Service customization through dramaturgyIan McCarthy
The customization of a service often depends on the “performance” delivered by front-stage service employees. Drawing on theories of dramaturgy and service marketing, we present a typology of four distinct and viable configurations for achieving different types of service customization. We explain how variations in the time pressure to customize a service, and the degree of customization required, combine to determine the characteristics of each configuration. With service organizations increasingly operating on a global basis, we discuss the fit between the preferences of different multicultural segments, the operational characteristics of a configuration, and the level of customization offered.
Adoption of Vendor Managed Inventory Practices on Supply Chain Performance in...AkashSharma618775
Following the Corona pandemic, which has spread across the world by September 2020, many companies
around the world have been aware of the fact that they should always strive to inculcate and rely on the efficient
supply chains and networks in order to compete effectively in international markets and to sustain their
competitive edge. As a matter of fact, the management of supply chain has caused a paradigm shift in the way most
organisation operates (Brandt, 2009) The main objective of this study was to determine role of adoption of vendor
managed inventory practices on supply chain management performance in the selected automobile industries in
Nairobi County, Kenya with specific objective to establish role of supplier demand visibility, communication
mechanism, inventory decisions, replenishment decisions and supply chain management performance in the
selected automobile industries. The study adopted a cross sectional research design. The target population
comprised employees in supply chain department in selected automobile companies in Nairobi according to their
size. Snowball sampling technique was adopted in this study. A semi- structured questionnaire was administered
through the e-mail survey and hand delivery. Secondary data was obtained from both published and unpublished
records. The questionnaire was tested for validity and reliability. Both quantitative and qualitative techniques was
used to analyses the data with the assistance of SPSS software program version 25. The study found that supplier
demand visibility, communication mechanism, inventory decisions, replenishment decisions have significant role
on supply chain management performance in the selected automobile industries. In conclusion the study
recommended that automobile manufacturing companies should source for more resources, work on its time
constraints and negative attitude from some stakeholders and public when undertaking the process. Further the
companies need to gain visibility into their complex network of suppliers and logistics providers to collectively
sense and properly respond to changes in supply and demand, customers are less likely to tolerate delivery or
product errors. Supply chain demand visibility is crucial in preventing order errors and will prevent customers
from taking their business elsewhere. This will ensures them are knowledgeable about every aspect of your
inventory and allows firms to better help customers by improving performance and reducing errors. Putting in
place the right infrastructure can help firms to achieve better supply chain visibility and therefore reduce costs,
improve performance and identify problems, ultimately improving your reputation and growth.
Nearly ten years have passed since the first Topic Map driven web site was developed in Norway. A string of high profile public sector followed suit, and Norway is now largely perceived as the poster child of Topic Maps usage internationally. Is this notion deserved? Stian recounts how it all started, reminds us of the original vision and intent and the inherent properties of the model, and asks whether Norway has been side tracked for too long by the common misperception of Topic Maps as more or less an extensive menu for “associative” web site navigation.
Service customization through dramaturgyIan McCarthy
The customization of a service often depends on the “performance” delivered by front-stage service employees. Drawing on theories of dramaturgy and service marketing, we present a typology of four distinct and viable configurations for achieving different types of service customization. We explain how variations in the time pressure to customize a service, and the degree of customization required, combine to determine the characteristics of each configuration. With service organizations increasingly operating on a global basis, we discuss the fit between the preferences of different multicultural segments, the operational characteristics of a configuration, and the level of customization offered.
Adoption of Vendor Managed Inventory Practices on Supply Chain Performance in...AkashSharma618775
Following the Corona pandemic, which has spread across the world by September 2020, many companies
around the world have been aware of the fact that they should always strive to inculcate and rely on the efficient
supply chains and networks in order to compete effectively in international markets and to sustain their
competitive edge. As a matter of fact, the management of supply chain has caused a paradigm shift in the way most
organisation operates (Brandt, 2009) The main objective of this study was to determine role of adoption of vendor
managed inventory practices on supply chain management performance in the selected automobile industries in
Nairobi County, Kenya with specific objective to establish role of supplier demand visibility, communication
mechanism, inventory decisions, replenishment decisions and supply chain management performance in the
selected automobile industries. The study adopted a cross sectional research design. The target population
comprised employees in supply chain department in selected automobile companies in Nairobi according to their
size. Snowball sampling technique was adopted in this study. A semi- structured questionnaire was administered
through the e-mail survey and hand delivery. Secondary data was obtained from both published and unpublished
records. The questionnaire was tested for validity and reliability. Both quantitative and qualitative techniques was
used to analyses the data with the assistance of SPSS software program version 25. The study found that supplier
demand visibility, communication mechanism, inventory decisions, replenishment decisions have significant role
on supply chain management performance in the selected automobile industries. In conclusion the study
recommended that automobile manufacturing companies should source for more resources, work on its time
constraints and negative attitude from some stakeholders and public when undertaking the process. Further the
companies need to gain visibility into their complex network of suppliers and logistics providers to collectively
sense and properly respond to changes in supply and demand, customers are less likely to tolerate delivery or
product errors. Supply chain demand visibility is crucial in preventing order errors and will prevent customers
from taking their business elsewhere. This will ensures them are knowledgeable about every aspect of your
inventory and allows firms to better help customers by improving performance and reducing errors. Putting in
place the right infrastructure can help firms to achieve better supply chain visibility and therefore reduce costs,
improve performance and identify problems, ultimately improving your reputation and growth.
Nearly ten years have passed since the first Topic Map driven web site was developed in Norway. A string of high profile public sector followed suit, and Norway is now largely perceived as the poster child of Topic Maps usage internationally. Is this notion deserved? Stian recounts how it all started, reminds us of the original vision and intent and the inherent properties of the model, and asks whether Norway has been side tracked for too long by the common misperception of Topic Maps as more or less an extensive menu for “associative” web site navigation.
Content personalisation is becoming more prevalent. A site, it's content and/or it's products, change dynamically according to the specific needs of the user. SEO needs to ensure we do not fall behind of this trend.
Services dominate all advanced economies but service innovations are still an underresearched topic. One of the reasons are definitional and measurement difficulties. The goal of the paper is to highlight those by reviewing recent literature and to assess the current state of knowledge and challenges. Theoretical approaches, empirical techniques and selected empirical results are discussed. Apparently the biggest challenge, at this point, is to create a unified conceptual framework, that would encompass both manufacturing ad services. Meeting this challenge will, however, be difficult, given the strong focus on manufacturing, both in the literature and in the way enterprise surveys are designed.
Authored by: Krzysztof Szczygielski
Introductory lecture on service innovation originally given to master students in an innovation and entrepreneurship course. Full video lecture available at: http://multimedie.adm.ntnu.no/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=e85576dd66ee4b8ebfa56923e262d9f3
Designing a Digital Service Concept for a Professional Business ServiceSofia Nyyssönen
Professional and knowledge-intensive service organizations are concepts that are sometimes used interchangeably. Both concepts refer to expert services that rely on a substantial body of complex knowledge, which is often seen to be characteristics of highly skilled employees. The project investigates the potential of service design to design a digital service concept for professional services that retains knowledge and applies insights that could noticeably improve the effectiveness of or-ganizations. The focus is on the customer’s value creating processes, where value emerges for customers and is perceived by them. Service design is a process that implies work on projects to integrate new service systems into organisations.
VALUES ORIENTATION IN BUSINESS THROUGH SERVICE INNOVATION: A CONCEPTUAL FRAME...ijmvsc
Service innovation evinced as the most discernible facet of service literature. It has been viewed as a strong mechanism to create value for customers, communities, business alliances and society. The emergence of service-dominant logic has brought about a radical change in terms of how value is created through service innovation. S-D logic only considers the value-in-use that is the financial value. Consequently the focus of service innovation research has remained on profit maximization only. Accordingly there is a paucity of research directed towards values-based service innovation. Couched on this notion of valuesbased service, this research will shed light on the service innovation paradigm. The theoretical dimension has been drawn from S-D logic and linked with the concept of triple-bottom line that encompasses the acuity of sustainability. A conceptual framework has been developed with some propositions. This study further suggests that more empirical research is required to further investigate values-based service innovation.
Marja Toivonen from Aalto University is presenting at the First National Annual Services Innovation Conference, November 2, 2010, organized by Exser and partners. See http://www.exser.nl/jaarcongres/ for more information.
The user's judgment: conceptualization, construction and validation of a meas...Sanae HANINE
The purpose of this article is to construct and validate a measurement scale of judgment and to test it in the context of public service. The challenge of this research lies in the fact that it is about a princeps work. To our knowledge, there isn’t up today a measurement scale of the “judgment” construct in marketing. Regarding its latent nature, the "judgment" construct can not be directly observed and can be apprehended only through indicators to represent it. In addition to its construction, the psychometric properties of the scale have been verified so that it can be used in future studies and predict the judgment of the public service user. From exploratory and confirmatory analysis through structural equations, we arrive at a measure that presents a reliable and stable structure. The results of the exploratory research highlight seven facets of the user's judgment following a public servuction: rationality, jugeability, mood, affectivity, familiarity, hedonism and warmth. Confirmatory factor analysis has endorsed a measurement model that demonstrates that the user's judgment following a public service is composed of five (5) main dimensions: rationality, judgment, affectivity, familiarity and hedonism.
Content personalisation is becoming more prevalent. A site, it's content and/or it's products, change dynamically according to the specific needs of the user. SEO needs to ensure we do not fall behind of this trend.
Services dominate all advanced economies but service innovations are still an underresearched topic. One of the reasons are definitional and measurement difficulties. The goal of the paper is to highlight those by reviewing recent literature and to assess the current state of knowledge and challenges. Theoretical approaches, empirical techniques and selected empirical results are discussed. Apparently the biggest challenge, at this point, is to create a unified conceptual framework, that would encompass both manufacturing ad services. Meeting this challenge will, however, be difficult, given the strong focus on manufacturing, both in the literature and in the way enterprise surveys are designed.
Authored by: Krzysztof Szczygielski
Introductory lecture on service innovation originally given to master students in an innovation and entrepreneurship course. Full video lecture available at: http://multimedie.adm.ntnu.no/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=e85576dd66ee4b8ebfa56923e262d9f3
Designing a Digital Service Concept for a Professional Business ServiceSofia Nyyssönen
Professional and knowledge-intensive service organizations are concepts that are sometimes used interchangeably. Both concepts refer to expert services that rely on a substantial body of complex knowledge, which is often seen to be characteristics of highly skilled employees. The project investigates the potential of service design to design a digital service concept for professional services that retains knowledge and applies insights that could noticeably improve the effectiveness of or-ganizations. The focus is on the customer’s value creating processes, where value emerges for customers and is perceived by them. Service design is a process that implies work on projects to integrate new service systems into organisations.
VALUES ORIENTATION IN BUSINESS THROUGH SERVICE INNOVATION: A CONCEPTUAL FRAME...ijmvsc
Service innovation evinced as the most discernible facet of service literature. It has been viewed as a strong mechanism to create value for customers, communities, business alliances and society. The emergence of service-dominant logic has brought about a radical change in terms of how value is created through service innovation. S-D logic only considers the value-in-use that is the financial value. Consequently the focus of service innovation research has remained on profit maximization only. Accordingly there is a paucity of research directed towards values-based service innovation. Couched on this notion of valuesbased service, this research will shed light on the service innovation paradigm. The theoretical dimension has been drawn from S-D logic and linked with the concept of triple-bottom line that encompasses the acuity of sustainability. A conceptual framework has been developed with some propositions. This study further suggests that more empirical research is required to further investigate values-based service innovation.
Marja Toivonen from Aalto University is presenting at the First National Annual Services Innovation Conference, November 2, 2010, organized by Exser and partners. See http://www.exser.nl/jaarcongres/ for more information.
The user's judgment: conceptualization, construction and validation of a meas...Sanae HANINE
The purpose of this article is to construct and validate a measurement scale of judgment and to test it in the context of public service. The challenge of this research lies in the fact that it is about a princeps work. To our knowledge, there isn’t up today a measurement scale of the “judgment” construct in marketing. Regarding its latent nature, the "judgment" construct can not be directly observed and can be apprehended only through indicators to represent it. In addition to its construction, the psychometric properties of the scale have been verified so that it can be used in future studies and predict the judgment of the public service user. From exploratory and confirmatory analysis through structural equations, we arrive at a measure that presents a reliable and stable structure. The results of the exploratory research highlight seven facets of the user's judgment following a public servuction: rationality, jugeability, mood, affectivity, familiarity, hedonism and warmth. Confirmatory factor analysis has endorsed a measurement model that demonstrates that the user's judgment following a public service is composed of five (5) main dimensions: rationality, judgment, affectivity, familiarity and hedonism.
The user's judgment: conceptualization, construction and validation of a meas...Sanae HANINE
Managerial Summary
Understanding the way in which the user judges the public service offer following a servuction is one of the indicators that can be integrated into the management repositories for steering the performance of public administrations. Indeed, in a context marked by the commodification of the public service with its corollary of increased users requirements, public administrations are led forcibily to enhance the operation of servuction during which they come into direct contact with them. The purpose of this article is to develop a scale of the user's judgment following a public servuction and test it in the context of a public administration. A survey was conducted among 422 users who actually have benefited from public service services. It highlights five (5) main dimensions of judgment: rationality, stereotyping, affective valence, value of familiarity and ultimately hedonic value.
Internal Customer Satisfaction Assessment in the Public sector: A case study ...paperpublications3
Abstract:Internal customer satisfaction is a major component of quality improvement that most companies should embrace together with developing strategies to improve quality of external customer service. When the internal customer isn't satisfied, relationships with the external customer suffer. The researcher set out to examine the quality of fleet management services to internal customers by use of SERVQUAL scale to measure the gap between quality expectations and perceptions of the services so as to establish action plans. The objectives of the survey were, to examine the various dimensions of service quality on internal customer satisfaction, to establish the level of internal customer satisfaction and to establish the expectations of internal customers and areas for improvement with the dependent variable being internal customer satisfaction. The study adopted a descriptive case research design and the study population comprised of 118 management staff of Nzoia Suagr Company. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select a sample size of 34 respondents. Questionnaires, interviews, secondary data and observation were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics data analysis method was applied to analyze numerical data gathered aided by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results show that 48% are highly satisfied, 40% moderately satisfied and 12% had low satisfaction with fleet management services, SERVQUAL five scale had relationships to satisfaction and internal customers expect quick responses to requests. It is recommended that transport department that manages fleet should always try to enhance customer satisfaction via presenting high quality fleet management services, as a key element, in order to, first, not weaken those dimensions which the internal customers are satisfied with and secondly, improve those services that aren’t quality from internal customers perspective.
Internal Customer Satisfaction Assessment in the Public sector: A case study ...paperpublications3
Abstract:Internal customer satisfaction is a major component of quality improvement that most companies should embrace together with developing strategies to improve quality of external customer service. When the internal customer isn't satisfied, relationships with the external customer suffer. The researcher set out to examine the quality of fleet management services to internal customers by use of SERVQUAL scale to measure the gap between quality expectations and perceptions of the services so as to establish action plans. The objectives of the survey were, to examine the various dimensions of service quality on internal customer satisfaction, to establish the level of internal customer satisfaction and to establish the expectations of internal customers and areas for improvement with the dependent variable being internal customer satisfaction. The study adopted a descriptive case research design and the study population comprised of 118 management staff of Nzoia Suagr Company. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select a sample size of 34 respondents. Questionnaires, interviews, secondary data and observation were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics data analysis method was applied to analyze numerical data gathered aided by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results show that 48% are highly satisfied, 40% moderately satisfied and 12% had low satisfaction with fleet management services, SERVQUAL five scale had relationships to satisfaction and internal customers expect quick responses to requests. It is recommended that transport department that manages fleet should always try to enhance customer satisfaction via presenting high quality fleet management services, as a key element, in order to, first, not weaken those dimensions which the internal customers are satisfied with and secondly, improve those services that aren’t quality from internal customers perspective.
Keywords: External customer, Fleet Management, Internal customer, Service level agreements, Service Quality, Supply Chain Management, Total Quality Management.
Similar to Problem based perspective and KIBS (20)
Lyhyt johdanto Asiantuntijana verkossa -koulutukseen, YKA ja Tohtoriverkosto 9.9.2021. Löydä sinulle sopiva strategia verkkoon ja sosiaaliseen mediaan.
Mitä uutta ja mitä vanhaa sosiaalinen media tuo tutkimukseen? Yleiskatsaus lähestymistapoihin, menetelmiin, työkaluihin ja koko sosioteknisen tutkimusprosessin hallintaan.
Tohtoriverkoston toiminnan esittely. Olemme epävirallinen verkosto, joka edistää tohtoreiden monipuolisempaa urakehitystä ja vertaistukimahdollisuuksia yli tieteenala- ja organisaatiorajojen.
Tietojohtaminen ja tiedolla johtaminenMiia Kosonen
Esitys yhteisömanagerikurssilla, Mikkeli 27.8.2015. Pikakatsaus siihen, mitä ovat tietojohtaminen ja tiedolla johtaminen, ja miten ne eroavat toisistaan? Tieto ja oppiminen yhteisömanagereiden työn näkökulmasta.
Online community deaths and planning exits. Why do communities die or fade out? What types of crises do they face along their life-cycle? When and how to start an exit?
Yhteisömanagerikurssilaisten pohdintaa yhteisöjen elinkaaren loppuvaiheista. Miksi ja miten yhteisöt kuolevat, vai hiipuvatko ne vain pois? Mistä yhteisömanageri tietää, että on aika aloittaa saattohoito? Mitä saattohoitosunnitelma sisältää?
Merchants from high-risk industries face significant challenges due to their industry reputation, chargeback, and refund rates. These industries include sectors like gambling, adult entertainment, and CBD products, which often struggle to secure merchant accounts due to increased risks of chargebacks and fraud.
To overcome these difficulties, it is necessary to improve credit scores, reduce chargeback rates, and provide detailed business information to high-risk merchant account providers to enhance credibility.
Regarding security, implementing robust security measures such as secure payment gateways, two-factor authentication, and fraud detection software that utilizes machine learning systems is crucial.
Comprehensive Water Damage Restoration Serviceskleenupdisaster
Find out how Disaster Kleenup's professional water damage restoration services can quickly and efficiently restore your property. Find more about our advanced techniques and quick action plans. Visit here: https://iddk.com/disaster-cleanup-services/flood-damage/
Solar power panels, also known as photovoltaic (PV) panels, convert sunlight into electricity, offering a renewable and sustainable energy solution. Composed of semiconductor materials, typically silicon, these panels absorb photons from sunlight, generating an electric current through the photovoltaic effect. This clean energy source reduces dependence on fossil fuels, mitigates greenhouse gas emissions, and contributes to environmental sustainability.
All Trophies at Trophy-World Malaysia | Custom Trophies & Plaques Supplier. Come to our Trophy Shop today and check out all our variety of Trophies available. We have the widest range of Trophies in Malaysia. Our team is always ready to greet your needs and discuss with you on your custom Trophy for your event. Rest assured, you will be with the best Trophy Supplier in Malaysia. The official Trophy Malaysia. Thank you for your support.
Looking for a genuine company for your Spanish Marriage Certificate Attestation? It is an important step to prove the authenticity of a certificate for any purpose in Dubai. Attestation On Time in Dubai is the perfect choice for your Spanish Marriage Certificate Attestation.
Purpose of attesting your Spanish marriage Certificate:
- To apply for family visa
- To enroll your child at school
- Other legal purpose
Why Attestation On Time is your best choice?
- Expert guidance will be provided with complete attestation procedures
- Safety and authenticity are always our top priority and concern
- Fastest service provider in Dubai
- We offer live status updates of your certificates
- We accept certificate from anywhere in the world
Attest your certificates with the help of our attestation experts. Contact us now +971 555514789 /+971 42955338 or share your queries to info@attestationontime.com or visit our website www.attestationontime.com
Emmanuel Katto Uganda - A PhilanthropistMarina Costa
Emmanuel Katto is a well-known businessman from Uganda who is improving his town via his charitable work and commercial endeavors. The Emka Foundation is a non-profit organization that focuses on empowering adolescents through education, business, and skill development. He is the founder and CEO of this organization. His philanthropic journey is deeply personal, driven by a calling to make a positive difference in his home country. Check out the slides to more about his social work.
eBrand Promotion Full Service Digital Agency Company ProfileChimaOrjiOkpi
eBrandpromotion.com is Nigeria’s leading Web Design/development and Digital marketing agency. We’ve helped 600+ clients in 24 countries achieve growth revenue of over $160+ Million USD in 12 Years. Whether you’re a Startup or the Unicorn in your industry, we can help your business/organization grow online. Thinking of taking your business online with a professionally designed world-class website or mobile application? At eBrand, we don’t just design beautiful mobile responsive websites/apps, we can guarantee that you will get tangible results or we refund your money…
Office Business Furnishings | Office EquipmentOFWD
OFWD is Edmonton’s Newest and most cost-effective source for Office Furnishings. Conveniently located on 170 street and 114 Avenue in Edmonton’s West End. We take pride in servicing a client base of over 500 corporations throughout the Edmonton and Alberta area. OFWD is in the business of satisfying the home or corporate office environment needs of our clients, from individual pieces of furniture for the home user to the implementation of complete turn-key projects on much larger scales. We supply only quality products from reputable manufacturers. It is our intention to continue to earn the trust of our clients by dealing with honesty and integrity and by providing service and after sales follow-up second to none.
Unlocking Business Potential: Democratizing AI and Navigating Generative AI i...RNayak3
Discover the profound impact of democratizing Generation AI on business transformation. Gain valuable insights into the reality check of AI implementation, strategic planning, and industry disruption. Explore how AI adoption, technology trends, and digital transformation reshape business strategies. Download the Report Now.
DOJO Training Center - Empowering Workforce ExcellenceHimanshu
The document delves into DOJO training, an immersive offline training concept designed to educate both new hires and existing staff. This method follows an organized eight-step process within a simulated work setting. The steps encompass safety protocols, behavioral coaching, product familiarity, production guidelines, and procedural understanding. Trainees acquire skills through hands-on simulations and rehearsal prior to transitioning to actual shop floor duties under supervision. The primary aim is to minimize accidents and defects by ensuring employees undergo comprehensive training, preparing them effectively for their job roles.
Bridging the Language Gap The Power of Simultaneous Interpretation in RwandaKasuku Translation Ltd
Rwanda is a nation on the rise, fostering international partnerships and economic growth. With this progress comes a growing need for seamless communication across languages. Simultaneous interpretation emerges as a vital tool in this ever-evolving landscape. When seeking the best simultaneous interpretation in Rwanda, Kasuku Translation stands out as a premier choice.
SECUREX UK FOR SECURITY SERVICES AND MOBILE PATROLsecurexukweb
At Securex UK Ltd we are dedicated to providing top-rated security solutions tailored to your specific needs. With a team of highly trained professionals and cutting-edge technology, we prioritize your safety and peace of mind.
Our commitment to excellence extends beyond traditional security measures. We understand the dynamic nature of security challenges, and our personalized approach ensures that every client receives a bespoke protection plan.
Discover How Long Do Aluminum Gutters Last?SteveRiddle8
Many people wonder how long aluminum gutters last. In this ppt, we will cover the lifetime of aluminum gutters, appropriate maintenance procedures, and the advantages of using this material for gutter installation.
Sustainable Solutions for Chemical Waste Disposal by Summerland Environmental...Summerland Environmental
Welcome to the presentation on Sustainable Solutions for Chemical Waste Disposal by Summerland Environmental. We will explore innovative methods and technologies for eco-friendly waste management.
Best steel industrial company LLC in UAEalafnanmetals
AL Afnan Steel Industrial Company LLC is a distinguished steel manufacturer and supplier, celebrated for its high-quality products and outstanding customer service. With a diverse portfolio that includes structural steel, and custom fabrications, AL Afnan meets a wide array of industrial demands. We are dedicated to using advanced technologies and sustainable methods to ensure excellence and reliability in every product, serving both local and international markets with efficiency.
Optimize your online presence as an interior designer in Delhi with tailored SEO strategies. Elevate visibility on search engines, ensuring your design prowess reaches the right audience. Craft engaging content that resonates with local clientele, incorporating relevant keywords and metadata. Harness the power of local SEO techniques to dominate search results, driving organic traffic and inquiries. Stay ahead in Delhi's competitive market by fine-tuning your digital footprint with effective SEO practices.
1. A Problem-Based Perspective on Knowledge-Intensity in Services Business
Paavo Ritala1
, Tatiana Andreeva2
, Miia Kosonen1
and Kirsimarja Blomqvist1
1
Lappeenranta University of Technology, School of Business, Lappeenranta, Finland
2
Graduate School of Management, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
ritala@lut.fi
andreeva@som.pu.ru
miia.kosonen@lut.fi
kirsimarja.blomqvist@lut.fi
Abstract: Extant research on services has strongly emphasized knowledge-based services as the
driver of economic growth and innovation. Thus, prior literature has separated between
“knowledge-intensive” and “other” services, and suggested that the knowledge-intensive services are
often those responsible of innovation and value creation. In our view this is an oversimplification of
prevailing reality in services business. In this study, we suggest – in contrary to the earlier studies –
that all services are knowledge-intensive by nature but they differ along the nature of knowledge
processes involved from the perspective of the customer and provider. In exploring the issue, we
adopt a “problem-based perspective” on knowledge-intensity in services business, following the latest
theoretical developments in the field of knowledge-based view of the firm and related problem-solving
perspective. Our paper sketches a framework where the knowledge processes regarding service
co-creation and delivery are conceptualized on two axes – 1) knowledge required from the customer
in defining and executing the service and 2) nature of the service-providing process. In the framework,
the knowledge intensity of services is explored from an interactive perspective, where problems are
identified and solved in collaboration between customers and providers. In this, varying kinds of
knowledge sharing is needed between the customer and the service provider, and also different types
of problem-solving and knowledge creation processes in service delivery from the provider
perspective. On the basis of the developed conceptual framework, we provide implications concerning
organizing of various types of services, as well as new insights on the discussion on
knowledge-intensity in service business and relevance of knowledge management challenges and
practices for this field. The results show that every type of service actually involves
knowledge-intensity, but the nature of the knowledge sharing and knowledge creation processes
varies along the customer knowledge requirements and the problem-solving process of the provider in
delivering the service.
Keywords: services, knowledge, problem-solving, customer, provider
1. Introduction
Services sector has shown significant growth and has become the dominant driver of economic
growth in many economies over the last decades (Andersen et al., 2000). Consequently, research on
services has gained increasing attention within recent years, aiming to understand the factors of
competitiveness in this field. The basic assumption behind this stream of research is that services
differ from products in many important aspects. In particular, services are seen as extremely
heterogeneous and often intangible processes, which most often involve and depend on specialized
human labour. At the same time, another stream of research, dedicated to the “knowledge economy”,
has enjoyed growing interest (e.g., Romer and Kurtzman, 2004). Basically, this approach claims that
knowledge is the key source of competitive advantage in the contemporary environment (e.g.,
Nonaka, 1991; Davenport and Prusak, 2000) and focuses the attention on managing this resource in
the most efficient way (Foss et al., 2010). It also suggests that for some businesses, typically labelled
“knowledge-intensive”, this task is undoubtedly important (Starbuck, 1992; Alvesson, 1995; Nurmi,
1998).
These two streams meet in the discussion about specific challenges and best practices of
managing so called “knowledge-intensive services” that have been under increasing interest (e.g.,
Tether and Hipp, 2002; Freel, 2006). We suggest that there are two biases in this literature. First,
most of this discussion is centred on a quite narrow group of firms, identified as “Knowledge Intensive
Business Services” or “KIBS”. Implicitly, the rest of the services are recognized as “other” that are not
as knowledge-intensive and thus knowledge-related issues implicitly fall out of the discussion of the
sources of their competitive advantage. Second, there is a widely promoted opinion that only the
KIBS-firms generate value and contribute to growth in the contemporary economy (e.g. Andersen et
al., 2000).
2. In our view both biases create an oversimplified understanding of the nature of services that
may mislead efforts both of managers and policymakers. First, we suggest that all services are
fundamentally knowledge-based, but they just differ in terms of the nature of knowledge and
knowledge processes involved. Consider, for example, a traditional example of a knowledge-intensive
service – a consulting firm. A consulting firm employs skilled individuals and teams who co-create
solutions with their customers in the task of solving certain problems. Such service indeed requires
sharing of specialized knowledge, as well as creation of new knowledge – making the label of
“knowledge-intensive” well deserved. However, it can be argued that all types of services include
some type of knowledge integration and creation at some stages of the service. For example,
providing of basic transportation services (e.g. train, bus) requires the usage and integration of
specialized knowledge such as routing, schedule planning, and driving. The difference to consulting is
that the usage of the knowledge might be more routinized. However, both of these services require
and in many ways consist of specialized knowledge. Thus, it is actually very hard to split all services
into two “black-and-white” categories according to their knowledge-intensity, since all services are
fundamentally 1) outputs of knowledge processes and 2) consist more or less from knowledge.
Second, evidence from practice suggests that in a number of countries significant growth actually
comes from the services that are classically labelled as not knowledge intensive – for example,
well-being sector in Finland or tourism sector in countries like France, Spain and Greece. Thus, in
order to understand better the sources of competitive advantage in services sector, we need a more
comprehensive and nuanced view of knowledge-intensity in services.
To address this question, we propose a more pragmatic conceptualization on the nature of
service business – a one which we call ”a problem-based perspective on knowledge-intensity in
services business”. In this task, we utilize the knowledge-based view of the firm (Grant, 1996;
Spender, 1996), as well as the problem-solving perspective of a firm (Nickerson and Zenger, 2004;
Nickerson et al., 2007, Heiman et al. 2009), which views the organization as a problem-solving entity,
where the role of the organization is to solve valuable problems and utilize various knowledge
processes in this task. In accordance to problem-based perspective we analyze knowledge-intensity
in services simultaneously from both customer and provider perspectives, showing that services can
be seen as problems-to-be-solved and where the process involves different levels of knowledge
sharing and creation. While earlier conceptualizations of knowledge intensity of providers and
customers exist (see e.g. Hauknes, 1999), the problem-solving perspective allows for a more usable
analysis in terms of understanding the knowledge processes involved in the service provision
process.
The main contribution of our study is twofold. First, we elaborate a knowledge-process based
view on services, where problem identification and -solving issues are analyzed. Such framework
enables a useful theoretical and practical categorization of all types of services based on the different
levels and types of their knowledge-intensity. It also leads to important managerial implications for
building sustainable competitive advantage in the different types of services business. Second, we
distinctively identify the role of customers and providers, which helps to analyze the problem
identification and solving processes from a service / value co-creation perspective.
Our study is structured as follows. First, we critically review the extant literature on services and
knowledge-intensity and suggest that services are knowledge processes involving both customers
and providers in value co-creation. Second, we present a knowledge-based problem-solving
framework of service business. Finally, we discuss the implications of the framework for theory and
practice.
2. Services and knowledge-intensity
In extant services literature, knowledge-intensity has been of increasing interest, and some services
have been explicitly recognized as being “knowledge-intensive” (for example, KIBS-services; Tether
and Hipp, 2002; Freel, 2006). However, our literature review suggests that the discussion of
knowledge-intensity in services is predominantly focused on a very special type of services - business
services and/or professional services (e.g., Von Nordenflycht, 2010). Surely, these service industries
have their own specific challenges that are well discussed in the literature (e.g., Meister, 1993;
Lowendahl, 2000; Brock, 2006; Empson, Chapman, 2006; Greenwood et al., 2007; Briscoe, 2007).
We claim that such a narrow discussion of knowledge-intensity in services hinders the deeper
understanding of the competitiveness factors in a much wider range of firms. To develop this point, we
address two conceptual issues – distinctive features of services and the concept of
knowledge-intensity.
First, let us turn to the notion of knowledge-intensity. Despite the concept is popular nowadays,
there is a lack of clarity about it. In theory, it indicates that the firm’s output relies on a substantial
3. body of complex knowledge (e.g., Starbuck, 1992; Winch, Schneider, 1993). However, how do we
define whether the knowledge is enough “complex”, and its’ body is enough “substantial”? In practice,
knowledge intensity has been frequently operationalized through the share of employees with higher
(post-secondary) education (Starbuck, 1992; Thornbill, 2004) or the level of R&D expenditure
(Willoughby, Galvin, 2005). Both approaches have been extensively criticized as very inaccurate
proxies of knowledge intensity, and as not applicable to many types of businesses and
product/service contexts (e.g., Andreeva, forthcoming; Autio et al., 2000, Spender, Grant, 1996;
Eisenhardt, Schoonhoven, 1990). Thus, it has been suggested that knowledge intensity should be
measured by managers’ assessments (Autio et al., 2000) which are inherently subjective in their
nature.
The literature also has two different views on knowledge intensity, either defining it as mainly
relying on knowledge embodied in individuals (Alvesson, 2000), or as including also knowledge
embedded in equipment, products, and organizational routines (Morris, Empson, 1998; Starbuck,
1992). Some recent authors argue that true knowledge intensity refers only to the first type, as
otherwise an overly broad universe of firms will be included into discussion (Von Nordenflycht, 2010).
However, if knowledge intensity implies that a firm needs to take care of managing its knowledge in
order to compete successfully, such a person-centric view of knowledge intensity will exclude from the
discussion many firms for which managing knowledge is an important issue. Indeed, a polar view
argues that any human activity is based on and involves some knowledge (e.g., Kelloway, Barling,
2000). This brief discussion of the knowledge intensity concept vividly illustrates that there is no
simple solution to differentiate clearly between “knowledge-intensive” and “non-knowledge-intensive”
business. A more fine-grained approach to knowledge intensity, that includes different types and
levels, might be a solution to this problem.
Second, let us turn to services. In the abundant literature on services, few issues appear
recurrently as distinctive characteristics of services. These are intangibility, heterogeneity,
inseparability and perishability (typically referred as IHIP). Altogether, they make services highly
dependent on human factor – employees who actually provide the service. This fact implies the
importance of employees’ skills and knowledge (including the tacit one) for all types of services. This
idea is supported by recent empirical evidence, suggesting that human capital is more important for
service firms compared to manufacturing ones (Kianto et al., forthcoming). Another distinctive feature
of services is the close interaction with the customer (Vargo, Lusch, 2006). In fact, according to some
sources the process of providing the service is viewed as a client co-production or co-creation
(Bettencourt et al., 2002; Skjoelsvik et al., 2007; Ordanini, Pasini, 2008) This aspect implies that any
service involves at least some knowledge sharing between the client and service provider, though its’
intensity and complexity depends on the type of service. Thus the very nature of services implies that
any service relies at least on some human knowledge and involves at least some knowledge sharing.
Therefore, dualistic discrimination between “knowledge-intensive” and “non-knowledge-intensive”
services appears to be oversimplification of reality.
Based on these two streams of argumentation, we posit that all services are inherently
knowledge-intensive, though to a different degree and/or of different types, and thus may require
different strategies and governance mechanisms and related capabilities for managing
service-specific critical knowledge. Therefore, there is a need for a more detailed and sophisticated
framework of knowledge intensity in services that will help to identify the sources of competitive
advantage in particular service sector and to gain a better understanding of the best management
practices that can enhance this competitive advantage.
3. A knowledge-based problem-solving framework of service business
Problem-solving perspective of a firm (Nickerson and Zenger, 2004; Nickerson et al., 2007) takes a
problem as the unit of analysis. The perspective builds on the knowledge based view of the firm
(Kogut and Zander, 1992; Conner and Prahalad, 1996; Grant, 1996) and also contributes to the
recent discussion around the “knowledge governance” approach (Foss, 2007; Foss et al. 2010). From
this perspective, any individual organization is seen as a problem-solving entity. The “problem” is
understood in a broad sense, including any type of organizational activity that can create value if it is
solved. Successful organizations are able to identify and solve problems that eventually bring unique
competitive value in the eyes of the organization’s customers. The problem-solving perspective helps
to understand the nature of the problems that the organization encounters and identifies which
problem solving methods (i.e. organizational knowledge processes) are most applicable.
4. 3.1 Services as problems-to-be-solved
While the problem-solving perspective has been used to describe the identification and solving of
problems inside an individual organization (Nickerson and Zenger, 2004; Nickerson et al., 2007), we
extend the logic to cover customer-provider interface in order to describe service business through the
lenses of this perspective. We claim that the services can fundamentally be seen as
problems-to-be-solved. A service is often a specific benefit that the customer obtains in terms of e.g.
convenience, time saving, physical transformation, or a value adding function for customers
possessions (for a review, see e.g. Cook et al., 1999; Lovelock, 1983). All these can be viewed as
different types of problems. For example, the customer can seek a solution for a broken car (solution
= repair), monetary assets that are in redundant use (solution = financial advice, e.g. wealth
management), transportation (solution = a bus service / taxi), or uncertainty over customer needs
(solution = market research / consulting advice). All these examples include the logic that there is a
problem which has been identified, and that providing a solution to it creates value.
As the services by their very nature involve intense cooperation between a client and a
provider, knowledge intensity in services can be delineated on two categories – knowledge required
from the customer and the nature of the service-providing process. First, the knowledge required from
the customer suggests that the customers are the fundamental initiators (more or less consciously) of
the problems (or the issue around which they have a problem that they have not specified yet) on
which they seek solutions. In this task, there are varying levels of knowledge sharing required
between the customer and the provider in interactively identifying the exact problem-to-be-solved.
Second, nature of the service-providing process suggests that the service provider solves the problem
for (and with) the customer through certain problem-solving processes. Again, there are varying levels
of knowledge requirements in such processes.
In the following sections, we first discuss knowledge required from the customer and then the
nature of the service-providing process in terms of different knowledge processes.
3.2 Knowledge required from the customer
Customers are viewed here as individuals or institutions seeking for solutions for their “problems” in
collaboration with the service providers. The knowledge inputs required from the customer indicates
which type and amount of knowledge sharing is involved in this task from the customer perspective.
The required knowledge exchange can be roughly divided into three categories: no knowledge inputs,
basic or routine knowledge, and service-creation related (situational) knowledge.
First, some services require (almost) no knowledge inputs from the customer. In such cases,
the problem identification is a process where the customer has a problem (= a service need) which is
repeated over and over again, to the extent that the identification of the problem is basically similar
each time the problem occurs. Services that are used frequently in a similar manner, such as
transportation, grocery store shopping, or car repair are situated within this category.
Second, some services require the sharing of basic or routine knowledge between customer
and provider. In these cases, the customer has a problem which is repeated from time to time and is
thus of familiar nature, but there is a notable variation over the specific customer need involved each
time the service is requested. Examples of such services include hair dressing from consumer
services perspective, and market research from b-to-b perspective.
Third, certain services require service-creation related knowledge to be exchanged between the
customer and provider. In such cases, the customer has a unique need which needs to be
communicated in case-by-case basis. Such needs are related to one time, individualized services,
which often include contingencies over the time, place, and other contextual issues related to the
service process. In other words, the knowledge requirements are situational. For example, the
services provided by fire brigade are most likely to be unique for the customer, and most likely to
involve unforeseen elements related to the environment where the service is needed.
3.3 Nature of the service-providing process
As the services are viewed as problems-to-be-solved in our perspective, the nature of the service
providing process is discussed as different types of problem-solving processes. The nature of the
problem-solving (i.e. service-providing) process fundamentally affects the variation in the amount and
need for the provider to create unique, service-specific knowledge during the process. The
knowledge-related processes in service provision can be roughly divided under three categories on
the basis of their nature: routinized, customized and unstructured. Routinized problem-processes are
based on repetition, customized processes on variation over repetition, and unstructured processes
relate to unique and non-routinized processes (for a relatively similar treatment on routines, see e.g.
Lillrank, 2003).
5. First, routinized problem solving is a process where the service is delivered as a standard
offering, where very little or no customization is involved (unless there is a crisis in the delivery
process). Often, routinized problem solving can be (almost) completely automated or standardized. In
the process of delivering these kinds of services, there is usually no need to create unique knowledge
from the perspective of the provider. Examples include car wash or railroad transportation, which are
practically pre-determined in terms of their delivery process. Routinized problem solving sometimes
also allows for mass customization of services, where the customer has the possibility to affect the
contents of the offering (situational knowledge) although the service delivery is routinized. Google, for
instance, pursues to offer access to any type of information the customer is seeking, and to do it in a
way which can be scaled to cover all the possible customers possessing an internet connection.
Second, customized problem solving is a process where the service is delivered in a tailored
way, but which is built on an existing service framework. Customized problem solving offers services
that adapt to the needs of various customers. Examples from the basic end of the customer
knowledge sharing continuum include annual repair or maintenance services, which are very basic
services from the point of view of the customer, but require variation over the solution depending on
the repair needs. For problems requiring more distinctive, situational knowledge, customized problem
solving invloves interactive, co-created service offerings. Examples include singing lessons or hair
dressing, where the customer has the option to make individual requests, and the service provider
has the possibility to customize the offering. Further examples from the more situation-specific
customer needs include emergency services such as police and fire brigade, which involve unique
service needs from the customer perspective, but which are based on a sufficiently well developed
service delivery framework. The common denominator here is that the service is nevertheless based
on pre-existing understanding between the customer and the provider on the framing of the service
(e.g. cutting hair).
Third, unstructured problem solving is a process where the service is delivered in a completely
unique way, involving almost no pre-existing structures. For services where no knowledge inputs are
needed from the customer, unstructured problem solving is likely to be quite rare. On the other hand,
for solutions related to exhange of situational, service-creation related knowledge, unstructured
processes involve individualized and creative service offerings which are quite commonplace in the
contemporary economy. A good example of such activity is interior design, where each case is
different depending on the context and the customized customer needs. Further examples involve
unique and one time service activities, where each identified customer problem is solved in a unique
way. Examples include creative R&D services, and consulting projects concerning a specific
emergent problem of the client.
In the Figure 1, a matrix is presented where the nature of the knowledge requirements from the
customer, as well as the nature of the service-providing process is illustrated. As discussed
throughout the last two sections, these two axes determine the nature of knowledge intensity in
services from both customer and provider perspective. According to the model, services can be
categorized according to the need for knowledge sharing between the customer and the service
provider in determining the service, and according to the need to create unique service-specific
knowledge.
6. Figure 1. Types and levels of knowledge-intensity in services
5. Conclusion and implications
Recent service literature (e.g. Tether and Hipp, 2002; Freel, 2006) suggests that services can be
categorized as knowledge-intensive and “other” services, and that knowledge-intensive services are
those that involve the possibility to substantive innovation and value creation. The argument posited in
our study was that all types of services are fundamentally knowledge intensive, but there is variation
in the knowledge and related interaction processes involved in identifying and solving problems
related to customer needs concerning different types of services.
We described services as problems-to-be-solved, involving 1) different levels of
knowledge required from the customer and 2) types of problem-solving processes (routine,
customized, unstructured) requiring varying levels of knowledge creation from the provider. On the
basis of these axes, we suggested a framework of knowledge intensity, which provides a more
in-depth view on approaching different types of services and their knowledge-intensity than the
pre-existing formulations.
Our study provides important implications to the literature and practice. Firstly, we
elaborated a knowledge-process based view on services, incorporating the problem identification and
solving perspective to the discussion. Secondly, our study unravelled the complexity related to
knowledge-intensive services by providing a framework on the nature of knowledge intensity. It
provides support for further theoretical and empirical, but also practical work on analyzing the
knowledge-related value creation and related organizing within all types of services, and not only
those cited as “knowledge-intensive” in the extant literature. Thirdly, we approached
knowledge-intensity not as a passive state but interaction between service providers and customers,
thus incorporating the service co-creation perspective (e.g. Bettencourt et al., 2002) and illustrating
the types of knowledge needed for mutual problem identification and solving.
Based on the framework different types of services can be studied empirically for a
more fine-grained understanding of the axes and different classes in the typology. In the spirit of
knowledge governance perspective our typology provides a useful point of departure for studying
efficient and effective knowledge transfer mechanisms and related individual skill and organizational
capabilities required.
7. Our study leads to important managerial implications for building sustainable
competitive advantage. It is expected that most of the relatively more routine type of service-providing
processes with no or very little knowledge input from the customer can be automized and sold over
the Internet. Also, it is expected that customer knowledge and related relational capabilities is critical
in most of services (but they can be executed in different ways) whereas the role of innovation related
capabilities is accentuated in unstructured services requiring situational knowledge. Further, most
firms’ service offering are seen to consist of a variety of services requiring different type and level of
knowledge sharing with customer, and differing degree of unique knowledge from the service
provider. Thus for most service providers the relevant knowledge governance issue is to optimize the
relevant knowledge processes and related skills related to the whole offering and not only to single
services. However, our typology can provide a valuable tool for practitioners to analyze their services
portfolio in line with types and levels of knowledge intensity.
References
Almor, T., Hashai, N., and Hirsch, S. (2006) “The Product Cycle Revisited: Knowledge Intensity and
Firm Internationalization”, Management International Review (MIR), Vol. 46, No. 5, pp.507-528.
Alvesson, M. (1995) Management of Knowledge Intensive Companies. Berlin and New York : De
Gruyter.
Andersen, B., Howells, J., Hull, R., Miles, I. and Roberts, J. (2000) Knowledge and Innovation in the
New Service Economy, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.
Andreeva, T. (2010) “Who are “knowledge workers”? A critical literature review and some ideas for
clarification of the concept”, paper to be presented at EGOS Colloquium, July 1-3, 2010, Lisbon,
Portugal.
Autio, E., Sapienza, H.J. and Almeida, J.G. (2000) “Effects of age at entry , knowledge intensity, and
imitability on international growth”, Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 43, No.5, pp.909-924.
Bettencourt, L.A, Ostrom, A.L., Brown, S.W. and Roundtree, R.I. (2002) “Client Co- Production in
Knowledge-Intensive Business Services”, California Management Review, Vol.44, No.4, pp.100-128.
Brandenburger, A.M. and Stuart, H.W. (1996) “Value-Based Business Strategy”, Journal of
Economics & Management Strategy, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp 5-24.
Conner, K.R. and Prahalad, C.K. (1996) “A Resource-Based Theory of the Firm: Knowledge Versus
Opportunism”, Organization Science, Vol. 7, No. 5, pp 477-501.
Cook, D.P., Goh, C-H. and Chung, C.H. (1999) “Service Typologies: A State of the Art Survey”,
Production and Operations Management, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp 318-338.
Davenport, T. and Prusak, L. (2000) Working Knowledge: How Corporations Manage What They
Know. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
Eisenhardt, K. M., and Schoonhoven, G. B. (1990) “Organizational growth: Linking founding team,
strategy, environment, and growth among US semiconductor ventures”, Administrative Science
Quarterly, Vol.35, pp.504-529.
Foss, N.J. (2007) “The Emerging Knowledge Governance Approach: Challenges and Characteristics”,
Organization, Vol. 14, No. 1, pp 29-52.
Foss, N.J., Husted K and Michailova S. (2010) “Governing Knowledge Sharing in Organizations:
Levels of Analysis, Governance Mechanisms, and Research Directions”, Journal of Management
Studies,Vol. 47, No. 3,pp. 456-482.
Freel, M. (2006) ”Patterns of Technological Innovation in Knowledge-Intensive Business Services”,
Industry and Innovation, Vol. 13, No. 3, pp 335-358.
Grant, R.M. (1996). ”Toward a Knowledge-Based Theory of the Firm”, Strategic Management Journal,
Vol. 17, Winter Special Issue, pp 109-122.
Greenwood, R., Deephouse, D. L., and Li, S. (2007) “Ownership and performance of professional
service firms”, Organization Studies, Vol.28, pp.219–238.
Haukness, J. (1999). ”Knowledge Intensive Services – What is Their Role? Paper read at OECD
Forum on Realising the Potential of the Service Economy, Paris, France, September.
Heiman, B. A., Nickerson, J.A. and Zenger, T.R. (2009). ”Governing Knowledge Creation: A
Problem-Finding and Problem-Solving Perspective”, in Knowledge Governance: Processes and
Perspectives, Foss, N. and Michailova, S. (eds.), Oxford University Press.
Kelloway, K. and Barling, J. (2000) “Knowledge work as organizational behavior”, International
Journal of Management Reviews, Vol.2, No.3, pp.287-304.
Kianto, A., Hurmelinna-Laukkanen, P. and Ritala, P. (2010) “Intellectual capital in service- and
product-oriented companies”, Journal of Intellectual Capital, Forthcoming.
8. Kogut, B. and Zander, U. (1992). “Knowledge of the Firm, Combinative Capabilities, and the
Replication of Technology”, Organization Science, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp 383-397.
Lillrank P. (2003) The Quality of Standard, Routine and Nonroutine Processes. Organization Studies
Vol. 24, No. 2, pp.215-233.
Lovelock, C.H. (1983) “Classifying Services to Gain Strategic Marketing Insights”, Journal of
Marketing, Vol. 47, No. 3, pp 9-20.
Lowendahl, B. (2000) Strategic management of professional service firms. Copenhagen: Copenhagen
Business School Press.
Maister, D. (1993) Managing the professional service firm. New York: Free Press.
Morris, T., and Empson, L. (1998) “Organization and expertise: An exploration of knowledge bases
and the management of accounting and consulting firms”, Accounting, Organizations and Society,
Vol.23, pp. 609–624.
Nickerson, J.A., Silverman, B.S. and Zenger, T.R. (2007). ”The ‘Problem’ of Creating and Capturing
Value”, Strategic Organization, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp 211-225.
Nonaka, I. (1991) “The Knowledge-Creating Company”, Harvard Business Review, Vol.69, No.6,
pp.96–104.
Nurmi, R. (1998) “Knowledge-intensive firms”, Business Horizons, Vol. 41, No.3, pp.26-32.
Nickerson, J.A. and Zenger, T.R. (2004) ”A Knowledge-Based Theory of the Firm - The Problem
Solving Perspective”, Organization Science, Vol. 15, No. 6, pp 617-632.
Ordanini, A., and Pasini, P. (2008) “Service co-production and value co-creation: The case for a
service-oriented architecture (SOA)”, European Management Journal, Vol. 26, No.5, pp.289-297.
Romer, P.M., and Kurtzman, J. (2004). “Knowledge Matters”, Handbook on Knowledge Management,
Ch.1, pp.73-87.
Skjoelsvik, T., Lowendahl, B.R., Kvälsaugen, R. and Fosstenloekken, S.M. (2007). “Choosing to
Learn and Learning to Choose: Strategies For CLient Co-Production And Knowledge Development”,
California Management Review, Vol.49, No.3, pp.110-127.
Spender, J-C., and Grant, R. M. (1996) “Knowledge and the firm: Overview”, Strategic Management
Journal, Vol.17, pp.5-9.
Starbuck, W. H. (1992) “Learning by Knowledge-intensive Firms”, Journal of Management Studies,
Vol.3, No.4, pp.262-275.
Tether, B.S., Hipp, C. and Miles, I. (2001) “Standardisation and particularisation in services: evidence
from Germany”, Research Policy, Vol. 30, No. 7, pp.1115-1138.
Tether, B. and Hipp, C. (2002) ”Knowledge Intensive, Technical and Other Services: Patterns of
Competitiveness and Innovation Compared, Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, Vol. 14,
No. 2, pp 163-182.
Thornhill, S., Gellatly, G. and Riding, A. (2004) “Growth history, knowledge intensity and capital
structure in small firms”, Venture Capital, Vol. 6, No.1, pp.73-89.
Vargo, S.L., and Lusch, R.F. (2006) “Service-Dominant Logic: What It Is, What It Is Not, What It Might
Be”, in R.F. Lusch and S.L. Vargo (eds) The Service- Dominant Logic of Marketing: Dialog, Debate,
and Directions, Armonk, NY: ME Sharpe, pp. 43–56.
Von Nordenflycht, A. (2010) “What is a professional service firm? Toward a theory and taxonomy of
knowledge-intensive firms”, Academy of Management Review, Vol. 35, No.1, pp.155-174
Willoughby, K. and Galvin, P. (2005) “Inter-Organizational Collaboration, Knowledge Intensity, and the
Sources of Innovation in the Bioscience-Technology Industries”, Knowledge, Technology & Policy;
Vol. 18, No.3, pp.56-73.