A service network perspective to evaluate service matching in early design

Abstract

Purpose

Service matching is defined in this paper as the process of combining a new service with one or more existing services. A recurring problem for service designer is to match new services with existing ones. This process may be seen as the fundamental action for the development of a service network. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the consequences that may follow from service matching.

Design/methodology/approach

Through an analogy with living organisms in natural ecosystems, the service relationship deployment (SRD) allows the investigation of the possible relationships between matched services.

Findings

This paper presents a new method, named SRD, developed to support the process of service matching in the early design phases of a new service. The description of the method is supported by some practical examples.

Originality/value

The focus of the scientific community on the problem of matching new services with existing ones, is very limited. This paper proposes a new methodology to address this issue.

Citation

Barravecchia, F., Franceschini, F. and Mastrogiacomo, L. (2018), "A service network perspective to evaluate service matching in early design", Journal of Service Theory and Practice, Vol. 28 No. 3, pp. 356-383. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTP-04-2017-0070