Alchemy: the transformation to service excellence

Citation

(2001), "Alchemy: the transformation to service excellence", Measuring Business Excellence, Vol. 5 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/mbe.2001.26705aaf.009

Alchemy: the transformation to service excellence

Alchemy: the transformation to service excellence

E. Antonacopoulou and J. Kandampully, The Learning Organization (UK), Vol. 7 No. 1, 2000

Argues that the widespread recognition of the importance of employees in delivering high quality service to customers has shifted the focus of the debate concerning service quality from the tangible components of service (the product) to the intangible, i.e. the way that the product is delivered. Examines this shift, focusing on the role of employees in delivering the level of service which will gain the company advantage over its competitors. Suggests that employees can only make a personal difference to service quality if they are empowered to do so. Considers how this empowerment can be achieved, discussing how employees can be given the necessary encouragement to work creatively, and the ability and motivation to do so. Illustrates this with examples of US firms that have achieved this. Concludes that learning is central to empowerment and the achievement of service excellence, and points to the overlap between this analysis and the concept of the learning organization.

Quality focus says: A theoretical article with applications in practice.