News

By Ray Fisk, Founder and President of ServCollab In prior Servings, we explored the core concepts of serving and collaboration. This third Serving explores the core concept of wisdom and explains why ServCollab seeks to help humanity become wiser. The learning path every human takes toward achieving wisdom begins amid the ignorance of childhood. Each child begins life with no ability to feed or care for themselves. Such dependency at birth is common for all mammals, but human

By Ray Fisk, Founder and President of ServCollab In ServCollab, we seek to discover and refine core concepts for serving humanity. The first core concept - serving - was introduced in the first Serving I shared. Our second core concept is collaboration. This serving explains why collaboration is the highest form of human interaction. Interactions Our social species depends on interactions with other humans for its survival. This begins at childbirth, when the first few years

This post launches occasional food for thought from Ray Fisk - ServCollab’s founder. For more than 45 years, h has helped grow and shape the service research community as one of several founders of the service research field. ServCollab is the culmination of his life’s quest to discover how to prevent chronic unfairness in human systems, especially economic and political systems.

Featuring Rebekah Russell-Bennett Please register for the first ServCollab Wisdom Communities Webinar, featuring Rebekah Russell-Bennett. Topic: Improving Life on Planet Earth – A Call to Action for Service Research to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Date: May 18, 2026 Time: 7:00 AM (CDT, Texas) 2:00 PM (CEST, Central Europe) 9:00 PM (JST, Japan) 10:00 PM (AEST, Sydney) This webinar launches a series of eight quarterly webinars grounded in ServCollab’s Servi

ServCollab is pleased to announce the results of the 2026 ServCollab PhD Student Scholarship contest. In its second year, this scholarship continues to recognize and support doctoral students whose research aligns with Transformative Service Research (TSR) and contributes to serving humanity. This year, we received 25 applications from PhD students around the world. Following a rigorous review process, ServCollab awards one scholarship winner and recognizes two additional app

This webinar is the first of a series of ServCollab Community Webinars.

Application Due Date ServCollab announces that the application deadline for the first quarterly ServCollab Research Grant is Monday, June 29, 2026. These Research Grants are made possible through generous donations from ServCollab Donors. With these grants, ServCollab seeks to support and amplify innovative research that aligns with ServCollab's mission, one of the seven ServCollab Service Research Themes, and that is invited for revision by a peer-reviewed journal. ServColla

ServCollab is pleased to announce the launch of the PRME Working Group on Service Systems for Humanity, an initiative developed in collaboration with the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) that is now officially published on the PRME website. Humans live within interconnected service systems such as families, communities, organizations, nations, and the Earth itself. However, many of these systems fail to truly serve humanity. From structura

A Pre-Conference Workshop at the SERVSIG 2026 Conference June 10, 2026 | University of Minho, Braga, Portugal ServCollab will host a morning pre-conference workshop at the SERVSIG 2026 Conference titled “Launching the ServCollab Wisdom Quest: Seeking Collaborative Wisdom to Serve Humanity” Humanity is experiencing interconnected social, ecological, and institutional failures that call for deeper collaboration and wiser service systems. Transformative Service Research has long

ServCollab announces that the application deadline for the ServCollab PhD Student Scholarship has been extended to March 16, 2026. The ServCollab PhD Student Scholarship provides $1,000 (US dollars) to one selected PhD student to present their research at a 2026 service research conference. Eligible conferences include: SERVSIG Conference (June 2026, Braga, Portugal) Frontiers in Service Conference (June–July 2026, Helsinki, Finland) ServCollab is founded on Transformative Se

ServCollab is presenting a special session at the AMA Winter Academic Conference titled: Redesigning the Service System of ‘Spaceship Earth’ Humans live within service systems, from the micro level of everyday service experiences to the meso level of nation-states, and to the macro level of Planet Earth—the Spaceship that sustains all life. However, across these levels, service systems are failing to serve humanity and the other beings on our planet wisely, creating severe se

07:00 AM Central Time (North America) | 14:00 CET | 22:00 JST You are invited to a ServCollab Research Funding Opportunities Webinar. This webinar will explain the 2026 ServCollab Research Grants and the 2026 ServCollab PhD Student Scholarships, made possible through generous donations from ServCollab Donors. Webinar Highlights: Introduction to ServCollab's Purpose and Process An overview of the ServCollab Research Grants An overview of the ServCollab PhD Student Scholarship

ServCollab's Service Research Themes ServCollab is pleased to announce new Research Grants that will be made possible through generous donations from ServCollab Donors. With these Research Grants, ServCollab seeks to support and amplify innovative research that aligns with ServCollab’s mission, one of the seven ServCollab Service Research Themes, and that is invited for revision by a peer-reviewed journal. ServCollab was founded on Transformative Service Research (TSR). More

ServCollab is pleased to announce the second year of the ServCollab PhD Student Scholarship, made possible through generous donations from ServCollab Donors. This scholarship seeks to support and amplify innovative doctoral research that aligns with the purposes of Transformative Service Research (TSR). TSR emerged as a research movement at the 2011 Transformative Consumer Research Conference. Anderson, Ostrom, and Bitner (2011, p. 3) define TSR as “the integration of consum

June 10, 2026 | University of Minho, Braga, Portugal The SERVSIG 2026 Conference will host a series of pre-conference workshops on June 10, 2026, at the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal. 🔗 Learn more about all pre-conference workshops here: https://servsig2026.eeg.uminho.pt/pre-conference-workshops/ ⸻ ServCollab Morning Workshop “Launching the ServCollab Wisdom Quest: Seeking Collaborative Wisdom to Serve Humanity” ServCollab will host a morning pre-conference workshop

Giving Tuesday has become an internationally recognized day when donors participate in shaping the future of nonprofits/NGOs. In ServCollab’s brief history, we have been seeking to serve humanity by: Conducting research for serving humanity: We have published 27 ServCollab research papers, including 24 journal articles and 3 book chapters. We have presented 58 ServCollab conference presentations, including 6 keynote presentations, 3 special sessions, and 10 workshops. Serv

ServCollab seeks to elevate the human experience in service systems by reducing suffering, improving well-being, and enabling well-becoming.

Dear ServCollab Colleagues, ServCollab's purpose is simple yet profound: Serving Humanity. Service is so pervasive that humanity is born into service systems, lives in service systems, and dies in service systems. At its core, service is how humanity sustains itself and expresses our shared responsibility to each other and to the Earth. ServCollab is building a research movement for serving humanity. When you donate to ServCollab: 🎓 You help us provide 2026 scholarships for

Qusay Hamdan, Samuel Petros Sebhatu, Wafa Hammedi & Raymond P. Fisk (2025) In J. Ul Islam (Ed.), Customer Engagement and Digital Business (1st ed., pp. 60-81). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003508083 Figure 5. The hierarchy of human interactions: collaborative wisdom adapted from Fisk et al. (2024) Abstract: The digital age has brought new opportunities for engagement and has raised important ethical considerations. This chapter explores the ethical dimensions of

On this Earth Day, ServCollab is excited to share that we have joined the Wellbeing Economy Alliance - https://weall.org/.

Griffin Colaizzi and Floriane Goose are the winners of the 2025 ServCollab Scholarship.

Alkire, L., Hesse, L., Raki, A., Boenigk, S., Kabadayi, S., Fisk, R. P., & Mora, A. (2025). European Journal of Marketing https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-04-2024-0321 Third ServCollab Research Project Figure 2. Coproduced social impact reporting toolkit structure Abstract Purpose – This paper reports the collaborative achievements of transformative service researchers and nonprofit practitioners and their learning processes for refugee integration and social impact measurement.

Amidst an urgent need for sustainability, novel approaches are required to address environmental challenges.

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 th

Gnusowski, Marek and Fisk, Raymond P. (2024) Journal of Service Management https://doi.org/ 10.1108/JOSM-11-2023-0487 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....

Fisk, R. P., Kabadayi, S., Sidaoui, K., & Tsiotsou, R. H. (2024) Journal of Services Marketing https://doi.org/10.1108/JSM-09-2023-0363] ServCollab Special Issue Figure 2 Hierarchy of human interactions Abstract Purpose– The purpose of this commentary is to complete the synthesis of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into Seven Commentaries on Service Research Themes developed by ServCollab and the Journal of Services Marketing. As an approach to achie

Teixeira, J. G., Gallan, A. S., & Wilson, H. N. (2024) Journal of Services Marketing https://doi.org/10.1108/JSM-04-2023-0158 ServCollab Special Issue Figure 2. Weaving the natural environment into human service: conceptual framework Abstract Purpose – Humanity and all life depend on the natural environment of Planet Earth, and that environment is in acute crisis across land, sea and air. One of a set of commentaries on how service can address the UN’s sustainable developmen

Gordon, Ross and Josina Vink (2024) Journal of Services Marketing https://doi.org/10.1108/JSM-05-2023-0182 ServCollab Special Issue ServCollab’s seven service research themes Abstract Purpose– The purpose of this commentary is to present a critically constructive examination of the contribution of service research to the development of services from institutions that offer fair and sustainable living for all humans. Design/methodology/approach– The authors draw upon critical

Subramony, M., & Rosenbaum, M. S. (2024) Journal of Services Marketing https://doi.org/10.1108/JSM-05-2023-0201 ServCollab Special Issue Figure 6. Wordmap of keywords associated with articles related to service work in LDCs Abstract Purpose– The purpose of this study is to address United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) 8 and 9 from a service perspective. SDG 8 is a call to improve the dignity of service work by enhancing wages, working conditions and developme

Russell-Bennett, R., Polonsky, M. J., & Fisk, R. P. (2024) Journal of Services Marketing, 38(2), 172-189. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSM-09-2023-0327 ServCollab Special Issue Figure 2. The regenerative service economy framework for services that sustainably manage resources for all humans Abstract Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to propose a new service framework for managing nature and physical resources that balances the needs of people and planet. Design/methodology/app

Raciti, M. M., Alkire, L., & Beatson, A. (2024) https://doi.org/10.1108/JSM-04-2023-0125 ServCollab Special Issue Figure 2. Service opportunities framework Abstract Purpose– This paper is part of the Special Issue series Improving Life on Planet Earth– A Call to Action for Service Research to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This paper aims to provide the groundwork for Service Research Theme 2– services that provide OPPORTUNITY for all humans. Service Researc

Hammedi, W., Parkinson, J., & Patrício, L. (2024) Journal of Services Marketing https://doi.org/10.1108/JSM-09-2023-0324] ServCollab Special Issue Figure 2 Well-being of the human species Abstract Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore the challenges, interplay and potential directions for future service research to address the first three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of no poverty, zero hunger and good health and well-being. Design/methodology/approach– Thi

Russell-Bennett, R., Rosenbaum, M. S., Fisk, R. P., & Raciti, M. M. (2024) Journal of Services Marketing https://doi.org/10.1108/jsm-11-2023-0425 ServCollab Special Issue Abstract Purpose – This editorial aims to organise the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into seven ServCollab service research themes to provide a way forward for service research that improves human and planetary life. Design/methodology/approach– A conceptual approach is used that dra

Moulton-Tetlock, Edythe, Town, Sophia, Rafieian, Hoori, Corus, Canan, & Fisk, Raymond P. (2024) Journal of Service Management...

Sebhatu, Samuel Petros, Qusay Hamdan, and Raymond P. Fisk (2024) Service Industries Journal https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2024.2359651 ServCollab Perspective Article Figure 1. Modern service interactions impact on non-customers Abstract The emergence of digital service platforms enabled numerous interaction effects that remain largely unexplored, especially when it comes to the intended or unintended impacts on non-customers. This article conceptualises service ethics for

Tsiotsou, Rodoula H., Sertan Kabadayi and Raymond P. Fisk (2024) in A Research Agenda for Service Marketing , Olivier Furrer, Chloé Baillod, Jie Yu Kerguignas and Mikèle Landry, eds: Edward Elgar, 225-249 https://doi.org/10.4337/9781803923178.00020 Figure 1 The Serving Human Rights Framework (SHRF) (Arrows indicate resource integration within and between levels of the service ecosystem) Abstract The chapter proposes a human rights perspective on service ecosystems to examine

Join ServCollab for an Inspiring Webinar Series on the Sustainable Development Goals

Join Us for an Inspirational ServCollab Preconference Morning Workshop on Thursday, June 6, 2024 What: If you are attending the SERVSIG Conference in Bordeaux, France, we invite you to an enriching morning prelude: the ServCollab Preconference Workshop. This free session explores ServCollab’s Seven Service Research Themes, a pioneering framework derived from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These themes were developed by ServCollab and the Journal of S

Recently, ServCollab and the Journal of Services Marketing collaborated to create a Special Issue focused on Improving Life on Planet...

The purpose of the second ServCollab research article was to explore how the digital divide affects customers experiencing vulnerability.

With Emerald Publishing’s Journal of Services Marketing, ServCollab is announcing a ServCollab Special Issue on Improving Life on Earth.

Alkire, L., Russell-Bennett, R., Previte, J., & Fisk, R. P. (2023) Journal of Service Management https://doi.org/10.1108/JOSM-02-2022-0070 Second ServCollab Perspective Article Figure 2. Service thinking framework Abstract Purpose– Profound economic, social, political and environmental problems are cascading across modern civilization in the 21st century. Many of these problems resulted from the prevailing effects of rational economics focused on profit maximization. The purp

Dear ServCollabers, As you well know, ServCollab was very active this Summer by participating in 4 conferences with 10 paper...

Dear ServCollabers, From all of us at ServCollab, Happy New Year, with Health and Happiness! We are looking forward to another year of...

Dear ServCollabers, Please watch the presentation of Ray Fisk at Loughborough University on November 30, 2022, co-hosted by the Centre...

Dear ServCollabers, ServCollab is excited to announce its 7th online live event that will take place on Friday, October 7, 2022, at 9:00 (EDT), 14:00 (BST), and 16:00 (EEST) via Zoom. Zoom Link https://bit.ly/ServCollabOct7 Webinar ID: 964 8729 8088 Passcode: 111281 About the presenters: JOSINA VINK (they/them) is an Associate Professor in service design at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO). They are also the Design Lead for the Center for Connected Care (C

Dear ServCollabers, ServCollab is pleased to announce its collaboration with Emerald Publishing! "Emerald strongly believes in...

Sertan Kabadayi and Rodoula H. Tsiotsou are pleased to inform you that the Special Issue they guest-edited: " Broadening and Reinvigorating the Service Discipline to Reduce Human Suffering and Improve Well-Being, " has been published in the Journal of Services Marketing. The Special Issue includes one editorial, two commentaries, and eight articles. Guest editorial: The Triple-A framework for serving humanity with service research —Sertan Kabadayi, Rodoula H. Tsiotsou Commen

ServCollab received the 2022 ISSIP Excellence Award on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 Award Type: Distinguished Recognition Innovation:...

ServCollab is excited to receive the Distinguished Recognition Award from the International Society of Service Innovation Professionals...