Nature Of Services Research Articles

서비스본질 기반의 서비스산업 정책방안

본 연구는 서비스산업 육성정책의 방향을 서비스의 본질 관점에서 연구하였다. 서비스산업의 범위가 넓고 업종이 다양하기 때문에, 서비스의 본질과 특성을 고려하지 않고 개별적인 산업의 특성을 중심으로 발전전략을 수립하면 한정된 시각을 가지게 되어 큰 발전을 추구하기 어렵다. 더구나 산업간 경계가 해체되는 현대 경제에서 중요한 변화를 간과할 수 있다. 또한 서비스산업간의 시너지를 추구하기 어렵고 개별산업의 혁신적 발전을 추구하기도 어렵다. 따라서, 각 개별서비스산업은 모두 서비스라는 공통적인 재화를 가진 산업임을 인식하여, 서비스의 본질 차원을 고려하여 발전전략을 설계할 필요가 있다. 본 연구는 서비스의 관계성, 쌍방향성, 수평성, 조화성 본질과 서비스의 무형성, 비분리성, 비일관성, 무재고성 특성을 반영하여 개별 서비스산업의 육성 전략을 도출해내는 시범연구로 수행되었다. 개별 서비스산업에서의 향상된 발전전략 수립과 정부의 발전정책 개발에 활용될 수 있을 것이다. The current research investigates the strategies for fostering service industries from the service's nature perspectives. Because the service industry is broad and heterogeneous in nature, if service's nature is not considered in building strategies for developing service industries, it would have a limited perspective, and thus, it would be difficult to foster large growth in service industries. In addition, not considering service's nature would not encourage synergy among service sectors nor encourage innovative development among individual sectors. Therefore, we need to understand that different service sectors are all under the umbrella for service industries, and consider the service's nature. The current research considers the service's relational, bidirectional, horizontality, and harmonization nature of services, and also, intangibility, inseparability, heterogeneity, perishability were considered in suggesting strategies for fostering service industries. These results can be used to developing governmental policies for developing service industries.

CRITERIOS PARA LA ASIGNACIÓN DE SERVICIOS SOCIALES A PERSONAS EN SITUACIÓN DE DEPENDENCIA

Abstract.CRITERIA FOR ALLOCATING SOCIAL SERVICES TO PEOPLE IN SITUATION OF DEPENDENCYA society that seeks the well-being and quality of life of its citizens should promote policies that ensure social care to everyone, and particularly, to people in situations of dependency. Traditionally, this group has received attention through a network of informal caregivers, but such social network is not always able to cope with the basic needs of people in situations of dependency. It is therefore necessary to organize and/ or strengthen a formal network of support that includes services of different nature (from community-based to residential-based care). The assignment of people to these social services must be done in an objective and systematic way to ensure both an equal access for everyone and also the best fit between the characteristics of those services and the needs of people. In the current study, we analize the variables and criteria that must be taken into account by the different professionals to allocate resources, such as: social support, functional ability or cognitive state. Finally, we offer a decision-making model to ensure unanimity and to facilitate this professional task.Key words: Disability, Dependency, Social Services, Resources allocationResumen.Una sociedad que busca el bienestar y la calidad de vida de sus ciudadanos debe promover políticas sociales que garanticen la atención, a todas las personas en general y, en especial, a las personas en situación de dependencia. La atención a este colectivo se ha venido realizando, tradicionalmente, a través de una red de cuidadores informales; pero esta red social no siempre tiene capacidad para hacer frente a las necesidades básicas de las personas en situación de dependencia, haciéndose necesario organizar y/o reforzar una red de apoyo formal que incluya diferentes servicios tanto comunitarios como de tipo residencial. La asignación de las personas a estos recursos debe realizarse de forma objetiva y sistemática a fin de garantizar, tanto la igualdad en el acceso de todas las personas a los recursos sociales, como el máximo ajuste posible entre las características de esos servicios y las necesidades de las personas. En el presente trabajo se analizan las variables y criterios que deben ser tenidos en cuenta por los diferentes profesionales para la asignación de recursos, como lo son: el apoyo social, la capacidad funcional o el estado cognitivo. Se ofrece, por último, un modelo de toma de decisiones que garantice la unanimidad y facilite esta labor profesional.Palabras clave: Discapacidad, Dependencia, Servicios Sociales, Asignación de servicios

Valuing ecosystem services for improved national accounting: A pilot study from Madagascar

The present paper proposes a micro-econometric methodology for the economic valuation of the impact of ecosystem services in selected economic sectors. In the context of natural capital and ecosystem accounting, we built a four steps valuation protocol. The methodology is applied to the valuation of freshwater in the Ankeniheny-Zahamena Forestry Corridor (CAZ), Madagascar – a country partner with the Wealth Accounting and the Valuation of Ecosystem Services (WAVES). Our results corroborate the intuition that understanding the value of water in its alternative uses is a key to fostering informed debate on water management and allocation in the CAZ area. More generally, this study provides a solid contribution towards a more effective way to elicit and record nature's ecosystem services contribution to the economy.

Методы оценки качества услуг: сравнительная характеристика

The article presents a review of methods for assessing service quality on the basis of author´s classification in accordance with the evaluation subject and the purpose of the method. Author gives brief description of the main groups of methods of evaluation of components of service quality, evaluation of customer experience and evaluation of customer satisfaction; provides their comparative characteristics taking into account the evolutionary nature of the methods development. The author outlines specific features of quality assessment of service quality and makes the conclusion that general methods should be adapted to the services of different types and nature.

Soil “Ecosystem” Services and Natural Capital: Critical Appraisal of Research on Uncertain Ground

Over the last few years, considerable attention has been devoted in the scientific literature and in the media to the concept of services of soils. The monetary valuation of these services, demanded by many governments and international agencies, is often depicted as a necessary condition for the preservation of the natural capital that soils represent. This focus on soil services is framed in the context of a general interest in ecosystem services that allegedly started in 1997, and took off in earnest after 2005. The careful analysis of the literature proposed in this article shows that, in fact, interest in the multifunctionality of soils emerged already in the mid-60s, at a time when hundreds of researchers worldwide were trying, and largely failing, to figure out how to put price tags meaningfully on nature's services. Soil scientists, since, have tried to better understand various functions/services of soils, as well as their possible relation with key soil characteristics, like biodiversity. They have also tried to make progress on the challenging quantification of soil functions/services. However, researchers have shown very little interest in monetary valuation, undoubtedly in part because it is not clear what economic and financial markets might do with prices of soil functions/services, even if we could somehow come up with such numbers, and because there is no assurance at all, based on neoclassical economic theory, that markets would manage soil resources optimally. Instead of monetary valuation, focus in the literature has been put on decision-making methods, like Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and Bayesian Belief Networks (BBN), which do not require the systematic monetization of soil functions/services and easily accommodate deliberative approaches involving a variety of stakeholders. A prerequisite to progress in such public deliberations is that participants be very cognizant of the extreme relevance of soils to many aspects of their daily life. We argue that, as long as this prerequisite is satisfied, the combination of deliberative decision-making methods and of a sound scientific approach to the quantification of soil functions/services is a very promising avenue to manage effectively and ethically the priceless heritage that soils constitute.

DYNAMICS OF STRUCTURAL CHANGES OF FOREIGN TRADE WITH CIS COUNTRIES

Goal. To analyse changes in import and export with CIS countries, the difference of exports and imports with the CIS countries, cost agreements, import and export of technologies and services of a technical nature in different years. To identify specific changes in the subjects, FO and different national-territorial and administrative-territorial formations. Methods. We used methods of descriptive statistics, comparative analysis, analysis groups. Results. Built grouping of subjects of the Russian Federation on the import, export with CIS countries, the difference of exports and imports with the CIS countries, cost agreements, import and export of technologies and services of a technical nature in different years (4 more tables). Identified trends in their changes, is analyzed. We have considered the distribution of the above indicators, PHO, and on a national-territorial and administrative-territorial formations (tables 12 copyright). Conclusion. Using the methods of descriptive statistics, comparative analysis, analytical groups have demonstrated their great capabilities for evaluation and analysis of trends in import and export with CIS countries, the difference of exports and imports with the CIS countries, cost agreements, import and export of technologies and services of technical nature in the subjects of the Russian Federation, FO and different national-territorial and administrative-territorial formations. Based on these methods, we studied the place of each subject, FO that all national-territorial and administrative-territorial units as in the years and in relation to each other. Made appropriate recommendations.

Organizational Update

The burden of stroke on individuals, families, healthcare systems, and societies in Asia is enormous and increasing in relation to rapid sociodemographic and lifestyle changes in a large and diverse range of populations. However, challenges also present opportunities for experts from within and outside Asia to facilitate improvements in population health through advocacy, engagement, training, and the conduct and promotion of evidence-based strategies. With a total population that exceeds 4 billion, over half of the world’s population, increasing numbers of patients are accessing clinical services, technologies, and databases, and clinicians are gaining training, experience, and reliable information on a broad range of aspects of stroke care. Clinical research experience is improving through international links and fellowships, and health professionals from the region are eager to engage (and prove themselves) through participation in high-quality research and clinical practice. The Asia Pacific Stroke Organization (APSO) covers a vast and heterogenous geographical area, with much variability in language, governments, culture, historical links, socioeconomic development, and organization of health services. APSO seeks to improve the standard of stroke care in the whole region by improving communication and cooperation between stroke professionals and organizations in the region and peers in other regions, by means of annual congresses, workshops, and continued medical education. In the past year, we have achieved this through strengthened cooperation with other organizations such as the European Stroke Organization and the Asia-Oceanian Society for Neurorehabilitation and increased participation by nurses and other health professionals and had active consultation with nongovernmental organizations with shared commitments to those affected by stroke. APSO originated from an amalgamation of the Asian Stroke Forum and Asia Pacific Conference Against Stroke. Before September 2009, these organizations held large annual conferences, independently: Asian Stroke Forum, primarily based in Japan, had conferences in Tokyo and Kyoto, in 2005 and 2007, …

Resource Efficiency and Innovation in Public Transport: Implementing Inclusive Green Growth in the Himalayas

This paper highlights successful implementation of an innovative project aimed at enhancing resource efficiency and mitigating emissions from transport by introducing pollution free, fuel efficient and safe public transport in a fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas in India (Himachal Pradesh). After analysing the environmental concerns of the state emanating from the transport sector, results of the study are discussed, project components are explored and an implementation framework is presented. Towards the end, project outcomes are highlighted and conclusions are drawn. It is argued that public transport, as an activity offering services of a merit good nature, suffers from serious market and policy failures. It is therefore essential that any attempt to improve public transport should not be confined to purchase of new buses alone, but it should include a wide- ranging reform agenda to correct market and policy distortions to bring about a modal shift from private modes to public transport.

FUTURE ORIENTED STRATEGY FOR SMES

Low level of innovation of the Polish SME sector continues to justify the need for an in-depth study of literature and empirical research on the response to questions about the reasons for the low innovation and ways of improving it? One of the main reasons, indicated in the literature, is the lack of prospective thinking and strategic orientation. The author investigates the relationship between two constructs: strategic orientation and innovation. Paper is a literature based research, which analysed the impact of strategic orientation on innovation consequences. The review of the literature conducted by the author, on the one hand, was aiming at the identification of the methodological aspects related to the study of the relationship between strategic orientation and innovation, and on the other hand, it was to indicate the direction and strength of that type of relationships. The conducted literature studies confirmed that the research implemented in this area is mostly of a quantitative nature, where the main tool is a survey questionnaire. The collected research material is often subjected to analysis with the use of the Structural Equations Models (SEM), regression analysis and confirmatory factor analyses. Most commonly, the tests are limited to the analysis of the situation in one country, and the study sample ranges from 100 to 500 units. The presented results of the research often concern the specific sectors of activity, such as: high-tech, financial sector, insurance firms, gardening, hotels) or are of cross-sectorial nature (manufacturing and service enterprises). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.em.19.4.8098

Debunking trickle-down ecosystem services: The fallacy of omnipotent, homogeneous beneficiaries

Ecosystem services research broadly assumes that an increased supply of nature's goods and services will yield increased benefits. We challenge this ‘trickle-down’ assumption by explicitly investigating the factors that might impede ecosystem services yielding benefits to different stakeholder groups, based on a targeted literature review of First Nations' access to shellfish on Canada's Pacific Coast. Our review revealed four sets of barriers to realizing benefits from ecosystem services despite their abundance within many First Nation territories. The barriers highlight problems of access, particularly as driven by geographic location, technical capacity, markets and user conflicts, and management (of harvest and access), all of which limit First Nations' procuring of resources linked to key services. Our findings demonstrate that simply increasing ecosystem service supply does not necessarily increase benefits for individuals or groups. Realizing the promise that ecosystem services research will enhance human well-being through improved management depends on the explicit consideration of how access mediates the distribution of benefits.

Regional Trade Agreements and Trade Costs in Services

This paper analyses the relationship between regional trade integration and trade costs in servicesindustries. The empirical analysis relies, on the one hand, on a dataset of theory-consistentbilateral trade costs calculated for 61 countries over the period 2000-2011 and, on the otherhand, on an analysis of services commitments in 66 regional trade agreements to which thesecountries are parties. Despite the proliferation of services RTAs in the past decade, we do notfind significantly lower bilateral trade costs among countries having signed such agreements.Several possible explanations are discussed. First, the gaps in services trade data and the difficultyto account for all modes of supply could influence our results. Second, the nature ofservices trade liberalisation makes it difficult to discriminate between domestic and foreignservice providers (thus not impacting the relative costs they face). Third, there is no clear evidencethat countries signing services RTAs do intend to create actual preferences for companiesin partner countries. Services RTAs are about preferential “bindings”. Regionalism in the caseof services seems non-discriminatory and does not lead to trade preferences.

Betting against Human Ingenuity: The Perils of the Economic Valuation of Nature's Services

Betting against Human Ingenuity: The Perils of the Economic Valuation of Nature's Services

Social determination of the oral health-disease process: a social-historical approach in four Latin American countries

This study sought to contrast the perspectives on the social determination of oral health present in the scientific literature published in Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Mexico since 1970 until 2012.This was a cross-sectional descriptive study on the Latin American scientific production published in specialized databases between 1970 and 2012.The social determination of oral health in Latin America is characterized by the conflict among the players when seeking to overcome the limitations and traditional perspectives in health. The differences among the countries studied are explained by the existing relationship among research, higher education, and the socio-political trajectories of the countries and the similarities by health systems that have permitted accumulation of inequities in health. In Brazil, the concern for the individual and collective in local settings is important, while in Ecuador, Mexico, and Colombia the explanation based on the social determinants of the diseases predominates.The view of the social determination of the oral health-disease process in Latin America is characterized by a continuous dispute between emancipation and accumulation approaches. The scant impact of social determination in oral health obeys to the history of the odontology profession, the predominance of care policies and services of technical care nature.

Guest editorial: humanitarian logistics - an opportunity for service research

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature service operations management (OM) and its application to the field of humanitarian operations. Design/methodology/approach – The paper serves as the editorial for this issue of JHLSCM. Findings – The paper suggests that there is an opportunity for service OM academics to apply their knowledge and skills to answer fundamental questions in the humanitarian OM field. Research limitations/implications – There is a need for a re-conceptualization of the term “humanitarian operations” to include services. Humanitarian OM is not just products but also services. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the knowledge and applications of services OM in humanitarian operations research. This is the first work to identify how services OM theories can be adopted for humanitarian OM research. This research should serve as a foundation for future research.

Environment and Development. Get the science right when paying for nature's services.

Few projects adequately address design and evaluation

Social determination of the oral health-disease process: a social-historical approach in four Latin American countries.

This study sought to contrast the perspectives on the social determination of oral health present in the scientific literature published in Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Mexico since 1970 until 2012. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study on the Latin American scientific production published in specialized databases between 1970 and 2012. The social determination of oral health in Latin America is characterized by the conflict among the players when seeking to overcome the limitations and traditional perspectives in health. The differences among the countries studied are explained by the existing relationship among research, higher education, and the socio-political trajectories of the countries and the similarities by health systems that have permitted accumulation of inequities in health. In Brazil, the concern for the individual and collective in local settings is important, while in Ecuador, Mexico, and Colombia the explanation based on the social determinants of the diseases predominates. The view of the social determination of the oral health-disease process in Latin America is characterized by a continuous dispute between emancipation and accumulation approaches. The scant impact of social determination in oral health obeys to the history of the odontology profession, the predominance of care policies and services of technical care nature.

Dimensionalidad del servicio universitario: una aproximación desde un enfoque de marketing

This contribution sets out to adopt a holistic vision of university services via the presentation of a conceptual and methodological framework that is based on its definition as a complex construct integrating dimensions such as teaching, support of teaching and learning, supplementary services for education, supplementary services of social nature, recreational services and extra-academic and other supplementary services. The empirical research focused on the preparation of a measurement tool to quantify quality of university services as perceived by the students. Said questionnaire was applied to a sample of students at a Spanish university, which lead us to obtain data that confirmed the formulated hypothesis and the suggested model. Thus it has been proven that students are capable of differentiating up to nine dimensions of university services. Said results imply the need to improve the quality of all such service dimensions.

System of Market Communication of the Polish Post S.A. with the Internal Environment

Lack of knowledge or skills is the cause of the gap of knowledge and skills, or the asymmetry of knowledge between client and vendor (service provider). That gap may be filled to a large extent through the process of communicating specified values and benefits to the customer and/or worker. This process should, however, be effective and efficient. The process of communicating customer value not only provides buyers with awareness of what products and services they can buy, but also of the benefits of the purchase for them. The goal of the study is to find out whether, in fact, the communication methods used by the Polish Post deliver a sufficient amount of information to workers, who are the most important element of the internal environment, respectfully. In this work, analysis was performed on the effectiveness of communication activities undertaken by the company in terms of services provided and image achieved. An important issue is the appropriate, effective process of communicating value for employees. The results of the research and analyses can be used by managers of the audited company, as well as by the management of other enterprises providing services of a similar nature.

Sustainable hydraulic engineering through building with nature

Hydraulic engineering infrastructures are of concern to many people and are likely to interfere with the environment. Moreover, they are supposed to keep on functioning for many years. In times of rapid societal and environmental change this implies that sustainability and adaptability are important attributes. These are central to Building with Nature (BwN), an innovative approach to hydraulic engineering infrastructure development and operation. Starting from the natural system and making use of nature's ecosystem services, BwN attempts to meet society's needs for infrastructural functionality, and to create room for nature development at the same time. By including natural components in infrastructure designs, flexibility, adaptability to changing environmental conditions and extra functionalities and ecosystem services can be achieved, often at lower costs on a life-cycle basis than ‘traditional’ engineering solutions. The paper shows by a number of examples that this requires a different way of thinking, acting and interacting.

What has nature ever done for us?: how money really does grow on trees

From Indian vultures to Chinese bees, Nature provides the 'natural services' that keep the economy going. From the recycling miracles in the soil; an army of predators ridding us of unwanted pests; an abundance of life creating a genetic codebook that underpins our food, pharmaceutical industries and much more, it has been estimated that these and other services are each year worth about double global GDP. Yet we take most of Nature's services for granted, imagining them free and limitless ...until they suddenly switch off. This is a book full of immediate, impactful stories, containing both warnings (such as in the tale of India's vultures, killed off by drugs given to cattle, leading to an epidemic of rabies) but also the positive (how birds protect fruit harvests, coral reefs protect coasts from storms and how the rainforests absorb billions of tonnes of carbon released from cars and power stations). Tony Juniper's book will change whole way you think about life, the planet and the economy. (publisher's text, from Amazon.com)