Service science: on reflection

In this chapter, we reflect on the historical challenges and the future prospects for the scientific study of service phenomena. The growing dominance of the “service” component of national economies and corporate revenues has spurred expanded interest in service systems and service innovation. Service innovations based on global-scale information technology platforms are further fuelling interest in the scientific study of digitally connected service via cloud computing and smart phones. Practitioners and employers should be aware of and take advantage of the emergence of service science, as more and more universities around the world expand and deepen their service science-related curricula and research.