What is a 'service'? : a historical analysis of 'service' definitions

"A historical analysis of 'service' definitions is reviewed within three logical time frames, in the context of the marketing discipline. Eight recurrent themes are identified: intangibility; the element of 'grasping mentally'; object/act; transactions/transfer; blueprinting; continua; customer service; and elemental models. The academic literature for each of these recurrent themes is discussed in detail. The review illustrates the diverse nature and lack of consistency of both definitions and perceptions of 'service(s)', and concludes that a set of concise definitions is required."--p. 2.