
Sebastian Fixson
- Professor
- Division Chair
Academic Division: TOIM
Bio
Academic Degrees
- Ph D, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- MS, University of Karlsruhe
Academic Interests
Innovation; Design Thinking; Product Design and Development; Operations ManagementAwards & Honors
Courses
Degree Courses 2019
- DES 7500 BOS RE-IMAGINING X
- MSM 6101 LEAP:LEADING ENTREPREN ACTION PROJECT
Degree Courses 2018
- MSM 6100 LEADING ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTION PROJECT
Publications
Journal Articles
- Smith, C., Fixson, S.K., Paniagua-Ferrari, C., Parise, S.A. (2017). Evolution of an Innovation Capability - Making Crowdsourcing Work Within a Large Enterprise. Research Technology Management. Vol: 60, Issue: 2, Page: 26-34.
- Fixson, S.K., Khachatryan, D., Lee, W., , . (2017). Technological Uncertainty and Firm Boundaries: The Moderating Effect of Knowledge Modularity. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. Vol: 64, Issue: 1, Page: 16-28. IEEE.
- Fixson, S.K., Marion, T.J. (2016). A Case Study of Crowsourcing Gone Wrong. Harvard Business Review. Harvard Business Press. link
- Marion, T.J., Fixson, S.K. (2016). The 4 Main Ways to Innovate in a Digital Economy. Harvard Business Review. Harvard Business Press. link
- Fixson, S.K., Rao, J.A. (2014). Learning Emergent Strategies Through Design Thinking. Design Management Review. Vol: 25, Issue: 1, Page: 46-53. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. link
- Marion, T.J., Fixson, S.K. (2014). Factors Affecting the Use of Outside, Intermittent Resources during NPD. International Journal of Innovation Science. Vol: 6, Issue: 1, Page: 1-18. Multi-Science Publishing Co. Ltd.. link
- Seidel, V.P., Fixson, S.K. (2013). Adopting Design Thinking in Novice Multidisciplinary Teams: The Application and Limits of Design Methods and Reflexive Practices. Journal of Product Innovation Management. Vol: 30, Issue: S1, Page: 19-33. Wiley. link
- Fixson, S.K., Marion, T.J. (2012). Back Loading: A Potential Side Effect of Employing Digital Design Tools in New Product Development. Journal of Product Innovation Management. Vol: 29, Issue: S1, Page: 140-156. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc..
- Fixson, S.K., Read, J.M. (2012). Creating Innovation Leaders: Why We Need to Blend Business and Design Education. Design Management Review. Vol: 23, Issue: 4, Page: 4-12. John Wiley & Sons, Inc..
- Fixson, S.K. (2012). Teaching Innovation through Interdisciplinary Courses and Programs in Product Design and Development. IEEE Engineering Management Review. Vol: 40, Issue: 2, Page: 48-58.
- Marion, T., Fixson, S.K., Meyer, M.H. (2012). The Problem with Digital Design . MIT Sloan Management Review. Vol: 53, Issue: 4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. link
- Fixson, S.K., Lee, W.H. (2012). Shifting Grounds: how industry emergence changes the effectiveness of knowledge creation strategies - the case of the US automotive airbag industry. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management. Vol: 24, Issue: 1, Page: 1-19. Routledge.
- Fixson, S.K. (2009). Teaching Innovation through Interdisciplinary Courses and Programs in Product Design and Development: an analysis at 16 US Schools. Creativity and Innovation Management. Vol: 18, Issue: 3, Page: 199-208. Emerald.
- Ro, Y., Liker, J.K., Fixson, S.K. (2008). Evolving Models of Supplier Involvement in Design: The Deterioration of the Japanese Model in U.S. Auto. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. Vol: 55, Issue: 2, Page: 359-377.
- Fixson, S.K., Park, J.K. (2008). The Power of Integrality: Linkages between Product Architecture, Innovation, and Industry Structure. Research Policy. Issue: 37, Page: 1296-1316.
- Fixson, S.K. (2007). Modularity and Commonality Research: Past Developments and Future Opportunities. Concurrent Engineering – Research and Applications. Vol: 15, Issue: 2, Page: 85-111.
- Fixson, S.K., Ro, Y., Liker, J.K. (2007). Modularity as a Strategy for Supply Chain Coordination: The Case of U.S. Auto. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. Vol: 54, Issue: 1, Page: 172-189.
- Fixson, S.K., Ro, Y., Liker , J.K. (2005). Modularization and Outsourcing: Who drives whom? A Study of Generational Sequences in the U.S. Automotive Cockpit Industry. International Journal of Automotive Technology and Management. Vol: 5, Issue: 2, Page: 166-183.
- Fixson, S.K. (2005). Product architecture assessment: a tool to link product, process, and supply chain design decisions. Journal of Operations Management. Vol: 23, Issue: 3-4, Page: 345-369.
Books
- Marion, T.J., Fixson, S.K. (2018). The Innovation Navigator - Transforming your organization in the era of digital design and collaborative culture: Innovation Navigator. Page: 187. University of Toronto Press.
Cases and Teaching Notes
- Fixson, S.K., Mulligan, P. (2016). The Grommet: Managing Operations at a fast-paced Start-Up. Issue: BAB 224, Page: 19. Babson College. link
- Fixson, S.K. (2016). The Grommet: Managing Operations at a fast-paced Start-Up Teaching Note.
Book Chapters
- Fixson, S.K., Seidel, V.P., Bailey, J. (2015). Creating Space for Innovation: The Role of a "Design Zone" within a Business School: Evolving Entrepreneurial Education: Innovation in the Babson Classroom. Page: 217-234. Emerald Publishing.
- Fixson, S.K., Greenberg, D., Zacharakis, A.L. (2015). Leading entrepreneurial action project (LEAP): A project course integrating three disciplines: Evolving Entrepreneurial Education: Innovation in the Babson Classroom. Page: 175-190. Emerald.
- Seidel, V.P., Fixson, S.K. (2015). Design Thinking for Non-Designers: A Guide for Team Training and Implementation: Design Thinking: New Product Development Essentials from the PDMA. Page: 143-155. Wiley.
- Fixson, S.K. (2014). Exercises to practice empathy: The power of observation: Teaching Entrepreneurship: A Practice-Based Approach. Page: 139-145. Edward Elgar Pub.
- Fixson, S.K., Rao, J.A. (2011). Creation Logic in Innovation: from Action learning to Expertise: The New Entrepreneurial Leader: Developing Leaders who Shape Social and Economic Opportunity. Page: 43-61. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc..
- Ro, Y., Fixson, S.K., Liker, J.K. (2008). Modularity and Supplier Involvement in Product Development: Handbook on Product Development. Page: 217–258. Butterworth Heineman.
- Fixson, S.K. (2006). A Roadmap for Product Architecture Costing: Product Platform and Product Family Design: Methods and Applications. Page: 305-333. Springer.
Reports
- Fixson, S.K. (in press). Design & Innovation Centers in Academia: Sabbatical Report. Vol: BDL Report 2018-01.
Conference Proceedings
- Eismann, T., Meinel, M., Baccharella, C., Fixson, S.K., Voigt, K. (2018). Untangling the Role of User Experience in Design Thinking through Experimental Evidence,. R&D Management Conference.
- Ben Mahmoud-Jouini, S., Fixson, S.K. (2018). “I did it my way” – The Adoption of Design Thinking by a Technology-driven Firm . R&D Management Conference.
- Marion, T., Fixson, S.K. (2018). The Influence of Collaborative IT on NPD. EIASM - 25th Innovation and Product Development Conference.
- dos Santos, J., Cruz Rodriguez, A., Fixson, S.K. (2018). Why aren’t there more designers in executive positions in the top 50 Fortune 500 corporations?. Design Management Insititute.
- Meinel, M., Eismann, T., Fixson, S.K., Voigt, K., Baccharella, C. (2018). How to make design tools work? Taking a closer look at the mechanisms in the needsfinding phase when generating new product concepts. EIASM - 25th Innovation and Product Development Conference.
- Meinel, M., Eismann, T., Fixson, S.K. (2017). The Impact of Design Thinking on Creative Idea Generation: Proceedings of the 18th International Continuous Innovation Network Conference. Continous Innovation Network.
- Fixson, S.K., Marion, T.J. (2016). When innovation stumbles - limits of open innovation?: Proceedings of the 23rd International Product Development Management Conference. EIASM.
- Marion, T.J., Fixson, S.K. (2016). Strategies to expand the scope of your innovation engine: Proceedings of the 23rd International Product Development Management Conference.
- Marion, T.J., Fixson, S.K. (2015). Does an Open Innovation Process influence NPD Effectiveness?: Proceedings of the 22nd International Product Development Management Conference. EIASM.
- Fixson, S.K. (2015). Innovate to learn and learning to innovate: The role of an innovation contest to build innovative capacity: Proceedings of the 22nd International Product Development Management Conference. EIASM.
- Marion, T.J., Fixson, S.K. (2014). Back-loading: An exploratory, quantitative investigation by NPD phase: Proceedings of the 21st International Product Development Management Conference. EIASM.
- Marion, T.J., Fixson, S.K., Seidel, V.P. (2013). Teaching Innovation: It's not the Course, it's the Curriculum: Proceedings of the 20th International Product Development Management Conference.
- Fixson, S.K., Marion, T.J. (2013). The Perfect Storm: How the Convergence of Digital Design, Rapid Prototyping, and Culture is changing Product Development: Proceedings of the 20th International Product Development Management Conference.
- Dawson, B.A., Fixson, S.K., Whitney, D.E. (2012). Orchestrating Complex Product Development: Reducing Rework : Proceedings of the Academy of Management Annual Meeting. Academy of Management.
- Marion, T.J., Fixson, S.K. (2012). New Ventures: the Project-level Dimension of Intermittent Non-Continuous Resource Involvement: Proceedings of the 19th International Product Development Management Conference.
- Fixson, S.K., Park , J.K. (in press). A Test of Schilling’s Interfirm Product Modularity Model: The Bicycle Drivetrain Industry 1980-1990: Proceedings of the Academy of Management Annual Meeting.
Other
- Marion, T., Fixson, S.K. (2017). Innovation Simulation: Breaking News. Harvard Business Publishing. link
Presentations
Additional Links
Professional Memberships
- Verband Deutscher Hochschullehrer für Betriebswirtschaft (2012)
- Product Development and Management Association (PDMA) (2006)
- Production and Operations Management Society (POMS) (2002)
- Academy of Management (2001)
- Institute for Operations Research and Management Science (INFORMS) (2001)
- German Society of Engineers (VDI–Verein Deutscher Ingenieure) (1994)