Service productivity: Towards understanding the relationship between operational and customer productivity
It is surprising that little empirical research has been conducted in the area of service productivity given its impact on organisational costs. In order to try to encourage such research, this paper provides a structure for analysing productivity in service organisations by distinguishing
between operational and customer productivity. The paper also clarifies the meaning of "productivity" and differentiates it from efficiency and utilisation. The authors identify some of the problems in measuring productivity, especially in a service setting, and then use a few examples to
illustrate the sometimes counterintuitive relationship between operational and customer productivity.
Keywords: Customers; Performance measurement (quality); Productivity rate; Service delivery; Service quality assurance
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 April 2004
- Previously published as Work Study
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