This master’s thesis investigates the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce (SACC) in Chicago, a non-profit organization, in order to aid it with customer defection. The chosen literature contributes to a better understanding of customer behavior, and thus, customer defection, by examining customer retention, customer defection, switching behaviors, and different gaps that can occur in the relationship between a service supplier and its customers. Through a systematic combining approach and empirical findings gained through semi-structured interviews with both executives and defected customers, this study reveals that the main reason for customer defection is a perceived lack of value in their membership to the SACC, along with the sentiment that their business-oriented expectations are not being met. As for the SACC, the Board members have a varied range of views as to the value of defected customers, though overall, acquisition is prioritized over customer defection strategies.

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to find out to what extent the business administration students of Kristianstad University feel satisfaction in regard to service quality. Also, we want to find out if the impact of positive news about the university affects the students’ level of satisfaction. Approach/methodology - In order to be able to answer these questions, a quantitative research was conducted. Additionally, we used a 7-point Likert scale to measure the students’ opinions. Findings - The study found that the students were satisfied with the university, despite a negative service quality-gap. Furthermore, service quality only affected customer satisfaction to a small degree. Also, we found a positive relation between the impact of positive news and the level of satisfaction amongst the students. Research limitations/implications - The University may look at this paper’s findings and use them to realize its strengths and weaknesses. Future research may be conducted to find out if other factors have greater impact on customer satisfaction than service quality does. Originality – This study is unique in the sense that it investigates the service quality-gap in a higher education context. Also, the study brings new knowledge of the impact of positive news on customer satisfaction. Social implications - Hopefully, the impact of this study will increase the public’s insight of Kristianstad University. A study similar to this one is useful to any organization in the world, in order to establish the level of satisfaction from time to time.

Tyrimo objektas – paslaugų kokybės vertinimas. Tyrimo tikslas: įvertinti paslaugų kokybę stovykloje „Gintaras“. Uždaviniai: 1. Apibrėžti paslaugų kokybę ir jų vertinimą. 2. Apžvelgti stovyklų teikiamas paslaugas; 3. Nustatyti tikėtiną paslaugų kokybę “Gintaro” stovykloje. 1. Paslaugos kokybė, tai objekto savybė, kuri įgalina tenkinti šiandieninius arba tikėtinus vartotojo poreikius. Kokybei tirti taikomi įvairūs kokybės tyrimo modeliai, kurie organizacijoms leidžia nustatyti paslaugų kokybės problemas ir paskatina, bei padeda gerinti jų tikėtiną ar jau įvertintą paslaugų kokybę. 2. Pagrindinės paslaugos be kurių stovyklos organizatoriai negalėtų vykdyti savo veiklos yra apgyvendinimas ir maitinimas. Teikiamos stovyklų paslaugos vyksmas yra neįmanomas be vadovų, kurie atsakingi už stovykloje vykdomas programas, stovyklautojų laisvalaikį bei kitus užsiėmimus vykstančius stovykloje. 3. Norint gerinti paslaugų kokybę „Gintaro“ stovykloje, pirmiausiai dėmesį reikėtų atkreipti į stovykloje vykdomą programą, jos įvairumą, programos tinkamumą, jos pritaikymą skirtingiems vartotojams, bei svarbiausia – jos naudingumą vartotojui, kuris aktualus ir labai svarbus mūsų augančiai jaunajai visuomenei, jos požiūriui į bendravimą, rezultatų siekimą bei bendrą pasaulėžiūrą. / Study object: service quality evaluation. Goal of the work: to assess quality in „Gintaras“ camp. Tasks of the work: 1. Define the service quality conception and quality evaluation. 2. Overview camp services. 3. Evaluate service quality in „Gintaras“ campo of consumer attitudes. Conslusion: 1. Servise quality is an object feature which allows to satisfy today or anticipated consumer needs. To assess servise quality there are various quality testing models that enables organizations to determine the quality of service issues, and encourages helps to improve their expected quality of services. 2. Basic services that childrens camp can not be organized is accommodation and nourishment. Providing camp services, process is not possible without the camp leaders who are responsible for camp programs, the campers leisure and other activities taking place in the camp. 3. In order to improve service quality, in the "Amber" camp, first consideration should be given to the camp running program and its diversity, relevance of programs, and adapt to different users, and most importantly - the utility of the user that is relevant and very important for our growing young society and its approach to communication, achievement of results and overall outlook.

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This research investigates the impact of service characteristics on the importance of service quality dimensions across a wide range of service industries. In this research, six service industries are selected to represent the characteristics peculiar to services. The different importance weightings of service quality dimensions in these service industries are identified and a 16-dimension service quality approach is developed for the empirical analysis. This research identifies that importance is the most powerful and appropriate measurement to assess service quality in an industry level. Two phases of empirical research were conducted using a mixed methodology approach. Phase one -the quantitative study -uses 600 telephone interviews to investigate service quality importance from the customers' perspective. Phase two - the qualitative study - uses 12 in-depth personal interviews with managers from these industries to assess service providers' perceptions. Comparisons are made on service quality issues among the six service industries, among all service quality dimensions, between customers and service providers, and among consumers with different experience level with the service. From the quantitative phase, this research develops a service quality importance model to aid managers and academics in understanding customers' perceptions of service quality. The model is then verified in the qualitative phase. Findings indicate that both customers and service providers perceived each service industry has different weightings relating to service characteristics and service quality dimensions. However, perceptual differences between service providers and consumers were found in all service industries. In addition, the findings suggest that consumers' experience levels have no impact on consumers' service quality importance perception in some services industries, e.g. university and restaurant, and only have impact on a limited number of dimensions in other service industries. The concepts of core dimensions and peripheral dimensions are derived from the interviews with service providers in the qualitative phase. The peripheral dimensions are of particular importance for building competitive advantages.

Research question How does the customers´ perceived service quality change when an industry becomes privatized? Purpose The purpose of our study is to examine how the customers´ perceived service quality change after a privatization of an industry. We have investigated if the pharmaceutical industry´s state-owned and privately-owned enterprises deliver different levels of perceived service quality. Methodology This study is of a quantitative approach where empirical data is collected through a questionnaire which is handed out to 120 respondents. Findings There are no statistically proven difference in perceived service quality between state-owned and privately-owned enterprises. Conclusion                         State-owned and privately-owned enterprises are similar in sense of delivering customer service quality in a deregulated and competitive marketplace. Implications Our study contributes to the understanding of privatization. Privatization is a well-debated measure, and citizens of almost any society shares different opinions about its effect on our well-being, and the result from this study gives an understanding how privatization actually affects the society in sense of the service quality provided.

This study researches the topic customer service of convenience sores. Two objectives are set, namely to measure the customer service levels of convenience stores, and then to determine if any differences exist between customer perceptions and customer expectations. The literature review covers two models of service quality, namely the Kano model and the SERVQUAL model. Both the Kano model and the SERVQUAL model are client service models that currently exist in practice. The Kano model provides insights into the dynamics of customer preferences and their needs, which ensures the delivery of successful products and services. The SERVQUAL method is a technique that can be used for performing a gap analysis of an organisation's service quality performance against customer service quality needs. Because of SERVQUAL's strong empirically based methodology and popularity amongst services organisations who aims to improve their service quality, SERVQUAL is the research methodology of choice. The empirical research was done by collecting primary data from a selected group, using the SERVQUAL questionnaire to measure customer expectation and customer perception. The sample size is 65 respondents, and they all responded by completing the structured SERVQUAL questionnaires. A seven-point Likert scale was used in the questionnaire. A "1" was labelled as "strongly disagree" while a "7" was labelled as "strongly agree". The reliability of the data was confirmed by means of Cronbach alpha and a-values of 0.879 (customers' perceptions) and 0.906 (customers' expectations) showed satisfactory reliability. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to calculate mean values of the criteria while principle factor analyses were employed to extract factors from both groups of data. The factors pertaining to the perceived service has been identified as Employee Mind-Set (explaining the variance of 29.72%), Excellent Service (19.14%) and Display (8.92%). Regarding the factor analysis of the expected levels of service, the factors identified are: Employee Mindset (35.78%), Service Reputation (25.22%) and Transactions (5.90%). From the research it became evident that the three major recommendations to managers of convenience stores who aims to improve their service quality are managerial actions focussed at: *Internal training. *Induction programmes *Surveys (further research and monitoring). / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

During the last decade much research has been done on consumer perceptions in the so-called pure services with scant attention being devoted to the analysis of retail services associated with the marketing of goods. However, in recent years the service quality debate received much attention and closer examination in retailing. It is, therefore, not surprising that many of m s spend substantial resources to measure service quality and manage customer satisfaction. This research was undertaken primarily to develop a conceptual model of service quality within a supermarket context. The research is supported by a detailed literature study into the marketing of services, service quality, service encounters and established service quality models. Four central questions were formulated and answered by the study. What are the dimensions used by consumers to evaluate supermarket service quality? How reliable is the proposed service quality scale? What relationship can be observed between the proposed service quality dimensions and future store patronage? What relationships can be observed between the proposed service quality dimensions and overall service quality? In order to develop and validate a measurement model for supermarket service quality, exploratory research was conducted using focus group interviews to establish aspects that could be important to consumers regarding service quality. This enabled the researcher to obtain a fairly accurate measure of consumers' perceptions of supermarket service quality. Based on the exploratory research, a forty-item scale was developed for the empirical study. The instrument was then subjected to a scale purification process through exploratory factor analysis. Non-probability sampling (judgment and convenience) was used and structured questionnaires were administered to six hundred and seven consumers from three stores of a national supermarket chain. A thirty-item scale was finally developed, which comprised three dimensions, namely reliability, atmospherics and policy. Continatory factor analysis was further undertaken in order to establish the overall model fit in terms of the three dimensions. Empirical evidence suggests, that the reliability, atmospherics and policy dimensions are all positively associated with consumers' perceptions of overall service quality. Reliability and atmospherics emerged as strong predictors of future store patronage and satisfaction. However, policy did not emerge as a strong predictor of future behavioural intentions. Empirical evidence also suggests that there is a causal ordering of service quality which influences customer satisfaction. The findings suggest that managements of supermarkets should incorporate all three underlying dimensions in order for them to access their customers’ evaluation of their service. Although it is probable that the relative importance of each dimension and variables within each dimension may vary from one retailer to another, it is important for managers to identify these components of the senice which make a contribution to service quality and customer satisfaction. The service offering must, therefore, be designed by managers to reflect these perceptions in order to allow them develop better service quality strategies. The findings in this study also suggest the need for a more extensive study so as to validate the model. However, it provides an avenue for academics and researchers to explore and contribute to the ongoing debate on the measurement of service quality and its relationship with customer satisfaction. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Marketing))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2004.

This study researches the topic creating customer value in an educational environment. Two objectives are set, namely to measure the student service levels of the selected secondary schools, and then to determine if any differences exist between student perceptions and student expectations. The literature review covers two models of service quality, namely the Kano model and the SERVQUAL model. Both the Kano model and the SERVQUAL model are client service models that presently exist in practice. The Kano model gives insights into the dynamics of customer choices and their needs, which ensures the delivery of successful products and services. The SERVQUAL method is a technique that is used in performing a gap analysis of an organisation's service quality performance against customer service quality needs. This model is an indispensible model and a familiar methodology too amongst services organizations whose purpose is to improve their service quality, therefore SERVQUAL is the research methodology of choice. The empirical research was done by collecting primary data from a selected group, using the SERVQUAL questionnaire to measure students' expectations and perceptions. The sample size was 120 respondents, and they all responded by completing the structured SERVQUAL questionnaires. A seven-point Likert scale was used in the Service Quality Questionnaire (Appendix A). A "1" was labelled as "completely dissatisfied" while a "7" was labelled as "completely satisfied". The reliability of the data was confirmed by means of Cronbach's alpha, and a-values of 0.57 (students' perceptions) and 0.85 (students' expectations) revealed satisfactory reliability. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to calculate the mean values of the criteria while principal factor analysis was employed to extract factors from both groups of data. The factors of the perceived service have been identified as Teachers' Mind-Set (explaining the variance of (33.3%), Excellent Service (15.5%) and Display (12.5%). Regarding the factor analysis of the expected levels of service, the factors identified are: Teachers' Mind-set (38.7%), Service Reputation (28.7%) and Contact session (7.5%). From the research it was clear that the three major recommendations to managers of secondary schools who intend to have sustainable competitive service quality, have managerial actions focused at: 1. Internal training. 2. Induction programmes 3. Surveys (further research and monitoring). / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2010.