IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jbrese/v69y2016i7p2401-2408.html

Identifying categories of service innovation: A review and synthesis of the literature

Author

Listed:
  • Snyder, Hannah
  • Witell, Lars
  • Gustafsson, Anders
  • Fombelle, Paul
  • Kristensson, Per

Abstract

Service innovation acts as society's engine of renewal and provides the necessary catalyst for the service sector's economic growth. Despite service innovation's importance, the concept remains fuzzy and poorly defined. Building on an extensive and systematic review of 1046 academic articles, this research investigates and explores how service innovation is defined and used in research. Results identify four unique service innovation categorizations emphasizing the following traits: (1) degree of change, (2) type of change, (3) newness, and (4) means of provision. The results show that most research focuses inward and views service innovation as something (only) new to the firm. Interestingly, service innovation categorizations appear to neglect both customer value and financial performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Snyder, Hannah & Witell, Lars & Gustafsson, Anders & Fombelle, Paul & Kristensson, Per, 2016. "Identifying categories of service innovation: A review and synthesis of the literature," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(7), pages 2401-2408.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:69:y:2016:i:7:p:2401-2408
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.01.009
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296316000229
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.01.009?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David Doloreux & Richard Shearmur, 2010. "Exploring and comparing innovation patterns across different knowledge intensive business services," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(7), pages 605-625.
    2. Gilles Grolleau & Naoufel Mzoughi & Sanja Pekovic, 2013. "Is there a relationship between workplace atmosphere and innovation activities? An empirical analysis among French firms," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(6), pages 566-580, September.
    3. Louise Brown & Stephen P. Osborne, 2013. "Risk and Innovation," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(2), pages 186-208, February.
    4. Gallouj, Faiz & Weinstein, Olivier, 1997. "Innovation in services," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(4-5), pages 537-556, December.
    5. Corrocher, Nicoletta & Zirulia, Lorenzo, 2010. "Demand and innovation in services: The case of mobile communications," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(7), pages 945-955, September.
    6. Salunke, Sandeep & Weerawardena, Jay & McColl-Kennedy, Janet R., 2013. "Competing through service innovation: The role of bricolage and entrepreneurship in project-oriented firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(8), pages 1085-1097.
    7. Lyons, Richard K. & Chatman, Jennifer A. & Joyce, Caneel K., 2007. "Innovation in services: corporate culture and investment banking," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 26940, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. Saviotti, P. P. & Metcalfe, J. S., 1984. "A theoretical approach to the construction of technological output indicators," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 141-151, June.
    9. Billie Jo Zirger & Modesto A. Maidique, 1990. "A Model of New Product Development: An Empirical Test," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 36(7), pages 867-883, July.
    10. Drejer, Ina, 2004. "Identifying innovation in surveys of services: a Schumpeterian perspective," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(3), pages 551-562, April.
    11. Faïz Gallouj, 1997. "Towards a neo-Schumpeterian theory of innovation in services?," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 24(6), pages 405-420, December.
    12. Marja Toivonen & Tiina Tuominen, 2009. "Emergence of innovations in services," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(7), pages 887-902, July.
    13. Windrum, Paul & Garci­a-Goñi, Manuel, 2008. "A neo-Schumpeterian model of health services innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 649-672, May.
    14. Robin Pearson, 1997. "Towards an Historical Model of Services Innovation: The Case of the Insurance Industry, 1700–1914," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 50(2), pages 235-256, May.
    15. Janeiro, Pedro & Proença, Isabel & Gonçalves, Vítor da Conceição, 2013. "Open innovation: Factors explaining universities as service firm innovation sources," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(10), pages 2017-2023.
    16. Jon Sundbo & Robert Johnston & Jan Mattsson & Bruce Millett, 2001. "Innovation in service internationalization: the crucial role of the frantrepreneur," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(3), pages 247-267, July.
    17. João J.M. Ferreira & Mário L. Raposo & Cristina I. Fernandes, 2013. "Does innovativeness of knowledge-intensive business services differ from other industries?," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(7-8), pages 734-748, May.
    18. de Vries, Erik J., 2006. "Innovation in services in networks of organizations and in the distribution of services," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(7), pages 1037-1051, September.
    19. van der Aa, Wietze & Elfring, Tom, 2002. "Realizing innovation in services," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 155-171, June.
    20. Per Carlborg & Daniel Kindström & Christian Kowalkowski, 2014. "The evolution of service innovation research: a critical review and synthesis," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(5), pages 373-398, March.
    21. Andrew Chan & FRANK M. GO & RAY PINE, 1998. "Service Innovation in Hong Kong: Attitudes and Practice," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(2), pages 112-124, April.
    22. Jon Sundbo, 1997. "Management of Innovation in Services," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(3), pages 432-455, July.
    23. Chang, Yuan-Chieh & Linton, Jonathan D. & Chen, Min-Nan, 2012. "Service regime: An empirical analysis of innovation patterns in service firms," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 79(9), pages 1569-1582.
    24. Savona, Maria & Steinmueller, W. Edward, 2013. "Service output, innovation and productivity: A time-based conceptual framework," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 118-132.
    25. Thakur, Ramendra & Hale, Dena, 2013. "Service innovation: A comparative study of U.S. and Indian service firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(8), pages 1108-1123.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Witell, Lars & Snyder, Hannah & Gustafsson, Anders & Fombelle, Paul & Kristensson, Per, 2016. "Defining service innovation: A review and synthesis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(8), pages 2863-2872.
    2. Machado Léo, Ricardo & Tello‐Gamarra, Jorge, 2016. "Inovac¸ão em servic¸os: estado da arte e perspectivas futuras [Innovation in services: state of the art and future perspectives]," MPRA Paper 82195, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 29 Mar 2017.
    3. Marja Toivonen, 2010. "Different Types of Innovation Processes in Services and their Organisational Implications," Chapters, in: Faïz Gallouj & Faridah Djellal (ed.), The Handbook of Innovation and Services, chapter 10, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    4. Hjalager, Anne-Mette, 2010. "A review of innovation research in tourism," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 1-12.
    5. Bettina Peters & Rebecca Riley & Iulia Siedschlag & Priit Vahter & John McQuinn, 2018. "Internationalisation, innovation and productivity in services: evidence from Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 154(3), pages 585-615, August.
    6. Pasquale Persico & Maria Patrizia Vittoria, 2015. "Innovazione nei servizi ed innovazione nel manifatturiero: verso una sintesi integrata per definire il ruolo delle reti in R&D," ECONOMIA E DIRITTO DEL TERZIARIO, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2015(1), pages 203-215.
    7. Peters, Bettina & Riley, Rebecca & Siedschlag, Iulia & Vahter, Priit & McQuinn, John, 2014. "Innovation and Productivity in Services:Evidence from Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom," Papers WP480, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    8. Faïz Gallouj & Maria Savona, 2010. "Towards a Theory of Innovation in Services: A State of the Art," Chapters, in: Faïz Gallouj & Faridah Djellal (ed.), The Handbook of Innovation and Services, chapter 1, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    9. Nuttaneeya (Ann) Torugsa & Anthony Arundel & Paul L. Robertson, 2018. "Applying Configurational Thinking To Identify Recipes For Producing Service Innovations In The Service Sector," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 22(06), pages 1-23, August.
    10. Faïz Gallouj & Marja Toivonen, 2011. "Elaborating the characteristics-based approach to service innovation: making the service process visible," Journal of Innovation Economics, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(2), pages 33-58.
    11. John N. Walsh & Jamie O’Brien, 2018. "Knowledge Asymmetries and Service Management: Three Case Studies," Journal of Information & Knowledge Management (JIKM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 17(03), pages 1-26, September.
    12. Matthijs J. Janssen & Koen Frenken & Elena M. Tur & Alexander S. Alexiev, 2022. "The perils of pleasing: Innovation-stifling effects of customized service provision," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 1231-1264, September.
    13. Faridah Djellal & Faïz Gallouj, 2018. "Fifteen advances in service innovation studies," Chapters, in: Ada Scupola & Lars Fuglsang (ed.), Services, Experiences and Innovation, chapter 3, pages 39-65, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    14. Chang, Yuan-Chieh & Chen, Min-Nan, 2016. "Service regime and innovation clusters: An empirical study from service firms in Taiwan," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(9), pages 1845-1857.
    15. K. J. Wang & J. Widagdo & Y. S. Lin & H. L. Yang & S. L. Hsiao, 2016. "A service innovation framework for start-up firms by integrating service experience engineering approach and capability maturity model," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 10(4), pages 867-916, December.
    16. Benoit Desmarchelier & Faridah Djellal & Faïz Gallouj, 2018. "L'innovation dans les services publics à la lumière des paradigmes de l'administration publique et des perspectives des Service Innovation Studies," Working Papers halshs-01934287, HAL.
    17. Marit Engen & Peter Magnusson, 2015. "Exploring the role of front-line employees as innovators," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(6), pages 303-324, April.
    18. Flikkema, Meindert, 2005. "Exploring service development for understanding Schumpeterian innovation in service firms: the deduction of special case criteria," Serie Research Memoranda 0001, VU University Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics, Business Administration and Econometrics.
    19. Mahavarpour, Nasrin & Marvi, Reza & Foroudi, Pantea, 2023. "A Brief History of Service Innovation: The evolution of past, present, and future of service innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    20. Mu, Yu & Bossink, Bart & Vinig, Tsvi, 2022. "Developing a classification scheme of service innovation," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:69:y:2016:i:7:p:2401-2408. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jbusres .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.