Title: Service network integration - a case study in manufacturing maintenance services

Authors: Tiina Valjakka; Katri Valkokari

Addresses: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044 VTT, Finland ' VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, P.O. Box 1000, FI-02044 VTT, Finland

Abstract: Network companies, both business-to-business (B2B) customers and suppliers, focus on their core competences and acquire further resources and expertise from their network partners. In this paper, we combine service-dominant logic (S-D logic) and inter-organisational relationship (IOR) theories in order to extend our understanding of the service network (resource) integration between a manufacturing company, a service provider and other network members. Furthermore, the services outsourcing literature is revisited in order to explore factors affecting resource integration needs. The research process followed in this study comprised two phases, the empirical research (survey) and case study as the main phase. The main research question is "How are the resources of the manufacturing company and the service providers integrated into the networked value-creation process?"

Keywords: inter-organisational relationships; IORs; service-dominant logic; S-D logic; service network integration; manufacturing industry; maintenance services; case study; resource integration; services outsourcing; resource integration; value creation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSCI.2015.074216

International Journal of Services Sciences, 2015 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.182 - 198

Received: 20 May 2014
Accepted: 22 Jul 2014
Published online: 19 Jan 2016 *

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