This work is one of two related collections of papers in the Springer “Service Science” series on research and innovation in the service economy [1,2]. Best suited for practitioners, it presents research and case studies on applications and designs of service systems. It dives deeply into understanding services, integrating the realms of service science, management, and engineering (SSME) in the development and implementation of service systems.

One of the biggest challenges with regard to service systems, as opposed to manufacturing, is how to scale. This book proposes remedies for what has come to be called Baumol’s disease, which describes the limits to increases in productivity in services [3]. Topics covered in the 18 chapters include: service design, measuring service systems and service productivity, assessing service capability maturity, innovation in services, and co-creating value with customers. Several case examples, case studies, and implementation reports demonstrate these concepts and provide convincing evidence for the potential of SSME to improve service systems.

Several contributors to this volume provide building blocks for service engineering and management. Hartigh develops a measure of total factor productivity (TFP) growth, and a model for improving productivity that is a good place to start to define and improve the service business. Ricketts outlines an extension and expansion of the theory of constraints (TOC) to the professional, scientific, and technical services (PSTS) sector. TOC for services also looks promising for improving service systems. Additionally, Buckholtz defines a service functionality scale and a service proficiency scale that can be used to improve a service-value chain, generate value-proposition concepts, optimize value delivered to customers, and develop service hierarchies.

This book is like a giant apple from the tree of knowledge. It will open your eyes to recent developments in the emerging discipline of service science, and provide knowledge and wisdom for designing and implementing service systems.