About the Center

Rationale behind the Center

Strategic Rationale

The two most important long-term trends in the business world are the shifting of the economy from goods to service, and the rapid expansion of the information economy and electronic networks. These two trends converge in the Center for Excellence in Service, which focuses on the impact of technology and information on managing customer relationships. This focus fits very well into the Smith school's strategic focus on information technology.

Guiding Principles

• The Center is a partnership between the business world and academia.
• The Center is cross-functional and multi-disciplinary.
• The Center pursues practical business objectives.
• Center research is academically rigorous.
• The Center is global in talent and scope.

Membership

Members in the Center are both business people and academics. Companies and nonprofit organizations are recruited to participate in the Center and provide financial support. Faculty, students, staff, and entrepreneurs interact with the Partner Companies to work on path-breaking research and class projects in Service.

Academics involved with the Center come from a variety of academic departments, including marketing, electronic commerce, information systems, psychology, engineering, computer science, entrepreneurship, and management.