For the past 15 years, the Service Research Center (CTF), with funding from the Knowledge Foundation, has generated world-class research on service innovation, servitisation and customer experiences. Lars Witell, professor of business administration, is the editor of a new book titled Service Innovation and Management.

– We have also had the opportunity to develop ISE – a competence development programme for professionals in these areas, says Lars Witell, professor of business administration at CTF and Karlstad Business School. In the book, we have tried to create knowledge that is tailored for professional development training.

The book is written in a way that makes the knowledge thought-provoking, relevant and engaging for the students. The content is based on collaborations with companies such as Volvo, Kongsberg, IKEA, ICA Maxi, as well as Swedish healthcare. The book Service Innovation and Management is published as Open Access, which means it is downloadable and available to students at no cost.

– The book addresses traditional questions such as “What defines a service?” and “How do we create value through services?”, as well as discussing the role of platforms, circular economy and phygital services, where the digital and physical worlds meet, says Lars Witell. There is also information about the Swedish Innovation Index, which has been developed and presented by CTF and Karlstad Business School over the past several years.

– As university employees, we juggle several roles, says Lars Witell. We’re expected to be researchers, teachers and engage in third stream activities. This is a project where we’ve tried to combine these things – that is, co-create research together with companies and organisations and share that knowledge with students and professionals.

The book is based on research from the projects DISCERN and SISB with funding from the Knowledge Foundation.LArs