top Article Junior Award (2016)

Address

Visiting address

Office: Mandeville Building T09-43
Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
3062 PA Rotterdam

Postal address

Postbus 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam
Netherlands