Service Worlds


Book Description

As the twenty-first century begins, significant changes are occurring in the way that services and goods are produced and consumed. One of the key drivers of this change is information and communications technology (ICT). It has transformed the role of space and time in patterns of economic development, in the rise of globalization and in the scale and structure of organizations. ICT has therefore accelerated the process of continual change and evolution that is the hallmark of both the capitalist economy and of organizations. Giving a student-friendly account of the diversity of theoretical perspectives, this outstanding book aids understanding the evolving economic geography of advanced capitalist economies. A series of detailed firm and employees' case studies from Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific, are used to inform useful theoretical case studies, which also investigate the significance of increased blurring of the lines between services and manufacturing functions in the production and consumption process.




The World's Civil Service


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World Trade Information Service


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The World of Customer Service


Book Description

With global markets more crowded than ever, it is a major challenge for organizations to attract and retain customers due to the competition they are faced with. This text is designed to teach exemplary customer service thinking in public or private, domestic or international organizations and is written in a practical, common sense manner reflecting current customer service concepts and hints.







Civil Service Reform and the World Bank


Book Description

Annotation Surveys the World Bank's experience in supporting developing country civil service reforms and begins to assess the progress made. The World Bank recognizes the importance of the civil service to the general welfare of the 4.6 billion people in low and middle income countries. Between 1981 and 1991, civil service reform was a prominent feature of 90 World Bank lending operations. This paper surveys the Bank's experience in supporting this reform and assesses the progress made. The lending operations concentrated on two separate dimensions: (1) Shorter-term, emergency steps to reform public pay and employment policies, which center on measures to contain the cost and the size of the civil service (2) longer-term civil service strengthening efforts directed toward ongoing, sustained management improvements. After examining the record of these reforms, the authors conclude that the results have been mixed at best. They recommend greater emphasis on devising a coherent, far-reaching strategy for reform and on detailing the set of tactics by which these goals will be achieved.




Building a World-Class Civil Service for Twenty-First Century India


Book Description

Today, India is one of the leading players on the global stage. It is competing with other countries not just in the marketplace but also in respect of its governance structures. This book underscores the need for creating a modern civil service, which epitomizes best practices overseas and in the private sector, and exemplifies contemporary management philosophy, and techniques. Using a comparative approach, S.K. Das identifies a range of initiatives that will serve to transform the civil service into a world-class organization, compatible with strategic, economic, and technological requirements of the twenty-first century. Based on the reform experiences of Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, and the UK, these initiatives have been carefully modulated to suit India's requirements. Underlining the challenges involved in reforming the bureaucracy, the author also discusses the legislative, administrative, and procedural changes necessary to build a high-performing civil service.