Service Strategy Learning Objectives Formulate a strategic service

Service Strategy

Learning Objectives ä ä ä ä ä Formulate a strategic service vision. Discuss the competitive environment of services. Describe how a service competes using the three generic service strategies. Discuss the service purchase decision. Discuss the competitive role of information in services. Explain the role of the virtual value chain in service innovation. Discuss the limits in the use of information. Categorize a service firm according to its stage of competitiveness. Conduct a data envelopment analysis (DEA).

Strategic Service Vision Target Market Segments ä ä ä What are common characteristics of important market segments? What dimensions can be used to segment the market, demographic, psychographic? How important are various segments? What needs does each have? How well are these needs being served, in what manner, by whom?

Strategic Service Vision Service Concept ä ä What are important elements of the service to be provided, stated in terms of results produced for customers? How are these elements supposed to be perceived by the target market segment, by the market in general, by employees, by others? How do customers perceive the service concept? What efforts does this suggest in terms of the manner in which the service is designed, delivered, marketed?

Strategic Service Vision Operating Strategy ä ä ä What are important elements of the strategy: operations, financing, marketing, organization, human resources, control? On which will the most effort be concentrated? Where will investments be made? How will quality and cost be controlled: measures, incentives, rewards? What results will be expected versus competition in terms of, quality of service, cost profile, productivity, morale/loyalty of servers?

Strategic Service Vision Service Delivery System ä ä ä What are important features of the service delivery system including: role of people, technology, equipment, layout, procedures? What capacity does it provide, normally, at peak levels? To what extent does it, help insure quality standards, differentiate the service from competition, provide barriers to entry by competitors?

Competitive Environment of Services ä Relatively Low Overall Entry Barriers ä Economies of Scale Limited ä High Transportation Costs ä Erratic Sales Fluctuations ä No Power Dealing with Buyers or Suppliers ä Product Substitutions for Service ä High Customer Loyalty ä Exit Barriers

Competitive Service Strategies (Overall Cost Leadership) ä Seeking Out Low-cost Customers ä Standardizing a Custom Service ä Reducing the Personal Element in Service Delivery (promote self-service) ä Reducing Network Costs (hub and spoke) ä Taking Service Operations Off-line

Competitive Service Strategies (Differentiation) ä ä ä Making the Intangible Tangible (memorable) Customizing the Standard Product Reducing Perceived Risk Giving Attention to Personnel Training Controlling Quality Note: Differentiation in service means being unique in brand image, technology use, features, or reputation for customer service.

Competitive Service Strategies (Focus) ä Buyer Group: (e. g. USAA insurance and military officers) ä Service Offered: (e. g. Shouldice Hospital and hernia patients) ä Geographic Region: (e. g. Austin Cable Vision and TV watchers)

Customer Criteria for Selecting a Service Provider ä ä ä ä ä Availability Convenience Dependability Personalization Price Quality Reputation Safety Speed (24 hour ATM) (Site location) (On-time performance) (Know customer’s name) (Quality surrogate) (Perceptions important) (Word-of-mouth) (Customer well-being) (Avoid excessive waiting)

Service Purchase Decision ä Service Qualifier: To be taken seriously a certain level must be attained on the competitive dimension, as defined by other market players. Examples are cleanliness for a fast food restaurant or safe aircraft for an airline. ä Service Winner: The competitive dimension used to make the final choice among competitors. Example is price.

Service Purchase Decision (cont. ) ä Service Loser: Failure to deliver at or above the expected level for a competitive dimension. Examples are failure to repair auto (dependability), rude treatment (personalization) or late delivery of package (speed).

Competitive Role of Information in Services Strategic Focus Competitive Use of Information On-line Off-line (Real time) (Analysis) Creation of barriers to entry: Data base asset: External Reservation system Selling information (Customer) Frequent user club Development of services Switching costs Micro-marketing Revenue generation: Productivity enhancement: Internal Yield management Inventory status (Operations) Point of sale Data envelopment Expert systems analysis (DEA)

The Virtual Value Chain ä ä ä Marketplace vs Marketspace Creating New Markets Using Information (Gather, Organize, Select, Synthesize, and Distribute) Three Stage Evolution • 1 st Stage (Visibility): See physical operations more effectively with information – Ex. USAA “paperless operation” • 2 nd Stage (Mirroring Capability): Substitute virtual activities for physical – Ex. USAA “automate underwriting” • 3 rd Stage (New Customer Relationships): Draw on information to deliver value to customer in new ways – Ex. USAA “event oriented service”

Limits in the Use of Information ä Anti-competitive (Barrier to entry) ä Fairness (Yield management) ä Invasion of Privacy (Micro-marketing) ä Data Security (Medical records) ä Reliability (Credit report)

Using Information to Categorize Customers ä ä Coding grades customers on how profitable their business is. Routing is used by call centers to place customers in different queues based on customer code. Targeting allows choice customers to have fees waived and get other hidden discounts. Sharing data about your transaction history with other firms is a source of revenue.

Stages in Service Firm Competitiveness 1. Available for service 2. Journeyman 3. Distinctive competence 4. World-class service delivery Customers patronize service firm for reasons other than performance. Customers neither seek out nor avoid the firm. Customers seek out the firm on the basis of its sustained reputation for meeting customer expectations The company’s name is synonymous with service excellence. Its service doesn’t just satisfy customers; it delights them and thereby expands customer expectations to levels its competitors are unable to fulfill. Operations is reactive, at best. Operations functions in a mediocre, uninspired fashion. Operations continually excels, reinforced by personnel management and systems that support an intense customer focus. Operations is a quick learner and fast innovator; it masters every step of the service delivery process and provides capabilities that are superior to competitors. Meets some customer expectations; consistent on one or two key dimensions. Exceeds customer expectations; consistent on multiple dimensions. Raises customer expectations and seeks challenge; improves continuously. SERVICE QUALITY Is subsidiary to cost, highly variable.

Stages in Service Firm Competitiveness 1. Available for service BACK OFFICE Counting room. 2. Journeyman Contributes to service, plays an important role in the total service, is given attention, but is still a separate role. CUSTOMER Unspecified, to be A market segment whose satisfied at minimum cost. basic needs are understood. INTRODUCTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY When necessary for When justified by cost survival, under duress. savings. WORKFORCE Negative constraint. 3. Distinctive competence 4. World-class service delivery Is equally valued with front office; plays integral role. Is proactive, develops its own capabilities, and generates opportunities. A collection of individuals whose variation in needs is understood. A source of stimulation, ideas, and opportunity. When promises to enhance service. Efficient resource; disciplined; Permitted to select among follows procedures. alternative procedures. FRONT-LINE MANAGEMENT Controls workers. Controls the process. Listens to customers; coaches and facilitates workers. works to enhance their career. Source of first-mover advantages, creating ability to do things your competitors can’t do. Innovative; creates procedures. Is listened to by top management as a source of new ideas. Mentors

America West Airlines Strategy Target Entire Market Segment Strategic Advantage Low cost Uniqueness Overall cost Differentiation leadership Focus

America West Winning Customers ä Service Qualifiers: ä Service Winners: ä Service Losers:

America West Strategic Service Vision ä Target market segments ä Service concept ä Operating strategy ä Service delivery system

America West Airlines Positioning CABIN SERVICE Full Service PREFLIGHT SERVICE Inconvenient Convenient No Amenities

Mrs. Fields Strategic Use of Information Strategic Focus Competitive Use of Information On-line Off-line (Real time) (Analysis) Creation of barriers to entry: Data base asset: External (Customer) Revenue generation: Internal (Operations) Productivity enhancement:

Mrs. Fields Management Information System ä How might the management information system contribute to a reported 100% turnover of store managers? ä Will the management information system support or inhibit the expansion of Mrs. Field’s outlets? Why?

Alamo Drafthouse Positioning FOOD QUALITY Good MOVIE SELECTION Few Many Poor

Alamo Drafthouse Strategic Service Vision ä Target market segments ä Service concept ä Operating strategy ä Service delivery system

Alamo Drafthouse Winning Customers ä Qualifiers ä Service winners ä Service losers

Alamo Drafthouse Profitability Recommendations ä ä

Discussion Topics 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Give examples of service firms that use both the strategy of focus and differentiation and the strategy of focus and overall cost leadership. What ethical issues are associated with micromarketing? For each of the three generic strategies (i. e. , cost leadership, differentiation, and focus) which of the four competitive uses of information is most powerful? Give an example of a firm that begin as world-class and has remained in that category. Could firms in the “world-class service delivery” stage of competitiveness be descried as “learning organizations”?

Interactive Class Exercise ä The class divides and debates the proposition “Frequent flyer award programs are or are not anticompetitive. ”