Transcript
Chapter 1 - WHAT IS CUSTOMER SERVICE?
Chapter 1 helps to define customer service and various socioeconomic and demographic trends that are affecting the way service is delivered in the United States.
Additionally, to help students understand the scope of the customer service sector, many of the historical factors that have impacted past types of service, as well as current and future shifts are explored.
The features, interactive activities, and residual materials provided with Customer Service: Building Successful Skills for the 21st Century are designed to facilitate better student comprehension.
CHAPTER OUTLINE
Learning Objectives
Quick Preview
Defining Customer Service
- Customer-focused organizations
- The concept of customer service
- Post World War II service
- The shift to service
Growth of the Service Sector
Impact of the Economy
- Quantity of jobs being created
- Distribution of jobs
- Quality of service jobs
Addressing the Changes
Societal Factors Impacting Customer Service
Shifts in the population profile
- Increased efficiency in technology
- Globalization of the economy
- Deregulation of many industries
- Geo-political changes
- Increase in the number of white collar-workers
- Socio-economic programs
Welfare to Work Partnership
Workforce Investment Act of 1998
- More women entering the workforce
- A more diverse population entering the workforce
- More older workers entering the workforce
- Desire to better use of leisure time
- Expectation of quality service
- Better educated customers
- Increased number of small businesses
- Growth of e-commerce
The Customer Service Environment
- The customer
Internal customers
External customers
- Organizational culture
- Human Resources
Customer Service/Member Support Clerk
Customer Service Representative/Member Counselor
Data entry/Order clerk
Senior Customer Service Representative/Member Counselor
Service Technicians or Professionals
Inbound/Outbound Telemarketing Specialist
- Product/deliverables
- Delivery systems
Industry standards
Customer expectations
Capabilities
Costs
Current and projected requirements
- Service
Why Should Organizations Provide Good Service?
Chapter Summary
Service in Action
Key Terms & Concepts
Chapter Review Questions
Search It Out
Face to Face
Planning to Serve
Instructional Suggestions
This chapter sets the tone for understanding the nature, scope and history of customer service. Depending on students’ level of knowledge or expertise, you may want to bring in additional articles or information on the field of customer service. Additionally, as suggested in the Search It Out activity in the chapter, you may want to have them do some Internet research and report findings in the classroom.
Since this is likely the first meeting with the group, you may want to do some type of creative, fun activity as an icebreaker to help them get to know one another and share their goals for the class. The following is a list of resources that contain such activities.
Eitington, J.E., The Winning Trainer, Gulf Publishing Co., Houston, Tx, 1989.
Lucas, R.W., The Creative Training Idea Book: Inspired Tips & Techniques for
Engaging and Effective Learning, AMACOM, New York, NY, 2003.
Newstrom, J.W. and Scannell, E.E., Games Trainers Play, McGraw-Hill, Inc., New
York, NY, 1980.
Scannell, E.E. and Newstrom, J.W., More Games Trainers Play, McGraw Hill, Inc,
New York, NY, 1983.
Scannell, E.E. and Newstrom, J.W., Still More Games Trainers Play, McGraw
Hill, Inc., New York, NY, 1991.
Scannell, E.E. and Newstrom, J.W., Even More Games Trainers Play, McGraw Hill, Inc., New York, NY, 1994.
Silberman, M., 101 Ways to Make Training Active, Pfeiffer & Co., San Diego, CA,
1995.
In addition to activities listed throughout the chapter, here are some optional learning experiences you may want to consider using to supplement or replace those in the chapter.
Begin the program by dividing learners into equal groups and giving each a marker and sheet of newsprint (flipchart paper). Ask each group to brainstorm a list of factors they believe describe sound customer service.
Gather additional reference material; then lead a discussion on the economic shifts that are affecting jobs in today's society. Get input of personal experiences from learners.
Contact local businesses of varying size to find out if and how each of the reasons for the shift to service outlined in the chapter have impacted their organization and industry. Use the results you obtain for an in-class discussion or activity.
Assign an out-of-class activity for learners to gather additional articles or information about chapter-related topics. Have them write a brief (no more than one typed page) summary of the article.
Have learners conduct field research and write a brief report before the next meeting. The focus might be to visit an organization or business and observe factors related to chapter content (e.g. makeup of employees --- age, race, sex, forms of business, products/services offered, as opposed to those in the past).
Have learners contact someone currently working in an organization to interview them. They can report their findings to the class during their second meeting. The following questions can be used as a basis for an interview or you can develop others, depending on your desired focus.
- How long have you been in customer service?
- Who makes up your primary customer base (internal, external, or combination)?
- For what product(s) or service(s) do you provide support?
- How many customers do you (does your organization) service daily?
- In your view, how important are basic communication skills in customer service? Explain.
- Is most of your service over the phone or in person?
- What has been your biggest customer service challenge in the past year? Ever?
- What trends are you seeing in customer service today?
- What one piece of advice would you give someone starting out in customer service today?
Lesson Notes
The following are specific instructional strategies and notes related to Chapter 1 – What is Customer Service? Show PowerPoint 1-2 – What is Customer Service? that you can use to facilitate the class.
Consider beginning your first class with an opening icebreaker activity to allow students to get to know one another, as suggested in the Instructional Suggestions section above. The bibliography lists several books that offer such activities.
QUOTE
You may want to draw attention to the quote at the beginning of the chapter and relate it to the text content
Instructor Note 1-1: Show PowerPoint 1-3- Learning Objectives and discuss the chapter objectives and how you plan to cover the material.
Chapter Learning Objectives
At the end of this chapter, and when applying the information within, you will be able to:
Define customer service
Identify the socioeconomic and demographic changes that have influenced
customer service
Recognize factors responsible for a shift to a service culture
List the six major components of a customer-focused environment
Quick Preview ANSWERS
Instructor Note 1-2: Have students complete the Quick quiz, then review the questions and provide correct answers. Tie into chapter objectives and material they will read.
Quick Preview Answers:
True
False
True
True
False
True
False
True
True
True
True
True
Defining Customer Service
Instructor Note 1-3: Use PowerPoint 1-4 – Customer Service to define the term “Customer Service” and lead a brief introductory discussion on customer service and offer a working definition.
Divide students into equal groups and have them work together to discuss how they feel about customer organizations with which they are familiar (e.g. positive, negative, or neutral).
ASK: Do you believe that most organizations are customer focused?
After approximately 15 minutes, bring the class together to compare responses.
Customer-focused organizations
Instructor Note 1-5: Use PowerPoint 1-5 - Customer-Focused Organizations to review each factor for a customer-focused organization. Ask participants for examples that illustrate each point being presented.
Spend a brief amount of time discussing the common factors related to customer-focused organizations:
They have internal and external customers.
Their focus is on determining and meeting customer needs.
Information, products, and services are easily accessible.
Policies are in place to allow employee decision-making.
Management and systems support and reward employees.
Reevaluation of business strategies and systems is ongoing.
The Concept of Customer Service
Spend a brief amount of time discussing some of the historical trends in customer service:
Evolved from meager beginnings.
Small artisans and business owners served neighbors.
No multinational chains.
Many small towns had their own service providers (e.g. general store, blacksmith, barber, boarding house, restaurant).
Peddlers went from town to town.
Products were often bartered and traded in “cottage industries.”
Expanded transportation systems started to change patterns of service.
As larger cities and industries developed and mail systems improved so did service delivery.
Post World War II Service
Briefly discuss some changes in the service industry following the war. Some of the reason for this was the large number of returning military and the focus of the Administration to provide economical housing. There was a period of consumer demand that had been pent up during the war and its release spawned new industries and development along with the need to provide services.
The Shift to Service
Instructor Note 1-6: Use PowerPoint 1-6 and 1-7 – Shift to Service to show the types of job shifts occurring since WWII. Ask students if they have seen these or others occurring. Discuss any examples they provide.
Focus on the shift from manufacturing to a service economy. Also relate information about the development of international service standards. You may want to gather or have students gather information on such standards (e.g. ISO 9000 series and related standards).
Instructor Note 1-7: Refer to the Work It Out 1-1- Improving Service Quality and have students (either individually or in small groups) think about or discuss the questions. Debrief the activity.
GROWTH OF THE SERVICE SECTOR
Refer to Figures 1-2 – Fastest Growing Occupations, 2000-2010 and 1-3 –Occupations with the Largest Growth, 2000-2010 while providing an overview of how the service industry is growing and changing.
Instructor Note 1-8:
ASK: Do you think the number and types of customer service jobs will continue to grow? Why or why not?
Instructor Note 1-9: Review the different industries reflected in Figure 1-2- Fastest Growing Occupations, 2000-2010 and add any information you have on the fields. Also, solicit input on experiences the students have with the fields.
Impact of the Economy
Instructor Note 1-10: Use PowerPoint 1-8 - Impact of the Economy to address the elements under Impact of the Economy. As part of your discussion, include future assignments/jobs for downsized employees. You may want to assign an out of class research activity for students to identify sources of employment for newly downsized workers (e.g. industries or fields that are growing and need people).
Talk about the two trends in service job development that have resulted from the ease of transmission of information via technology:
Jobs can be geographically situated away from central manufacturing and transportation areas.
Telecommuting
Do a quick overview of the factors that impact the economy that economists have identified:
Overall quantity of jobs created
Distribution of jobs among industries, occupations, geographic areas, and organizations of different size
Quality of jobs
Quantity of jobs being created
Overview the changes in the economy that are driving the creation of news service jobs (e.g. lowered interest rates, higher consumer demand, and technological innovations that lead to need for more people to maintain and operate equipment.
Distribution of jobs
Discuss the distribution of jobs across the United States. Stress that due to technology and mobility of society, organizations are no longer locked into larger urban geographic areas. Products and people are more easily accessed through the use of technology and improved transportation systems.
Quality of service jobs
Focus on various factors related to obtaining a quality job:
A need for job seekers to evaluate jobs carefully by comparing pay, benefits, job security, opportunity for personal advancement and professional growth, required amount of travel, work environment, structure of job and occupational safety.
Better education and training
Professional networking
ADDRESSING THE CHANGES
Instructor Note 1-11: Use PowerPoint 1-9 – Addressing the Changes
Discuss briefly how some organizations are addressing societal changes in order to provide better service.
Talk about the need for organizations to strive to reinvent themselves in order to capture and hold loyal customers.
Overview the concept of “learning organizations”:
Use knowledge as basis for competitiveness
Provide ongoing training and development opportunities to employees
Has reward systems in place
Learn from mistakes and adapt accordingly
Trains all employees to spot potential problems and deal with them
Allows employees to do whatever necessary to satisfy customers
Management trains and educates employees on techniques and policies to help serve customers
Employees are given authority to act without management authorization
SOCIETAL FACTORS AFFECTING CUSTOMER SERVICE
Spend some time discussing the changes in the makeup of the U.S. society and how these are impacting the service sector and customers in general.
Instructor Note 1-12: Use PowerPoint slide 1-10 - Societal Factors Impacting Customer Service (1) to review the various societal factors affecting customer service. As you review each point, ask for comments and examples based on the personal experiences of students related to that factor.
Shifts in Population Profile
Between 1990-2000 the United States saw its largest ever census-to-census growth in population with 33 million people. A major residual effect of this spurt is a larger customer base for organizations in all industries.
Instructor Note 1-13:
Use Figure 1-5 – United States: Persons per Square Mile, 2000 to point out how the population in the U.S. is growing and how shifts of the population are occurring.
Increased efficiency in technology
Talk about resulting outcomes related to technology development:
Increase in the number of service organizations developing to care for the technology
Decrease in manufacturing and blue-collar jobs
Globalization of the economy
Discuss the impact of lowering of trade barriers and ‘globalization” of the economy through advances in technology, communications, diplomacy, and transportation.
Instructor Note 1-14:
ASK: What do you think has been the most significant world event that has influenced customer service in the United States? Why?
Instructor Note 1-15: Have students complete the Work It Out 1-2 - Personal Exposure to the Global Trend. Once they have done so, solicit their answers and flip chart them. Discuss the fact that they are typical of the consumers in today’s workplace. Reinforce the concept that global competition has led to access of many foreign products.
Deregulation of many industries
Talk about the impact that deregulation has had on the development of new organizations and customer service delivery. Solicit examples and ideas from students.
Geo-political changes
Overview some of the major world events that have helped reshape the economy and the types of jobs being developed:
Cuba (embargo and current trend to more Americans going to Cuba to visit)
Vietnam (war and subsequent reestablishment of relations)
Iran/Iraq military interventions and political initiatives
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
USSR breakup and subsequent events related to establishing business ties
Relations with China/Hong Kong and their result (e.g. Disney contract to put theme park in Hong Kong)
Economic breakdowns in Asia and the benefits/down sides for U.S. businesses
Instructor Note 1-16:
ASK: Are these geo-political changes good or bad? Why do you believe or not believe this?
Lead a discussion as to how students feel about the issues surfaced. Discuss the ramifications of people who believe that it is all good, and those who believe it is all bad (e.g. If they feel that opening borders and lowering restrictions is bad, point out that the U.S. could revert to an isolationist political environment similar to years ago in which it insulated itself to outside influence and “minded its own affairs”). This could lead to reduced competition and sharing of ideas, products, services, and resources. (On the other hand, being too open and lowering restrictions too far could lead to an avalanche of overseas products and services flooding the U.S. underselling and undermining U.S. companies). You may want to consider getting an economics instructor to come in to discuss some of these issues.
Show PowerPoint slide 1-11 - Societal Factors Impacting Customer Service (2)
Increase in the number of white-collar workers
Discuss how more people joining the workforce in jobs other than manufacturing, mining, and farming and that require working longer hours has created a need for service industries (e.g. laundries, home maintenance, childcare, shopping, running errands, feeding the family).
Socio-economic programs
Provide an overview of some of the social programs in place to help employ and train workers:
Welfare to Work Partnership
National, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization created to encourage and assist business which hire former public assistance individuals.
Founded by United Airlines, Burger King, Monsanto, UPS, and Sprint.
Workforce Investment Act of 1998
Signed into law by President Bill Clinton.
Replaces Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) of 1982.
By 2000 each state was to established a Workforce Investment Board.
Provides job seekers with a broad range of services.
Instructor Note 1-17: If available in your vicinity, you may want to have someone from the Health and Human Services Department come in to speak about the Welfare to Work program. Have him or her focus on the impact the program is having on increasing the labor pool in the service industry. If this is not possible, consider either gathering information yourself or assigning an out-of-class project for individual students or teams to research the topic and present findings.
More women entering the workforce
Discuss the trend of more women coming into the workforce and the impact this is having in creating a need for additional service support jobs.
Stress how traditionally women were in the home performing various service tasks (e.g. cooking, childcare, cleaning, lawn maintenance, and others), but that these services are now being purchased.
According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, women are entering the workforce in larger numbers than men.
A more diverse population is entering the workforce
Instructor Note 1-18: Lead a brief discussion on people of color in the workplace. Solicit views of the impact this trend has had and will have.
During 1996-2006 projections are that Hispanics will enter the workforce at a faster pace until their numbers equal that of black employees. During the same period, white non-Hispanics will see their numbers drop from 75 to 73 percent of the labor force.
Asians and other people of color will account for 5 percent of the workers.
Discuss the impact that this trend is having as workers from other cultures enter the workforce, bringing with them differing values, work ethics, and beliefs.
Instructor Note 1-19: Continue to review the remaining points using PowerPoint 1-12 - Societal Factors Impacting Customer Service (3).
More older workers entering the workforce
Discuss the aging of the “baby boomers” and other factors accounting for increasing numbers of older workers entering or reentering the workforce:
Economic necessity
Desire for contact with others
Failing Social Security system
Instructor Note 1-20:
ASK: How do you feel about the changing workplace demographics? Why do you feel this way?
Use the response to this question to lead a discussion as to how students feel about changes in the labor population. Refer to Figure 1-6 – Civilian Labor Force 1990-2000 and Projected 2010 to help stimulate ideas.
Desire to better use leisure time
Lead a discussion on the factors driving more people to want to enjoy life, thereby stimulating their need for service industries (e.g. desire to relax, enjoyment of children and grandchildren, and doing things they value.)
Instructor Note 1-21:
ASK: How has your selection of products and services been influenced by your desire for more and better leisure time?
Have students relate ways in which their buying habits are influenced by their desire to have more leisure time and less stress in their life.
Expectation of quality service
Solicit ideas on the expectations that students have related to service quality. Tie this into a discussion on how consumer demands for better service drives a quality initiative among competing service providers.
Better educated customers
Give examples of how consumers are better educated and informed. Solicit examples from students related to ways that customer service organizations and advocacy groups educate and inform consumers.
Increased number of small businesses
The number of small businesses grows each year as more people leave corporate America to start their own companies. This is impacting the number and types of service jobs and the need for new and different services.
Growth of e-commerce
Briefly talk about the phenomenal growth of trade and information through the Internet and other technology. Remind students that this topic will be examined in Chapter 9.
Instructor Note 1-22: Give students 10 minutes to complete Worksheet 1-1 -Your Perceptions (http://www.mhhe.com/lucas05). Once finished, divide the group into equal teams and have them discuss their answers with peers. At the end of that time, regroup the class and ask for a couple of examples for each question. Answer questions that they have.
The Customer Service Environment
Instructor Note 1-23: Use PowerPoint 1-13 – Components of a Customer-Focused Environment and Figure 1-7 – Components of a Customer-Focused Environment to discuss the six factors that contribute to a customer service environment:
1. The customer
2. Organizational culture
3. Human resources
4. Product/deliverable
5. Delivery systems
Service
As each component of the Customer Service Environment is displayed on Power Point 1-9 - The Customer Service Environment , add additional examples. For components 2-6 ask students if they have seen the component play an important role in providing quality service as a provider or consumer. If they say yes, ask for personal examples. Stress that the customer is the center of a customer environment and drives all activities and actions.
The customer
Around the customer, all other aspects of the service
organization revolve. Without the customer, there is no reason for any
organization to exist. And, since all employees have customers, either internal or
external, there must be a continuing consciousness of the need to provide
exceptional, enthusiastic customer service. As stated by Karl Albrecht and Ron
Zemke in their 1990 book Service America, "If you're not serving the customer,
you'd better be serving someone who is." This is true because if you aren't
providing stellar support and service to internal customers, external customers
usually suffer.
Internal customers
Discuss internal customers (e.g. peers, co-workers, bosses, and employees) and their interaction with typical customer service providers.
Instructor Note 1-24: After having students develop a list of internal customers using the Work It Out 1 -3 – Who Are My Internal Customers activity, have them share titles of the people they have listed. Discuss how customers can be found at all levels of the organization, from the CEO down.
External customers
Discuss external customers and who might fall into that category (e.g. vendors, suppliers, customers, and other businesses)
Instructor Note 1-25: Have students respond to the Work It Out 1-4 – Types of Service. Then elicit and flip chart a list of services students typically use on any given day. This will serve as a basis for discussion on the types of services typically offered in the business world today. Also have them offer ideas on how the list they generated relates to the services they personally provide, or might provide, in the service environment.
Instructor Note -1-26:
ASK: Do you think most organizations have a customer-focused environment? Why or why not?
After students respond to the question lead a discussion on what organizations can do to foster a positive customer culture.
Organizational culture
Instructor Note 1-27:
Use Worksheet 1-2 - Perceptions of Culture (http://www.mhhe.com/lucas05) as the basis for a discussion on organizational culture.
After students complete the worksheet, lead a discussion focusing on the concept that "perceptions are reality." If a customer perceives that the service provider failed, then the provider did fail. Talk about positive things that can be done to prevent possible negative perceptions.
Human Resources
Discuss typical customer service positions, such as those listed in the text. Also, discuss how people in various non-traditional customer positions actually provide customer service (e.g. administrative assistants, accountants, lawyers, sprinkler repair persons, sanitation workers, and construction workers).
Instructor Note 1-28: Show the list of job titles on and discuss typical tasks performed by each. You can ask students if any of them currently, or in the past, occupied any of the positions listed. If so, ask them to share the duties they performed and anything else about the job (entry salary, pros/cons, etc). Prior to class, you may want to contact a local community college or other organization (Goodwill, unemployment office, or similar) to gather other information on these and other customer service jobs. Included in the list are representatives from profit (Customer Service Representative) and non/not-for-profit organizations (e.g. Member Services Counselor).
Customer Service/Member Support Clerk
Customer Service Representative/Member Services Counselor
Data entry/Order clerk
Senior Customer Service Representative/Member Counselor
Inbound/Outbound Telemarketing Specialist
Instructor Note 1-29: Have students complete Work It Out 1-5 – Attracting and Training Employees. Once they finish, ask them to share their responses. Continue by discussing typical strategies being used by companies to attract qualified applicants. (e.g. hiring/signing bonuses, college tuition for part-time employees, incentive pay, training). Possibly have a guest speaker or panel from the human resources department of a local organization come in to share what they are doing.
Instructor Note 1-30: Have students individually answer the questions for Worksheet 1-3 – Excellent Service Providers (http://www.mhhe.com/lucas05) . After approximately 5-10 minutes, divide the class into equal groups and have them share their answers. Allow 10-15 minutes for this exchange; then bring the group together. Discuss answers and flip chart any additional job titles they offer.
Instructor Note 1-31: Worksheet 1-4 – Career Development
(http://www.mhhe.com/lucas05) can be done as an out-of-class activity with results
shared in class or you can bring in a stack of old newspaper classified advertisements.
Students can then look through, then identify position announcements, and discuss their
findings.
Product/deliverable
Discuss how the quantity and quality of products or deliverables often impact customer satisfaction. Provide examples to illustrate this point.
Instructor Note 1-32: Lead a discussion on what students expect as customers. Relate their comments to customer service in general and a need to continually remember how they felt or would feel when they are in the customer's position.
Delivery systems
Instructor Note 1-33:
Lead a discussion on how the following factor should be considered by any organization deciding on a delivery system for products and services.
Industry standards
Customer expectations
Capabilities
Costs
Current and projected requirements
Instructor Note 1-34: Have participants complete Worksheet 1-5- The Customer
Perspective (http://www.mhhe.com/lucas05)then discuss their responses as a group.
Include a discussion of their expectations of service providers/organizations to help them
see the relationship between their actions as providers and the way customers may
perceive them.
Service
Instructor Note 1-35:
Which element of the Customer Service Environment do you believe to be most important? Why do you believe this?
On a flip chart, number from 1-6 down the left side of the page. Ask students to share their responses to the questions and put a check mark by the appropriate number on the flip chart. After you tally their responses, lead a discussion on why they chose the elements they did.
Why Should Organizations Provide Good Service?
Instructor Note 1-36:
Lead a quick discussion on reasons why organizations need to provide good service. Solicit student ideas.
CHAPTER Summary
Instructor Note 1-37: Spend 5-10 minutes reviewing key points in the chapter. You may want to go back through all the PowerPoint slides and emphasize points as they are viewed again.
SERVICE IN ACTION – AAA
Instructor Note 1-38:
Use the Service in Action company as a basis for discussion on why some companies like AAA have been able to survive and flourish while others that were founded around the same time (e.g. Montgomery Ward) have folded or struggle to stay competitive (e.g. Sears and J.C. Penney). Some of this has to do with the organization’s ability to diversify, stay competitive with its product lines and services, and adopt technology and new ways of marketing and doing business.
KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS
Instructor Note 1-39:
Use the key terms and concepts at the end of the chapter as a review vehicle, if desired. This might be in the form of a verbal quiz in which you ask students randomly to define the terms or describe the concepts.
CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS
Instructor Note 1-40: You may want to divide the class into small groups or conduct a class discussion of the questions contained in the Chapter Review section.
Possible Answers to Chapter Review questions:
What is service?
The ability of knowledgeable, capable, and enthusiastic employees to deliver products and services to their internal and external customers in a manner which satisfies identified and unidentified needs and ultimately results in positive word-of-mouth publicity and return business.
Describe some of the earliest forms of customer service.
Artisans/small business owners providing service to neighbors (e.g. Blacksmiths, general stores, boarding houses, cafes, bars, barbers, tinkers, boot makers, carpenters, and traveling sales representatives [formerly known primarily as salesmen]).
What are some of the factors that have facilitated the shift to a service economy?
Transportation and mail delivery improvements, increased technology efficiency, globalization, geo-political changes, deregulation of industries, more older workers, people of color and women entering the workforce, socio-economic programs, increased presence of white-collar workers, desire for more leisure time, expectation of service quality, better educated consumers, and growth of E-commerce.
Why are more organizations developing specially trained customer service
personnel?
They can provide customer satisfaction, which often increases success and competitiveness.
What have been some of the reasons for the changing business environment in recent decades?
Organizations are trying to enhance the level of service, remain competitive, and identify and satisfy customer needs more effectively.
What are six components of a customer service environment?
Customer, organizational culture, human resources, products/deliverables, delivery systems, and service.
7. Describe the impact of a company's culture on its success in a customer-focused business environment.
It is the organizational service factor that the customer encounters and which contributes to the overall service environment.
8. What role does the Human Resource element of the customer service
environment play in customer satisfaction?
Motivated , enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and skilled employees drive the service culture by providing quality service to the customer.
What two factors related to an organization's products or deliverables can
lead to customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction?
Quality and quantity of service.
When selecting a delivery method for products or services, where do
organizations get information on the best approach to take?
Industry standards, customer expectations, evaluating capabilities and costs, and current and projected requirements.
Search It Out
Instructor Note 1-41:
Search it Out 1-1: Assign the search it out activity as an out-of-class project and have students bring in their results to discuss for the next class.
Face to Face
Instructor Note 1-42: Divide the class into equal sized groups (no more than 5-7 per group) and have them review the Face to Face situation. Then, have them discuss in their groups and come to consensus on a course of action based on the questions at the end of the case study. Allow approximately 20-25 minutes for discussion; then reassemble the class and discuss their opinions. Add any points you feel are pertinent.
Note: Students’ answers will vary for questions
PLANNING TO SERVE
Instructor Note 1-43:
Have students work individually or in groups to complete the Planning to Serve activity.