International Journal of Services Sciences http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=238&year=2011&vol=4&issue=1 Inderscience Publishers Ltd en-uk International Journal of Services Sciences 1753-1446 1753-1454 © 2011 Inderscience Publishers Ltd editor@inderscience.com https://www.inderscience.com/images/files/coverImgs/ijssci_scoverijssci.jpg http://www.inderscience.com/browse/index.php?journalID=238&year=2011&vol=4&issue=1 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=38457 The advent of the World Wide Web made search engines the most essential component of our everyday life. However, the analysis of information provided by current search engines often presents a significant challenge to the client. This is to a large extent because the client has to deal with many alternatives (solutions) described by contradictory criteria, when selecting the most preferable (optimal) solutions. Furthermore, criteria constraints cannot be defined a priori and have to be defined interactively in the process of a dialog of the client with computer. In such situations, construction of the feasible solution set has a fundamental value. In this paper, we propose a new methodology for systematically constructing the feasible solution set for database search. This allows to significantly improving the quality of search results. DBS-PSI: a new paradigm of database search
Roman Statnikov, Alex Bordetsky, Josef Matusov, Alexander Statnikov
International Journal of Services Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2011) pp. 1 - 13
The advent of the World Wide Web made search engines the most essential component of our everyday life. However, the analysis of information provided by current search engines often presents a significant challenge to the client. This is to a large extent because the client has to deal with many alternatives (solutions) described by contradictory criteria, when selecting the most preferable (optimal) solutions. Furthermore, criteria constraints cannot be defined a priori and have to be defined interactively in the process of a dialog of the client with computer. In such situations, construction of the feasible solution set has a fundamental value. In this paper, we propose a new methodology for systematically constructing the feasible solution set for database search. This allows to significantly improving the quality of search results.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSCI.2011.038457 International Journal of Services Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2011) pp. 1 - 13 Roman Statnikov Alex Bordetsky Josef Matusov Alexander Statnikov Department of Information Sciences, Naval Postgraduate School, 589 Dyer Rd., Root Hall, 203E, Monterey, CA, USA; Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, M. Kharitonievsky per., 4, Moscow, 101830, Russia. ' Department of Information Sciences, Naval Postgraduate School, 589 Dyer Rd., Root Hall, 225, Monterey, CA, USA. ' Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, M. Kharitonievsky per., 4, Moscow, 101830, Russia. ' Center for Health Informatics and Bioinformatics, New York University Langone Medical Center, 333 E38th Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA database search www search engines contradictory criteria criteria constraints feasible solution set Pareto optimal set parameter space investigation method PSI method analysis tables world wide web internet search. 2011-02-07T23:20:50-05:00 4 1 1 13 2011-02-07T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=38458 Most inventory models suppose that opportunity cost of lost sales includes lost revenue and penalty cost (goodwill loss), where the lost revenue is equal to the item's price or marginal profit. However, efficient method for evaluating the penalty cost has not been proposed. In this paper, considering cross-selling effect that the lost sales of one item may influence the sales of other items, we propose a quantitative approach to estimate the opportunity cost based on association rules, in which the penalty cost of lost sales is regarded as the sum of partial dollar usage of all the other related items. Therefore, the opportunity cost of an item is defined as the sum of its own dollar usage and all associated dollar usage. We prove that the unit opportunity cost (UOC) of an item is equal to its own unit dollar usage added the sum of the product that multiplies the unit dollar usage of the associated item by the corresponding confidence. A numerical example and an empirical study with two datasets are used to evaluate the proposed approach. The utility of the opportunity cost is also remarked by analysing the influences of the opportunity cost on inventory policy. A quantitative approach for estimating the opportunity cost with cross-selling
Ikou Kaku, Ren-qian Zhang, Yi-yong Xiao
International Journal of Services Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2011) pp. 14 - 37
Most inventory models suppose that opportunity cost of lost sales includes lost revenue and penalty cost (goodwill loss), where the lost revenue is equal to the item's price or marginal profit. However, efficient method for evaluating the penalty cost has not been proposed. In this paper, considering cross-selling effect that the lost sales of one item may influence the sales of other items, we propose a quantitative approach to estimate the opportunity cost based on association rules, in which the penalty cost of lost sales is regarded as the sum of partial dollar usage of all the other related items. Therefore, the opportunity cost of an item is defined as the sum of its own dollar usage and all associated dollar usage. We prove that the unit opportunity cost (UOC) of an item is equal to its own unit dollar usage added the sum of the product that multiplies the unit dollar usage of the associated item by the corresponding confidence. A numerical example and an empirical study with two datasets are used to evaluate the proposed approach. The utility of the opportunity cost is also remarked by analysing the influences of the opportunity cost on inventory policy.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSCI.2011.038458 International Journal of Services Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2011) pp. 14 - 37 Ikou Kaku Ren-qian Zhang Yi-yong Xiao Department of Management Science and Engineering, Faculty of Systems Science and Technology, Akita Prefectural University, 84-4 Tsuchiya-Ebinokuti, Honjo, Akita 015-0055, Japan. ' School of Economics and Management, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China. ' Department of Engineering and Engineering System, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China opportunity cost cross-selling association rules inventory modelling lost sales inventory policy. 2011-02-07T23:20:50-05:00 4 1 14 37 2011-02-07T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=38459 The purpose of this study is to explicate a comprehensive framework of consumer coproduction behaviour based on the principles of buyer behaviour and consumer behaviour theories. A comprehensive review of the coproduction literature both from inside and outside the marketing discipline was conducted with specific reference to studies relating to the private and the public value aspects of consumer coproduction behaviour. The literature review is combined with relevant aspects of the buyer behaviour and the consumer behaviour theories in developing a comprehensive framework of consumer coproduction behaviour. This study contributes to the literature by: 1) developing a definition of coproduction that recognises two non-firm categories of derived benefit or value from coproduction activities – individual derived value or public derived value; 2) explicating a comprehensive framework of the coproduction decision process. The coproduction construct and the decision to coproduce: managerial implications in the service context
Adesegun Oyedele, Penny M. Simpson
International Journal of Services Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2011) pp. 38 - 56
The purpose of this study is to explicate a comprehensive framework of consumer coproduction behaviour based on the principles of buyer behaviour and consumer behaviour theories. A comprehensive review of the coproduction literature both from inside and outside the marketing discipline was conducted with specific reference to studies relating to the private and the public value aspects of consumer coproduction behaviour. The literature review is combined with relevant aspects of the buyer behaviour and the consumer behaviour theories in developing a comprehensive framework of consumer coproduction behaviour. This study contributes to the literature by: 1) developing a definition of coproduction that recognises two non-firm categories of derived benefit or value from coproduction activities – individual derived value or public derived value; 2) explicating a comprehensive framework of the coproduction decision process.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSCI.2011.038459 International Journal of Services Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2011) pp. 38 - 56 Adesegun Oyedele Penny M. Simpson Herberger College of Business, Marketing and Business Law, St. Cloud State University, 720 4th Ave South, CH 420, St. Cloud, MN 56301, USA. ' College of Business Administration, Department of Management, Marketing and International Business, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1201 West University Dr., Edinburg, TX 78539-2999, USA consumers coproduction behaviour coproduce decision consumer behaviour buyer behaviour. 2011-02-07T23:20:50-05:00 4 1 38 56 2011-02-07T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=38460 There are few studies on mobile internet services from the customer's perspective. To conduct this study, service quality, satisfaction, risk, intention to continue use, and six attributes of mobile internet service were identified. Three attributes of them – ubiquity, reachability, and instant connectivity – were found to influence mobile internet service quality, which in turn affected mobile internet service satisfaction and intention to continue use. Mobile internet service satisfaction affected intention to continue use. Mobile internet risk neither affected mobile internet service quality, nor had significant effects on mobile internet service satisfaction and intention to continue use. Mobile internet services: assessment of quality and satisfaction from the customer's perspective
Sang M. Lee, Sunran Jeon, Sung Tae Kim
International Journal of Services Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2011) pp. 57 - 75
There are few studies on mobile internet services from the customer's perspective. To conduct this study, service quality, satisfaction, risk, intention to continue use, and six attributes of mobile internet service were identified. Three attributes of them – ubiquity, reachability, and instant connectivity – were found to influence mobile internet service quality, which in turn affected mobile internet service satisfaction and intention to continue use. Mobile internet service satisfaction affected intention to continue use. Mobile internet risk neither affected mobile internet service quality, nor had significant effects on mobile internet service satisfaction and intention to continue use.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSCI.2011.038460 International Journal of Services Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2011) pp. 57 - 75 Sang M. Lee Sunran Jeon Sung Tae Kim University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 209 CBA, Lincoln, NE 68588-0491, USA. ' Butler University, COB, Indianapolis, IN 46208-3485, USA. ' Solbridge International School of Business, 151-13 Samsung 1-dong, Dong-gu Daejeon 300-814, Republic of Korea mobile internet services service quality customer satisfaction risk intention to continue use web services ubiquity reachability instant connectivity. 2011-02-07T23:20:50-05:00 4 1 57 75 2011-02-07T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=38461 Service processes encompass a large number of variegated factors. These elements and their interactions have to be considered when engineering a service process. We propose a methodology that allows designers to design simulation experiments through which they can handle various service factors and their interactions in action and thereafter propose process improvements based on a generic analysis scheme. Our methodology deals both with conceptual and detailed designs of service processes and enables the designer to define process factors schematically and simulate possible scenarios based on variations in these factors. We present the application of our methodology to the engineering of a customer order handling process. Engineering of service processes through designing simulation experiments
Maya Kaner, Tamar Gadrich, Shuki Dror
International Journal of Services Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2011) pp. 76 - 99
Service processes encompass a large number of variegated factors. These elements and their interactions have to be considered when engineering a service process. We propose a methodology that allows designers to design simulation experiments through which they can handle various service factors and their interactions in action and thereafter propose process improvements based on a generic analysis scheme. Our methodology deals both with conceptual and detailed designs of service processes and enables the designer to define process factors schematically and simulate possible scenarios based on variations in these factors. We present the application of our methodology to the engineering of a customer order handling process.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSCI.2011.038461 International Journal of Services Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2011) pp. 76 - 99 Maya Kaner Tamar Gadrich Shuki Dror Ort Braude College, P.O. Box 78, Karmiel 21982, Israel. ' Ort Braude College, P.O. Box 78, Karmiel 21982, Israel. ' Ort Braude College, P.O. Box 78, Karmiel 21982, Israel service engineering service processes design of experiments DOE simulation customer order handling. 2011-02-07T23:20:50-05:00 4 1 76 99 2011-02-07T23:20:50-05:00 http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=38462 The present paper is aimed at defining a knowledge management programme, which exploits human capital in consulting firms and converts consultants' tacit knowledge into an organisational asset. Some knowledge and human capital management tools have been originally designed and successively implemented in the firm, in which the case study of the research has been carried out. The paper and the case study are targeted at practitioners and managers, as the whole of these tools represents a valid organisational system, which preserves acquired knowledge and makes it shareable and reusable through use of statistics and data analysis. This system can be easily implemented in different contexts than that examined by simple reconfiguration, without any loss of its effectiveness. Knowledge and human capital management tools: a case study
Rosa Caricola, Michele Grimaldi
International Journal of Services Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2011) pp. 100 - 115
The present paper is aimed at defining a knowledge management programme, which exploits human capital in consulting firms and converts consultants' tacit knowledge into an organisational asset. Some knowledge and human capital management tools have been originally designed and successively implemented in the firm, in which the case study of the research has been carried out. The paper and the case study are targeted at practitioners and managers, as the whole of these tools represents a valid organisational system, which preserves acquired knowledge and makes it shareable and reusable through use of statistics and data analysis. This system can be easily implemented in different contexts than that examined by simple reconfiguration, without any loss of its effectiveness.

]]> 10.1504/IJSSCI.2011.038462 International Journal of Services Sciences, Vol. 4, No. 1 (2011) pp. 100 - 115 Rosa Caricola Michele Grimaldi Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite S.p.A., Stabilimento: Via Pontina Km 30,400, 00040, Pomezia, Italy. ' Dipartimento di Meccanica, Strutture, Ambiente e Territorio, Facolta di Ingegneria, Universita di Cassino, Via G. Di Biasio, n.43 – 03043 Cassino, Italy human capital knowledge management services science consulting firms case study tacit knowledge. 2011-02-07T23:20:50-05:00 4 1 100 115 2011-02-07T23:20:50-05:00