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Faculty Profiles

Sinan Erzurumlu

  • Professor
  • Faculty Director, FutureLab on Mobility
Academic Division: TOIM
781-239-5663

Bio

Sinan Erzurumlu is professor of innovation and operations management at Babson College. Sinan's research and teaching interests are at the confluence of innovation and operations management, entrepreneurship and sustainability. Sinan was named among The Best 40 B-School Profs Under the Age of 40 in the 2015 Poets & Quants ranking of Business School professors. He also received 2016 Kaplan Award for Sustainability in Academics and Research at Babson College.

Sinan examines how managers can assess complex, uncertain and ambiguous challenges and manage innovations to advance the organizational growth. In particular, he focuses on developing and commercializing technological innovations in complex contexts such as business ecosystems, entrepreneurial ventures, and socio-ecological systems. His research agenda is organized within four interrelated themes: strategic management of innovation, startup risks and operations hedging, digital technologies, and sustainability.

Through collaborations with academics and practitioners, Sinan conducts applied research in a number of different industries including mining, clean tech & energy, healthcare, and high tech. He uses research techniques that range from mathematical quantitative analysis, grounded in operations research, microeconomics and game theory, to empirical analysis of data sets. He experiments with new applications of techniques from other research fields to innovation research. His research has been published in leading journals including Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Production and Operations Management, Manufacturing and Service Operations Management, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, and Omega.

Prior to joining Babson, Sinan has worked as a project-based consultant for Dell on service operations and as a research engineer for Center for Space Research at the University of Texas at Austin. He received his PhD in Management Science and Information Systems from McCombs School of Business and M.S. in Operations Research/Industrial Engineering from Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. He holds a B.S. in electrical and electronics engineering with distinction from Bogazici University in Turkey.

Academic Degrees

  • Ph D, The University of Texas at Austin, McCombs School of Business
  • MS, The University of Texas at Austin
  • BS, Bogazici University, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Academic Interest / Expertise

Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Technology and Operations Management, Startup Operations, Sustainability, Sustainable Innovation

Awards & Honors

  • 2018 — Babson College Deans’ Teaching Award , Babson College
  • 2018 — Babson Research Scholar, Babson College
  • 2016 — Babson College Kaplan Award Sustainability in Academics, Sustainability Office
  • 2015 — 40 Most Outstanding B-School Profs under 40 in the World, Poets & Quants
  • 2013 — Best Teaching Brief Award, Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education
  • 2012 — Best Case Competition Winner, Decision Sciences Institute
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Publications

Journal Articles

  • Deets, S.G., Rodgers, V.L., Erzurumlu, S.S., Nersessian, D. (2020). Systems Thinking as a Tool for Teaching Undergraduate Business Students Humanistic Management. Humanistic Management Journal. link
  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Pachamanova, D.A. (in press). Topic Modeling and Technology Forecasting for Assessing the Commercial Viability of Healthcare Innovations. Technological Forecasting and Social Change. Elsevier.
  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Tanrisever, F., Levesque, M., Joglekar, N. (in press). Managing capital market frictions via cost-reduction investments. Manufacturing and Service Operations Management.
  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Levesque, M., Joglekar, N., Tanrisever, F. (2019). How angel know-how shapes ownership sharing in stage-based contracts. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. Vol: 43, Issue: 4, Page: 773-801. link
  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Canakoglu, E., Erzurumlu, Y. (2018). How data-driven entrepreneur analyzes imperfect information for business opportunity evaluation. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. Vol: 65, Issue: 4, Page: 604-617.
  • Erzurumlu, S.S. (2018). What can the innovator learn from the operations manager? An operations view of innovation strategy. IEEE Engineering Management Review. Vol: 46, Issue: 2, Page: 97-102.
  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Yu, W. (2018). Development and deployment dynamics of sustainability-driven innovations in the electricity and energy utilities industry. Journal of High Technology Management Research, The. Vol: 29, Issue: 1.
  • Erzurumlu, S.S. (2017). 4Cs of innovation: A conceptual framework for evaluating innovation strategy. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. Vol: 45, Issue: 3.
  • Deets, S.G., Greenberg, D., Erzurumlu, S.S., Hunt, J.M., Manwaring, M.M., Rodgers, V.L., Swanson, E. (2017). Signing to Living PRME: Learning from a Journey Towards Responsible Management Education. The International Journal of Management Education. Vol: 15, Issue: 2, Page: 205-218.
  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Erzurumlu, Y.O. (2015). Sustainable mining development with community using design thinking and multi-criteria decision analysis. Resources Policy. Vol: 46, Issue: 1, Page: 6-14. Pergamon Press. link
  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Davies, J., Joglekar, N. (2014). Managing Highly Innovative Projects: The Influence of Design Characteristics on Project Valuation. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. Vol: 61, Issue: 2, Page: 349 - 361. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. link
  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Erzurumlu, Y.O. (2013). Development and deployment drivers of clean technology innovations. Journal of High Technology Management Research, The. Vol: 24, Issue: 2, Page: 100-108. Pergamon Press.
  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Rollag, K.W. (2013). Increasing Student Interest and Engagement with Business Cases by Turning Them into Consulting Exercises. Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education. Vol: 11, Issue: 4, Page: 359–381. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc..
  • Erzurumlu, S.S. (2013). The compatibility of durable goods with contingent generic consumables. Omega - The International Journal of Management Science. Vol: 41, Issue: 3, Page: 574-585. Pergamon Press.
  • Bell, J.E., Erzurumlu, S.S., Fowler, H. (2012). Deploying Sustainability at Solea. IMA Educational Case Journal. Vol: 5, Issue: 2, Page: 1-11. Institute of Management Accountants.
  • Tanrsever, F., Erzurumlu, S.S., Joglekar, N. (2012). Production, Process Investment and the Survival of Debt Financed Startup Firms. Production and Operations Management. Vol: 21, Issue: 4, Page: 637–652. Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc..
  • Erzurumlu, S.S. (2010). Collaborative Product Development with Competitors to Stimulate Downstream Investment. International Journal of Innovation Management. Vol: 14, Issue: 4, Page: 1-30.

Cases and Teaching Notes

  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Erzurumlu, Y. (2019). Eureka.com: Moving from start-up to scale-up.
  • Erzurumlu, S.S. (2018). Preserve: Growing a sustainable goods company . Babson College.
  • Bell, J.E., Erzurumlu, S.S., Fowler, H. (2013). Better Tomorrow at Sodexo North America. The Case Centre.
  • Bell, J.E., Erzurumlu, S.S., Fowler, H. (2013). Better Tomorrow at Sodexo North America: Teaching Note. The Case Centre.
  • Erzurumlu, S.S. (2012). Goldlake/Eurocantera Honduras. Babson College.
  • Erzurumlu, S.S. (2012). Goldlake/Eurocantera Honduras: Teaching Note. Babson College.

Book Chapters

  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Joglekar, N., Levesque, M. (2017). Business startup operations: The Routledge Companion to Production and Operations Management. Routledge .
  • Bell, J.E., Erzurumlu, S.S., Fowler, H. (2013). Better Tomorrow at Sodexo North America: Sustainability in Supply Chain Management Casebook: Applications In SCM. Issue: 1st. Pearson.
  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Joglekar, N., Tanrisever, F. (2013). Operational hedging strategies to overcome financial constraints for clean technology start-up and growth: Small and Medium Enterprises: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications. Page: 1044-1063. IGI Publishing.
  • Erzurumlu, S.S. (2012). Collaborative Product Development for Competing Suppliers: Perspectives on Supplier Innovation: Theories, Concepts and Empirical Insights on Open Innovation and the Integration of Suppliers (Series on Technology Management). Page: 129-168. Imperial College Press.

Conference Proceedings

  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Canakoglu, E., Erzurumlu, Y. (2018). Data-driven entrepreneurship: A data analysis approach to business opportunity evaluation. Academy of Management.
  • Erzurumlu, S.S., Joglekar, N., Levesque, M., Tanrisever, F. (2015). Seeking early-stage financing and know-how: A formal assessment of contingent contract. Academy of Management.

Articles - Circular or newsletter (e.g., Babson Insight)

  • Erzurumlu, S.S. (2018). 5 digital technologies every business manager must understand for digital transformation. Page: 92-96. Skylife. link
  • Erzurumlu, S.S. (2018). A new guide for entrepreneurs: Digital technologies. Skylife. link
  • Erzurumlu, S.S. (2017). The Irresistible Rise of Internet of Things: The Irresistible Rise of Internet of Things. Skylife.
  • Bhaskaran, S., Erzurumlu, S.S., Ramachandran, K. (2014). Patience pays off for startups: BizEd. BizEd. link
  • Erzurumlu, S.S. (2014). The new leader’s guide to innovation: Basics for your first 90 days: Babson Insight. Babson College.

Presentations

  • Sequential product introduction by cash-constrained startups Erzurumlu, S. Bhaskaran, S. Ramachandran, K. INFORMS Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA (2019)
  • Entrepreneurial thought and action: Decision making and taking action in a complex world Erzurumlu, S. International Engineering and Technology Management Summit, Istanbul, Turkey (2019)
  • Managing time as a resource and managing resources over time in entrepreneurial firms Erzurumlu, S. Academy of Management, Boston, MA (2019)
  • Drivers of Commercial Value for Healthcare Innovations Erzurumlu, S. Pachamanova, D. 2019 EURO Conference, Dublin, Ireland (2019)
  • Sequential product introduction by cash-constrained startups Erzurumlu, S. Bhaskaran, S. Ramachandran, K. International INFORMS Annual Meeting, Cancun, Mexico (2019)
  • Drivers of health care innovations Erzurumlu, S. Pachamanova, D. Production and Operations Management, Washington, DC (2019)
  • Sequential product introduction by cash-constrained startups Erzurumlu, S. Bhaskaran, S. Ramachandran, K. Production and Operations Management , Washington, DC (2019)
  • Drivers of Commercial Value for Healthcare Innovations Erzurumlu, S. Pachamanova, D. Babson Faculty Research Day, Wellesley, MA (2019)
  • Drivers of Commercial Value for Healthcare Innovations Pachamanova, D. Erzurumlu, S. 2018 INFORMS Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ (2018)
  • Identifying national innovation capability: A state-space modeling approach for configurational combinations Erzurumlu, S. Erzurumlu, Y. Yoon, Y. 2018 INFORMS Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ (2018)
  • Data-driven entrepreneurship: A data analysis approach to business opportunity evaluation Erzurumlu, S. Canakoglu, E. Erzurumlu, Y. 2018 Financial Management Association Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA (2018)
  • Data-driven entrepreneurship: A data analysis approach to business opportunity evaluation Erzurumlu, S. Canakoglu, E. Erzurumlu, Y. 2018 Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL (2018)
  • Data-driven venture capitalist: Portfolio selection with imperfect information Erzurumlu, S. Canakoglu, E. Erzurumlu, Y. 2018 Production and Operations Management Society Conference, Houston, TX (2018)
  • Data-driven venture capitalist: Portfolio selection with imperfect information Erzurumlu, S. 2018 Babson Research Day, Babson College (2018)
  • Evaluating the hidden market: The impact of the entrepreneur’s risk preference and operational shortages Erzurumlu, S. INFORMS Conference 2017, Houston, TX (2017)
  • The Identity of the Worker in the Sustainable Ridesharing Business Models Erzurumlu, S. POMS Conference 2017, Bellevue, WA (2017)
  • In Search of the New Employee in On-Demand Business Models through the Lens of Psychological Contracts Erzurumlu, S. DSI Conference 2016, Austin, TX (2016)
  • Business model innovations in the on-demand economy Erzurumlu, S. INFORMS Conference 2016, Nashville (2016)
  • Building Community and Trust in the Sharing Economy Sims, J. Erzurumlu, S. Sustainability, Ethics, & Entrepreneurship Conference 2016, Denver, CO (2016)
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