This international market-leading book, aimed at both students and practising managers, provides a comprehensive and balanced introduction to service operations management. Building on the basic principles of operations management, the authors examine the operations decisions that managers face in controlling their resources and delivering services to their customers.

Part 1: INTRODUCTION 1 Introducing Service Operations Management 2 Understanding the Challenges for Operations Managers Part 2: FRAME 3 Developing and Using the Service Concept Part 3: CONNECT 4 Understanding Customers and Relationships 5 Managing Customer Expectations and Perceptions 6 Managing Supply Networks and Supplier Relationships Part 4: DELIVER 7 Designing the Customer Experience 8 Designing the Service Process 9 Measuring, Controlling and Managing 10 Managing People 11 Managing Service Resources Part 5: IMPROVE 12 Driving Continuous Improvement 13 Learning from Problems 14 Learning from Other Operations Part 6: IMPLEMENT 15 Creating and Implementing the Strategy 16 Understanding and Influencing Culture 17 Building a World-class Service Organisation  

This international market-leading book, aimed at both students and practising managers, provides a comprehensive and balanced introduction to service operations management. Building on the basic principles of operations management, the authors examine the operations decisions that managers face in controlling their resources and delivering services to their customers. Combining a unique practical approach with a detailed theoretical underpinning, the authors provide tools, frameworks and techniques for operational analysis and improvement and set operations management within the wider business context, bringing a valuable 'real world' perspective to this growing area. Each chapter includes definitions of key terms, real-world examples and case studies with exercises, questions to test both understanding and application together with recommended further reading and suggested web sites to deepen your knowledge. New features for this 4th edition include: ·         A new 17 chapter structure ·         A practical focus on ‘how to’ deal with the key issues and challenges facing service operations managers ·         A new chapter on the customer experience ·         A new chapter on driving continuous improvement ·         A new chapter on learning from other operations ·         A new chapter on world-class service ·         Six new end of chapter case exercises ·         A new full-colour design Service Operations Management is an invaluable guide to students and managers confronting operational issues in service management, whether from a general management perspective or focused in specific sectors, such as tourism and leisure or business services. This book is ideal for undergraduates, postgraduates or executives wishing to gain a deeper understanding of managing service operations and improving service delivery.

·         Operations focused. This book has a clear operations focus and is concerned with managing operations. It explores operational issues, problems and decisions. It exposes students to the problems faced by service operations managers and helps practising managers deal with those issues. Each of the main chapters addresses ‘how to’ deal with a particular problem or challenge. ·         Frameworks and tools. Each chapter provides tools, frameworks and techniques that will help students and managers not only analyse existing operations but also understand better how they can deal with the issues that operations managers face. ·         International real world illustrations. Each chapter includes a number of short illustrations from around the world that show how organisations have either identified or dealt with the particular issues being discussed. ·         Underpinned by theory. Appropriate theoretical underpinning and developments are included in an unobtrusive and accessible way. References, web links and suggestions for further reading are also provided. ·         Managing people. This book contains a significant ‘managing people’ element, including employees and customers, as well as managing and changing the culture of the organisation as a whole. ·         E-service. Information technology, e-service and virtual operations are integrated into the book and their operational implications explored. ·         State of the art. The book contains some of the most recent ideas and information, covering in particular world-class service, performance management, service concept, the customer experience and service processes. ·         Summaries. Each chapter concludes with a bullet-point checklist summarising the key points structured using the questions at the start of each chapter. ·         Questions for managers. At the end of each chapter there are some questions aimed at practising managers, which they can ask of their/an operation. These questions encourage readers to apply the material in the chapter to their situation and allow them to understand better, challenge and improve their service operations. ·         Discussion question. Each chapter provides general discussion questions to help students both assess and apply the material to a variety of situations. ·         Case exercises. Each chapter (with the exception of chapter 1) concludes with a case exercise suitable for class discussion. The cases are short but focused on the topic and are a rich source of material for debate and development. ·         Servops.net is the instructor’s companion website for our textbook, containing the instructor’s manual and a range of presentations in PowerPoint and Keynote formats to suit a range of teaching styles, experience and time constraints. The site also makes available a series of video screencasts in which the authors explain their approach to teaching each topic. Servops.net also gives instructors a series of lesson plans and handout designs.

·         A new 17 chapter structure ·         A practical focus on ‘how to’ deal with the key issues and challenges facing service operations managers ·         A new chapter on the customer experience ·         A new chapter on driving continuous improvement ·         A new chapter on learning from other operations ·         A new chapter on world-class service ·         Six new end of chapter case exercises ·         A new full-colour design