The service sector has dominated advanced economies for years. In many countries, it accounts for more than 70% of gross domestic product, and approximately the same percentage of all employees work in this sector. To reflect the economic relevance of the service sector, services science must be established as an academic discipline. But the path in pursuit of this goal is riddled with challenges, especially in the fields of services research, service-oriented education and service-related collaborations. This book includes detailed articles and short statements on each field, written by academics and experts. They explain which challenges need to be met by research and academic training in the services community of the 21st century. The contributions contained in this book reflect the content of presentations and statements given at the first German Services Science Conference.

Editorial

Editorial
Services Science - Necessity and Conceptual Fundamentals
Services Sciences, Management, and Engineering (SSME) and Its Relation to Academic Disciplines
Service Engineering - A Transdisciplinary Approach in Service Research
Services Science - Focus Research
International Service Research - Status Quo, Developments, and Consequences for the Emerging Services Science
Research on Services: From Exploring the "Residual" to Services Science
Services Science - A Computer Scientist's Perspective
Research Needs in the European Service Sector - An Application-Oriented Perspective
Services Science - Focus Teaching
The Evolution and Discovery of Services Science in Business Schools
The Perspective of Computer Science
The Perspective of ABB Automation GmbH
The Perspective of AFSM International
Services Science - Focus Collaboration
Services Science - Where Practice Meets Theory
Services Science with a Focus on Academia and Company Collaboration
The Perspective of Informatics
The Perspective of Service Industries - The Perspective of Siemens AG
The Perspective of IBM Deutschland GmbH.