Service Blueprinting: A Practical Technique for Service Innovation

Mary Jo Bitner, Arizona State University Amy L. Ostrom, Arizona State University Felicia N. Morgan, University of West Florida

This article describes one technique—service blueprinting—that has proven useful for service innovation. Service blueprinting is securely grounded in the customer’s experience and it allows the clear visualization dynamic service processes. The technique is described in detail in the paper including real case examples that illustrate the value and breadth of its applications. (Link to PDF of the article: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.2307/41166446) A fee may apply. The cases illustrate how service blueprinting can be successfully applied for the following purposes:

Providing a platform for innovation
Recognizing interdependencies among people and functions in delivering service
Facilitating both strategic and tactical innovations
Designing moments of truth
Visualizing and understanding the customer’s experience
Transferring and storing innovation knowledge
Creating ideal experiences

Clarifying competitive positioning Guidelines for a service blueprinting workshop based on Arizona State University’s Center for Services Leadership programs are provided along with detailed insights for managers and academics. This article is based on workshops and case studies with CSL member firms and others. The paper appeared in California Management Review, Spring 2008, 66-94. (Link to article: journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.2307/41166446)