'Knowledge and Innovation in the New Service Economy is an interesting book that provides a good overview of recent trends in the service sector. . . . This book is recommended for libraries supporting upper division and graduate programs in international business and e-commerce, or for those who want a thorough overview of the knowledge-based service economy.' - Steven W. Staninger, Business Information Alert Knowledge and innovation are key factors contributing to growth and prosperity in the new service economy. This book presents original, empirical and theoretical contributions to address the economic dimensions of knowledge and the organisation of knowledge intensive activity through specialised services. Specific analyses include: * macro statistics to highlight the contribution of services to economic activity * firm level survey data to identify and consider client relations * case studies of four innovation-oriented business services.

Exploring the dimensions, available empirical evidence and associated policy implications, this book investigates the challenges facing the global economy, including employment, productivity, innovation and competitiveness. It is intended for researchers and policymakers, professionals in service firms, and students in international business.

Manufacturing-led development has provided the traditional model for creating jobs and prosperity. But in the past three decades the conventional pattern of structural transformation has changed, with the services sector growing faster than the manufacturing sector. This raises critical questions about the ability of developing economies to close productivity gaps with advanced economies and to create good jobs for more people. At Your Service? The Promise of Services-Led Development (www.worldbank.org/services-led-development) assesses the scope of a services-driven development model and policy directions that can maximize the model’s potential.

Society, globally, has entered into what might be called the “service economy.” Services now constitute the largest share of GDP in most countries and provide the major source of employment in both developed and developing countries. Services permeate all aspects of peoples’ lives and are becoming inseparable from most aspects of economic activity. “Quality management” has been a dominating managerial practice since World War II. With quality management initially associated with manufacturing industries, one might assume the relevance of quality management might decrease with the emergence of the service economy. To the contrary, the emergence of the service economy strengthened the importance of quality issues, which no longer are associated only with manufacturing industries but are increasingly applied in all service sectors, as well. Today, we talk not only about product or service quality but have even expanded the framework of quality to quality of life and quality of environment. Thus, quality and services have emerged in parallel as closely interrelated fields. The Encyclopedia of Quality and the Service Economy explores such relevant questions as: What are the characteristics, nature, and definitions of quality and services? How do we define quality of products, quality of services, or quality of life? How are services distinguished from goods? How do we measure various aspects of quality and services? How can products and service quality be managed most effectively and efficiently? What is the role of customers in creation of values? These questions and more are explored within the pages of this two-volume, A-to-Z reference work.

Die Fähigkeit, hochwertige Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und anzubieten, ist zu einem wesentlichen Faktor für die Unternehmensstrategie und den Unternehmenserfolg geworden. "Competing in a Service Economy" hilft Führungskräften und Managern bei der Neuentwicklung und Innovation von Dienstleistungen strategisch zu denken und zu planen. Wer Dienstleistungen entwickelt, steigert die Kundenzufriedenheit und damit die Finanz-Performance. Der Band erläutert detailliert die Tools und Prozesse für die Bereitstellung, Verbesserung und Innovation von Dienstleistungen. Fallstudien zu IKEA, Disney, Volvo Trucks, Sterling Pulp Chemicals und EMC2 belegen anschaulich die verschiedenen Ansätze. Die Autoren verfügen über langjährige Praxiserfahrung im Bereich wissenschaftlicher und angewandter Forschung in Zusammenarbeit mit einer Vielzahl von Firmen und Organisationen. "Competing in a Service Economy" ist ein praxisorientierter Leitfaden, der Ihnen genau sagt, wie Sie sich durch die Entwicklung und Innovation von Dienstleistungen einen Wettbewerbsvorteil sichern.

Report on economic research on the growth of service sectors in the USA - covers hours of work in such industries, wages, input output, labour productivity, economic implications, employment, cyclical unemployment, etc., and includes case studies. References and statistical tables.