top of page

Gallan, Andrew S., Alkire, Linda, Teixeira, Jorge Grenha, Heinonen, Kristina & Fisk, Raymond P. (2025

AMS Review


Five Practices for Upframing Service Ecosystems for Sustainability
Five Practices for Upframing Service Ecosystems for Sustainability

ABSTRACT:

Amidst an urgent need for sustainability, novel approaches are required to address environmental challenges. In this context, biomimicry offers a promising logic for catalyzing nature’s wisdom to address this complexity. The purpose of this research is to (1) establish a biomimetic understanding and vocabulary for sustainability and (2) apply biomimicry to upframe service ecosystems as a foundation for sustainability. Our research question is: How can the principles of natural ecosystems inform and enhance the sustainability of service ecosystems? The findings highlight upframed service ecosystems as embodying a set of practices that (1) promote mutualistic interactions, (2) build on local biotic and abiotic components supporting emergence processes, (3) leverage (bio)diversity to build resilience, (4) foster resource sharing for regeneration, and (5) bridge individual roles to optimize the community rather than individual well-being. Our upframed definition of a service ecosystem is a system of resource-integrating biotic actors and abiotic resources functioning according to ecocentric principles for mutualistic and regenerative value creation. The discussion emphasizes the implications of this upframed definition for sustainability practices, advocating for a shift in understanding and interacting with service ecosystems. It emphasizes the potential for immediate mutualistic benefits and long-term regenerative impacts.


ServCollab is excited to announce a new scholarship for PhD students in service research, funded by donations from the ServCollab Community!


This scholarship was created to support and amplify innovative research that aligns with Transformative Service Research’s (TSR) purposes.


TSR emerged as a research movement at the 2011 Transformative Consumer Research Conference. Anderson, Ostrom, and Bitner (2011, p. 3) define it as “the integration of consumer and service research that centers on creating uplifting changes and improvements in the well-being of consumer entities: individuals (consumers and employees), communities and the ecosystem.” ServCollab was founded on TSR and broadened its purpose from well-being to "reducing suffering, improving well-being, and enabling well-becoming.”


The ServCollab Scholarship will provide $1,000 (US dollars) of funding for a selected recipient to present their research at a 2025 service research conference. This can include the June 2025 QUIS Conference in Rome, Italy, or the July 2025 Frontiers in Service Conference in Montreal, Canada.


Application Requirements:

•  Eligibility: Open to PhD students from any discipline whose research focuses on transformative service-related topics.

•. Abstract Submission: Applicants should submit the accepted conference abstract describing their research.

•. Personal Statement: Applicants should explain their interest and motivation for researching a TSR topic.


Why Apply?

This scholarship offers a unique platform for emerging scholars to:

·      Share their work with an international audience of service researchers.

·      Receive feedback from leaders in the field.

·      Connect with peers and potential collaborators.

·      Showcase their commitment to advancing TSR.

Key Dates:

         •        Application Deadline: February 28, 2025

         •        Announcement of Scholarship Recipient: Expected March 20, 2025


To submit your scholarship application, please follow this link - https://shorturl.at/n5TG8     

If you have questions, please follow this link - https://www.servcollab.org/contact-us


Together, let’s elevate the human experience through research that serves humanity!

Gnusowski, Marek and Fisk, Raymond P. (2024)

Journal of Service Management



Figure 1. Wisdom crane metaphor for the ADD service systems framework


Abstract


Purpose: This article proposes a set of three service standards for serving humanity; develops the ADD (Agency, Dignity, and Diversity) Service Standards Framework; integrates these standards with human experience; and then applies this framework to refugee service experiences.

Design/methodology/approach: Building on Transformative Service Research (TSR), we propose service standards for humanity and connect these standards to elevating the human experience. Subsequently, the ADD Service Standards Framework for serving humanity was presented and applied to the human experiences of refugees.

Findings: Three service standards for serving humanity are proposed: empowering human agency, respecting human dignity, and honoring human diversity. Further, we apply these three standards to offer a set of standard-specific practical actions adapted to the plight of refugees.

Originality: This paper contributes service standards for guiding service systems of any kind in serving humanity and provides a comprehensive framework for designing and implementing service standards that can elevate the human experience.

Practical implications: The practical implications affect all aspects of humanity’s service systems. Service standards should be universal, responsive to various needs of individuals and groups, and adaptable to changing needs.

Social feed

Connect with Us

@ServCollab

logo single trademark.png
bottom of page