In order to deliver excellent service quality, it is critical to understand, create and deliver real value to all stakeholders. The second edition of Services Marketing Management has been thoroughly revised and restructured to provide the students with an overview of services marketing from this clear strategic orientation.

It is built around five core guiding principles:

• Market orientation
• Assets and capabilities
• Characteristics of services
• Internationalization
• Value concept

With numerous examples that illustrate key points in the text, Services Marketing Management, 2^nd Edition begins by embracing services marketing management in both a national and international context, including the latest developments, then outlines the wide variety of assets and strategic capabilities required to deliver services and create superior value for customers.

'This is a welcome second edition, firmly establishing it as a leading international text on strategic services marketing. Though completely revised, it retains the unique focus of the original on care for the individual and the understanding, creation and delivery of value to customers, with the authors bringing their topic vividly to life through numerous international examples. Clearly written and logically structured, it will be an invaluable resource for services marketing and management courses at all levels.’
Professor Graham Hooley, Aston Business School

"An up-to-date, comprehensive and truly global treatment of services marketing management with new insights for every reader."
Leonard L. Berry, Distinguished Professor of Marketing, Mays Business School and author of Discovering the Soul of Service

"This book is a very valuable addition to the services marketing literature. Its logical structure and clarity of expression will make it extremely appealing to students and lecturers."
Steve Oakes, University of Liverpool

"This is a must for students, teachers and practitioners in services marketing.’
Kjell Grønhaug, Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration

‘This is an academically rigorous text with a strong European focus – excellent.’
Jill Brown, Portsmouth Business School

‘Services Marketing Management: a comprehensive and completely up-to-date book based on an excellent combination of modern theory and actual practice."
Peter Leeflang, Frank M. Bass Professor of Marketing, University of Groningen and Professor at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University at Frankfurt am Main

‘This excellent textbook has got what it strongly deserved: a second edition. I particularly appreciate:

• the consequent focus on market and customer orientation

• the integration of business-to-business services

• the overarching HRM perspective and

• the refined didactic approach not self-evident in other service management textbooks.

"What a service for the reader!"
Bernd Günter, Heinrich-Heine Universität, Düsseldorf

Hans Kasper is Professor of Services and Retail Management at Maastricht University and Director of Etil bv.

Piet van Helsdingen is Lecturer of Services Marketing at the Vrije Universiteit and a management trainer and consultant on service concepts in Amsterdam.

Mark Gabbott is Professor of Marketing, Head of the Department of Marketing and Deputy Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics at Monash University.