Service Operations Design Research Articles

Quality management for high-contact professional service firms: a multiple-case evidence from Indian law firms

PurposeThis paper presents an exploratory study to understand the distinctive quality dimensions of high-contact Professional Service Firms (PSFs) and develop a conceptual model for Quality Management (QM). The paper is based on empirical evidences from multiple cases in leading Indian law firms.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopted an exploratory, multiple, embedded and comparative case study design. The empirical evidence from multiple case studies in 10 law firms (data includes 42 individual interviews, archival records, field notes) was used to explore the QM dimensions for PSFs.FindingsThe results showed that QM in PSFs is a multifaceted and continuous process rather than a straightforward and episodic one. The findings reveal three distinctive dimensions of QM for PSFs: managing the firm's image; managing the client-firm interaction and support processes and; managing the perceived value of service outcome. Further, the results showed a significant variation in the design of QM practices in a relatively homogenous group of PSFs (law firms). This reflected the influence of personnel and organizational characteristics on the QM.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is based on evidences collected from 10 Indian law firms and the research design is exploratory in nature. The future research is suggested in terms of extending the scope and research design.Practical implicationsThe insights obtained from the paper have implications for managers working on the design of service operations and particularly service quality in high-contact PSFs similar to law firms. While the study does not prescribe a standard design of QM systems for PSFs, it seeks to foster the thinking of managers by helping them conceptualize the broad quality-control checkpoints and quality attributes specific to PSF settingsOriginality/valueThe academic research in the management of professional service quality is dominated by conceptual/theoretical models for customer evaluation of service provider's performance and the issue of operationalization of QM in PSFs is still needs further investigation. This paper contributes to the theory of service operations management (SOM) by focusing on the structure of QM systems in PSFs.

Restoration of manager's work identity in service departments: the role of service operations design

Strategies used for regulating and improving service departments' managers' (SDMs) valued identity at work through viable and sustainable models of operation are relatively missing. This is particularly true when one considers the paucity of previous studies that have explored the linkages of service operations designs and the construct of SDMs' work identity. This paper, using the lens of identity theory, explores the impact of creating an appropriate service operations design, using systems thinking principles, on the restoration of SDMs' work identity and behaviour. Using multiple-case study approach in three organisations' service departments in the UK, the results demonstrate that the systems thinking for service operations design is an enabler for promoting dramatic changes to the role of SDMs in the workplace. These dramatic changes are resembled by the creation of a transformational management style, changing the role of SDMs from employees' monitors to supporters, and adoption of new discursive practices that are embracing more people-cantered perspective. While the paper introduces an interesting theorisation of manager's identity with systems thinking methodology, it also contributes, for the first time, a discussion of manager's identity theory to the service system design literature in a highly-demanding business environment.

Restoration of manager's work identity in service departments: the role of service operations design

Strategies used for regulating and improving service departments' managers' (SDMs) valued identity at work through viable and sustainable models of operation are relatively missing. This is particularly true when one considers the paucity of previous studies that have explored the linkages of service operations designs and the construct of SDMs' work identity. This paper, using the lens of identity theory, explores the impact of creating an appropriate service operations design, using systems thinking principles, on the restoration of SDMs' work identity and behaviour. Using multiple-case study approach in three organisations' service departments in the UK, the results demonstrate that the systems thinking for service operations design is an enabler for promoting dramatic changes to the role of SDMs in the workplace. These dramatic changes are resembled by the creation of a transformational management style, changing the role of SDMs from employees' monitors to supporters, and adoption of new discursive practices that are embracing more people-cantered perspective. While the paper introduces an interesting theorisation of manager's identity with systems thinking methodology, it also contributes, for the first time, a discussion of manager's identity theory to the service system design literature in a highly-demanding business environment.

Operationalisation of service innovation: a systems thinking approach

ABSTRACTThis paper initialises an effort to explore the impact of an innovative systems thinking approach for service operations design on creating innovation. A qualitative exploratory case study approach in two of the UK’s service sector departments was conducted, using face-to-face semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and extractions from both observations and documents. The results identify that operationalising service innovation is positively linked with applying the Vanguard Method for service operations design. Twelve micro-determinants for service innovation operationalisation have been identified that reside at three different levels in the service organisation, namely employees level (i.e. Micro), the functional level (i.e. Meso), and corporate level (i.e. Macro). The value of this paper is the introduction of a step-by-step guidance on how to build service operations design to operationalise service innovation, the paper also theorises service innovation with systems thinking methodology that emphasises holistic, multi-disciplinary, and integrative characteristics of the service system.

A typology of customer-to-customer interaction and its implications for excellence in service provision

Whereas the critical role of customer participation and interaction with service providers for the quality of service outcomes and value has been extensively discussed in the literature, an equivalent debate about the implications of customer-to-customer interactions (CCI) has not yet been done. While CCI are recognised as a potential driver of variability and unpredictability in service production systems, the available research on the topic still offers rather anecdotal examples on how to handle CCI. For this reason, the current level of understanding about the consequences associated with different manifestations of CCI, as well as the knowledge about what are the adequate CCI management strategies remains fragmented and largely incomplete for effectively guiding managerial decision. This paper addresses this gap by advancing a CCI typology that characterises customers’ interactions along two dimensions concerning the design of service operations and delivery. The paper builds on a review of the literature on CCI, identifying a range of different customer interaction determinants and circumstances, while characterising the potential implications of CCI for service operations, quality and value. Some recommendations on adequate service management strategies to maximise the positive effects of CCI on value creation, cost reduction and service uniqueness are made.

A framework for evaluating the performance of sustainable service supply chain management under uncertainty

Developing and accessing a measure of sustainable service supply chain management (SSSCM) performance is currently a key challenge. The main contributions of this study are two-fold. First, this paper provides valuable support for SSSCM regarding the nature of network hierarchical relations with qualitative and quantitative scales. Second, this study indicates the practical implementation and enhances management effectiveness for SSSCM. The literature on SSSCM is very limited and performance measures need to have a systematic framework. The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the SSSCM importance based on aspects i.e., environmentally conscious design, environmental service operations design and environmentally sustainable design. This paper developed a hierarchical network for SSSCM in a closed-loop hierarchical structure. A generalized quantitative evaluation model based on the Fuzzy Delphi Method and Analytical Network Process were then used to consider both the interdependence among measures and the fuzziness of subjective measures in SSSCM. The results indicate that the top-ranking aspect to consider is that of environmental service operation design, and the top criteria is reverse logistics integrated into service package

Operationalising “Double-Loop” Learning in Service Organisations: A Systems Approach for Creating Knowledge

Learning organisation literature has widely discussed the connections between “double-loop” learning and its significance to organisational performance, but paying little attention to tools and systems that can operationalise “double-loop” learning in organisations. This paper investigates the impact of applying a systems approach for service operations design, expressed as the Vanguard Method (Seddon, Freedom from command and control: a better way to make the work work, 2003), in order to activate “double-loop” learning in service organisations. Two case studies were conducted in the banking mortgage operations and adults’ social care services in the UK, using the dimensions of the learning organisation questionnaire (DLOQ), semi-structured interviews, observations, and documents. The findings of the cross-case analysis support the link of applying the Vanguard Method with operationalising “double-loop” learning through three main factors, namely systematic-operations improvement, organisational capacity development, and outside-in mode of work; that are all embedded into the seven dimensions of the DLOQ. The value of this paper is the introduction of a service operations design tool that can activate “double-loop” learning performance in the fast changing knowledge era. It also provides an impetus for service organisations to creatively influence employees’ competencies to effectively improve internal systems.

Systems Thinking for Service Delivery Design: A Real Time Mass Customisation Model

Recent attempts have been witnessed in service science research to extend principles from mass customisation into the design of service delivery systems. This paper investigates a new form of service operations design, known as systems thinking, by studying its impact on the capability of the service delivery system to provide mass customized services on a real-time basis. Four case studies were conducted in UK private sector service organizations using semi-structured interviews with service directors, team leaders, and operational employees. Data were also supplemented through the means of observations and documents collection. The results indicate that systems thinking approach is an enabler for the delivery of a real-time mass customized services. Seven different factors have been found to affect the real-time mass customization capability of the service system. The value of this paper is the identification of an innovative design for service delivery system that can help companies to provide realtime mass customized services.

Systems thinking for call centre service design: affective commitment implications in manufacturing enterprises

This paper explains the leveraging of affective commitment among call centre front-line employees through the improvement of service operations design in a manufacturing enterprise through systems thinking approach. A case study was carried out using face-to-face interviews, structured questionnaires, and observation methods to collect data at managerial and operative front-line levels. The case study finds a strong relationship between the level of affective commitment among front-line employees and the form of service operations system. The study has many implications for the manufacturing enterprises embracing a call centre to improve productivity and working experience. A higher level of affective commitment is likely to mitigate turnover and absenteeism in these service departments.

Modelling and discrete-event simulation for ski lifts service operations design

This research focuses on the preliminary planning and design of an Alpine skiing lift system in the Mount Carleton Provincial Park, in the province of New Brunswick, Canada. Linear programming (LP) model and discrete-event simulation are combined to design ski lifts selection alternatives and evaluate their service performances based on mountain valley topographical data, skier population features, and ski lift technical specifications. LP model is used to solve the ski lifts selection problem while discrete-event simulation is used to evaluate service quality indicators such as skier waiting times, ski lift queues length, and ski lift utilisation rates in the ski resort early design phase.

Research opportunities in service process design

AbstractThis paper presents an overview of the new issues and research opportunities related to four service operations design topics—the design of retail and e‐tail service processes, design of service processes involving waiting lines and workforce staffing, service design for manufacturing, and re‐engineering service processes. All four topics are motivated by new technologies (particularly web‐based technologies) and require a multi‐disciplinary approach to research. For each topic, the paper presents an overview of the topic, the relevant frameworks, and a discussion of the research opportunities.