Fabian J. Sting

Fabian J. Sting is a Full Professor and Director of the Department of Supply Chain Management - Strategy and Innovation at the University of Cologne since 2016. He also holds a tenured Associate Professorship in Operations Management at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University since 2014. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Productions Management (summa cum laude) from WHU-Otto Beisheim School of Management in 2008 and postdoctoral work at INSEAD in 2008–2010.

• University of Cologne: Chair of Supply Chain Strategy and Innovation (2016–present)
• Rotterdam School of Management: Associate Professor (2014–present), Assistant Professor (2010–2014)
• Education: Ph.D. (2005–2008), M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics (2005–2007), Diploma in Management Science (2002–2005)

Sting’s research bridges operations management, innovation strategy, and supply chain dynamics. Key areas include:

• Supply chain coordination under uncertainty
• Employee-driven process innovation and cognitive biases
• Strategic capacity planning and risk hedging
• Industry 4.0 implementation challenges
• Interdisciplinary integration of behavioral and technical elements in operations

Recent publications focus on dual sourcing strategies, fairness in operational decisions, and employee mobility’s impact on innovation. He contributes to high-impact journals like Management Science and Production and Operations Management.

Sting participates in institutional research initiatives such as:

• ECONtribute: Markets & Public Policy – a Cluster of Excellence addressing digital transformation, inequality, and market failures through interdisciplinary economics, political science, and law
• Excellent Research Support Programme (ERSP) – supporting collaborative projects like HPDnet (improving pediatric kidney disease care via health networks)