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Creativity Versus Standardization in Knowledge-Intensive Business Services: A Real Trade-Off?

In: Exploring Knowledge-Intensive Business Services

Author

Listed:
  • Marco Bettiol
  • Eleonora Maria
  • Roberto Grandinetti

Abstract

In the literature on knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS), scholars have debated the role and extent of their standardization, and two main stances have emerged. On the one hand, some studies explicitly deny the possibility of a service standardization and emphasize the relevance of customization: the value of KIBS lies in their capacity to offer tailored services capable of meeting their client’s needs concerning access to technical, commercial, or scientific knowledge (Miles, 1995; Muller and Doloreux, 2009). According to the literature on business services, it is in the nature of KIBS to differentiate their offering to suit their client’s requirements (den Hertog, 2000). On the other hand, other scholars have stressed the advantages of service standardization and specifically of KIBS (Tether et al., 2001). Through standardization, the service provider can increase productivity and adopt an industrial model of production similar to manufacturing firms. Standardization can lead to scale: service firms can increase in size and improve their growth by overcoming the Baumol’s disease problem (Baumol and Bowen, 1966).

Suggested Citation

  • Marco Bettiol & Eleonora Maria & Roberto Grandinetti, 2012. "Creativity Versus Standardization in Knowledge-Intensive Business Services: A Real Trade-Off?," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Eleonora Maria & Roberto Grandinetti & Barbara Bernardo (ed.), Exploring Knowledge-Intensive Business Services, chapter 6, pages 120-136, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-137-00842-8_7
    DOI: 10.1057/9781137008428_7
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    Cited by:

    1. Malgorzata Zieba, 2013. "Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (Kibs) And Their Role In The Knowledge-Based Economy," GUT FME Working Paper Series A 7, Faculty of Management and Economics, Gdansk University of Technology.
    2. Roberto Antonietti & Gildo Soggia, 2015. "La formula dell?export per le province italiane: classe creativa + specializzazione manifatturiera," ECONOMIA E SOCIET? REGIONALE, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 0(1), pages 125-143.

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