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Service infusion as agile incrementalism in action

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  • Kowalkowski, Christian
  • Kindström, Daniel
  • Alejandro, Thomas Brashear
  • Brege, Staffan
  • Biggemann, Sergio
Abstract
As product markets mature, firms are increasingly offering industrial services, in order to differentiate themselves and remain competitive. The general strategic view emerging from the services literature is that service infusion in manufacturing industries takes a somewhat unidirectional path from products to service provision. Based on in-depth case study research in the materials handling industry and drawing on Lindblom's (1979) concept of disjointed incrementalism, this study shows how service infusion often takes place in small steps without clearly directed efforts. The study identifies elements of incrementalism central to service infusion and demonstrates how a successful service strategy involves continuous modifications, adaptability, the seizing of ad hoc innovation, a continuous recalibration of opportunities, and the management of intertwining goals. The study introduces the concept of agile incrementalism; this concept aptly describes this contingency approach. The article contributes to a multifaceted and nuanced picture of service strategy and the service-infusion process.

Suggested Citation

  • Kowalkowski, Christian & Kindström, Daniel & Alejandro, Thomas Brashear & Brege, Staffan & Biggemann, Sergio, 2012. "Service infusion as agile incrementalism in action," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 65(6), pages 765-772.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:65:y:2012:i:6:p:765-772
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2010.12.014
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Holmlund, Maria & Kowalkowski, Christian & Biggemann, Sergio, 2016. "Organizational behavior in innovation, marketing, and purchasing in business service contexts—An agenda for academic inquiry," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(7), pages 2457-2462.
    2. Raja, Jawwad Z. & Frandsen, Thomas & Mouritsen, Jan, 2017. "Exploring the managerial dilemmas encountered by advanced analytical equipment providers in developing service-led growth strategies," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 120-132.
    3. Yi Zhang & Patrick Sik-Wah Fong & Daniel Yamoah Agyemang, 2021. "What Should Be Focused on When Digital Transformation Hits Industries? Literature Review of Business Management Adaptability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-30, December.
    4. Johansson, A. Elisabeth & Raddats, Chris & Witell, Lars, 2019. "The role of customer knowledge development for incremental and radical service innovation in servitized manufacturers," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 328-338.
    5. Gebauer, Heiko & Saul, Caroline, 2014. "Eine bibliometrische Analyse des Forschungsstandes und der zukünftigen Forschungsfragen für die Transformation vom Produzenten zum Dienstleister," Die Unternehmung - Swiss Journal of Business Research and Practice, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 68(4), pages 229-249.
    6. Ornella Benedettini, 2022. "Structuring Servitization-Related Capabilities: A Data-Driven Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-20, May.
    7. Burton, Jamie & Story, Vicky M. & Raddats, Chris & Zolkiewski, Judy, 2017. "Overcoming the challenges that hinder new service development by manufacturers with diverse services strategies," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 29-39.
    8. Baines, Tim & Ziaee Bigdeli, Ali & Sousa, Rui & Schroeder, Andreas, 2020. "Framing the servitization transformation process: A model to understand and facilitate the servitization journey," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    9. Sklyar, Alexey & Kowalkowski, Christian & Tronvoll, Bård & Sörhammar, David, 2019. "Organizing for digital servitization: A service ecosystem perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 450-460.
    10. Kindström, Daniel & Kowalkowski, Christian & Sandberg, Erik, 2013. "Enabling service innovation: A dynamic capabilities approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 66(8), pages 1063-1073.
    11. Max Finne & Saara Brax & Jan Holmström, 2013. "Reversed servitization paths: a case analysis of two manufacturers," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 7(4), pages 513-537, December.
    12. Sven M. Laudien & Birgit Daxböck, 2016. "Path dependence as a barrier to business model change in manufacturing firms: insights from a multiple-case study," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 86(6), pages 611-645, August.
    13. Freije, Inmaculada & de la Calle, Alberto & Ugarte, José V., 2022. "Role of supply chain integration in the product innovation capability of servitized manufacturing companies," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    14. Lucie Kaňovská & Veronika Bumberová, 2021. "The Differences in the Propensity of Providing Smart Services by SMEs from the Electrical Engineering Industry with Regard to Their Cooperation and Innovation Flexibility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-23, April.
    15. Geiger, Susi & Finch, John, 2016. "Making incremental innovation tradable in industrial service settings," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(7), pages 2463-2470.
    16. Durugbo, Christopher M., 2020. "Affordance-based problem structuring for workplace innovation," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 284(2), pages 617-631.
    17. Bustinza, Oscar F. & Lafuente, Esteban & Rabetino, Rodrigo & Vaillant, Yancy & Vendrell-Herrero, Ferran, 2019. "Make-or-buy configurational approaches in product-service ecosystems and performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 393-401.
    18. Matthijs J. Janssen & Koen Frenken & Elena M. Tur & Alexander S. Alexiev, 2022. "The perils of pleasing: Innovation-stifling effects of customized service provision," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 1231-1264, September.
    19. Gebauer, Heiko & Paiola, Marco & Edvardsson, Bo, 2012. "A capability perspective on service business development in small and medium-sized suppliers," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 321-339.
    20. Mar’atus Sholihah & Tatsuru Maezono & Yuya Mitake & Yoshiki Shimomura, 2020. "Formulating Service-Oriented Strategies for Servitization of Manufacturing Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-30, November.
    21. Green, Maxwell H. & Davies, Philip & Ng, Irene C.L., 2017. "Two strands of servitization: A thematic analysis of traditional and customer co-created servitization and future research directions," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 40-53.
    22. Ornella Benedettini & Andy Neely, 2018. "Investigating a revised service transition concept," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 12(4), pages 701-730, December.

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