Title: Long and short-term effects of customisation on the service operations strategy

Authors: Daniel Arias-Aranda, Maria J. Alvarez-Gil

Addresses: Universidad de Granada, Departamento de Administracion de Empresas y Marketing, Facultad de Ciencias Economicas y Empresariales, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain. ' Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Departamento de Economia de la Empresa, C/Madrid, 126, 28903 Getafe, Madrid, Spain

Abstract: This study has a twofold objective. First, we attempt to promote an understanding of the relationship between the design of Service Operations Strategies and their implementation, as they are driven by the customisation efforts. Second, we study the extent to which such service orientation may have two different forms, depending upon whether a company focuses on services that may have long-term or short-term effects on the customer nature. Consequently, a company aiming at raising its quality levels, and therefore its performance, should design and implement its Service Operations Strategy, mirroring the service orientation of the firm. We suggest four dimensions (Time, Space, Scale and Scope), which contribute towards explaining the two mentioned approaches. This may address the process of implementation of the Service Operations Strategy.

Keywords: service operations; operations strategy; new service development process; marketing-operations interface; service-positioning matrix; customisation; service quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTM.2004.004298

International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 2004 Vol.5 No.3, pp.233 - 246

Published online: 10 May 2004 *

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