Service quality benchmarking via a novel approach based on fuzzy ELECTRE III and IPA: an empirical case involving the Italian public healthcare context.

A novel fuzzy-based approach which combines ELECTRE III along with the Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) is proposed in the present work to comparatively evaluate the service quality in the public healthcare context. Specifically, ELECTRE III is firstly considered to compare the service performance of examined hospitals in a noncompensatory manner. Afterwards, IPA is employed to support the service quality management to point out improvement needs and their priorities. The proposed approach also incorporates features of the Fuzzy Set Theory so as to address the possible uncertainty, subjectivity and vagueness of involved experts in evaluating the service quality. The model is applied to five major Sicilian public hospitals, and strengths and criticalities of the delivered service are finally highlighted and discussed. Although several approaches combining multi-criteria methods have already been proposed in the literature to evaluate the service performance in the healthcare field, to the best of the authors' knowledge the present work represents the first attempt at comparing service performance of alternatives in a noncompensatory manner in the investigated context.

Factor selection for service quality evaluation: a hospital case study.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a systematic approach to predict service quality dimension's influence on service quality using a novel analysis based on data envelopment and SERVQUAL. Design/methodology/approach To assess hospital service quality in Tehran, expectation and perception of those who received the services were evaluated using SERVQUAL. The hospital service quality dimensions were found by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). To compare customer expectation and perception, perceived service quality index (PSQI) was measured using a new method based on common weights. A novel sensitivity approach was used to test the service quality factor's impact on the PSQI. Findings A new service quality dimension named "trust in services" was found using EFA, which is not an original SERVQUAL factor. The approach was applied to assess the hospital's service quality. Since the PSQI value was 0.76 it showed that improvements are needed to meet customer expectations. The results showed the factor order that affect PSQI. "Trust in services" has the strongest influence on PSQI followed by "tangibles," "assurance," "empathy," and "responsiveness," respectively. Practical implications This work gives managers insight into service quality by following a systematic method; i.e., measuring perceived service quality from the customer viewpoint and service factors' impact on customer perception. Originality/value The procedure helps managers to select the required service quality dimensions which need improvement and predict their effects on customer perception.

Assessment of Main Management Components for Successful University Foodservice Operations By Using SERVQUAL Model

The purpose of this study were to assess main management components that can lead to successful university foodservice operations. Specifically, it was intended to develop the tool which assesses the service quality, management, to assess the difference between customer importance from and perceptions of service quality, to compare management perceptions of customer importances with actual service delivery, and to identify internal problems which affect service quality with the use of gap model. Three types of questionnaires were developed and implemented for customers, foodservice personals and foodservice manager. Assessment tools were developed based on the literature review, SERVQUAL, GAP model, and the pilot study. Through the validity and reliability test, the questionnaires were revised. Questionnaires were distributed to 900 university students, 207 foodservice personnels, and 54 foodservice manager respectively. 831 university students, 177 foodservice personnels, and 48 foodservice manager were responded with a response rate of 92.3%, 85.5%, and 88.8% respectively. Statistical data analysis was completed using the SPSS programs for descriptive analysis, ANOVA. and SNK test. The results of this study can be summarized as follows : 1. In quality service management components, 31 quality service attributes were categorized and named into primary quality, secondary quality, hygiene, empathy, tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, and price by the factor analysis. 2. Importance mean score of customers was 4.02 out of 5, but perception mean score of customers was 2.55. So there was a relative big gap(1.47) between importance and perception scores, especially in three dimensions of responsiveness, primary quality, and hygiene. 3. It showed that customers' mean scores of perceived service quality by dimensions were the following order : price > reliability > secondary quality > hygiene > tangibles > primary quality > responsiveness > empathy. And the perception mean score of rented(2.59) or contracted(2.58) management was significantly higher than that of self-operated(2.48). 4. Customers' importances mean score which internal customers recognize was 4.23 out of 5, but service delivery mean score was 3.85. So there was a little gap(0.39) between management perceptions of customer importances and actual service delivery. 5. In gap model, SERVQUAL score showed -1.47, Gap 1 positive 0.15, gap 2 negative 0.61, and gap 3 was positive 0.19. 6. The internal problems were as follows ; (1) The managers of University foodservice perceived well enough the customers' expectation value but their management competency was lacked in terms of responding customer needs, (2) The foodservice staff perceived service performance more highly than service quality specifications.