Determinants of customer satisfaction with service encounter Cover Image

Odrednice zadovoljstva korisnika susretom s uslugom
Determinants of customer satisfaction with service encounter

Author(s): Ariana Nefat, Nika Paus
Subject(s): Economy
Published by: CROMAR (Hrvatska zajednica udruga za marketing) i Ekonomski fakultet Zagreb
Keywords: service encounter; customer satisfaction; service quality; evidence of service; service recovery

Summary/Abstract: Service encounters are the focal point of a customer’s perception of a service in terms of its quality, value and customer satisfaction. The paper researches the influence of the components of a service encounter on customer satisfaction. Among several factors that determine customer satisfaction the quality of service, which is related to the characteristics of service, plays an important role. However, a direct insight into the reasons that make a service encounter stisfactory or unsatisfactory is provided by the critical incident technque, where causes of dis/satisfaction differ primarily depending on whether they derive from interpersonal contact or from contact with technology. The evidence of service, which includes people, process and the physical evidence, plays a critical role in a customer’s dis/satisfaction. The influence of these elements cannot be observed separately; it must be observed in their interaction during the delivery of service and their strongest effect is achieved during face-to-face service encounters that have the characteristics of a theatre metaphor. Even though a high level of satisfaction may be achieved after the recovery of a service, enterprises should aim to conduct excellent service encounters right from the start.

  • Issue Year: 20/2008
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 195-210
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Croatian
Toggle Accessibility Mode