The role of Information Technology in service innovation in the two different quadrants of the service-process matrix.
ABSTRACT This study's objective was to explore the role of Information Technology (IT) in service innovation in the two different quadrants of the service-process matrix, mass service and service shop. This study's findings illustrate that IT afford a major opportunity for differentiating- and efficiency-increasing service innovations for service organisations in the mass service quadrant of the service-process matrix, and a major opportunity for differentiating or customising service innovations in the service shop quadrant of the matrix. However, IT provides more opportunity for differentiating-service innovations than efficiency-increasing service innovations in the service shop quadrant of the matrix.
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ABSTRACT: Information technologies (IT) have become one of the most important infrastructural elements for SMEs in service in-dustries. Now, these firms show specific characteristics and behaviours with regard to adopting and assimilating IT. These specificities have not been taken into account however in formulating a research framework or programme on the adoption and assimilation of IT in service SMEs. The present study thus seeks to fill this void. After reviewing the literature on IT in the services sector, the antecedents of IT adoption and assimilation in the context of service SMEs are identified and integrated within a research framework. This framework is then applied to generate a set of twenty-two salient propositions for future research on IT adoption and assimilation in service sector SMEs.Journal of Service Science and Management 01/2011; 4:141-157.