A service, in general, is an inter-organizational business process, which not only demands a seamless and end-to-end concatenation of business actions, but also allows flexible and speedy redefinition of role playing in the process in order to meet constantly changing demands. How to balance the business process integration and flexibility becomes essential in service oriented business processes. Service science and innovation is the study of service systems, and it aims at improving service systems (particularly those involved in complex, IT-enabled services) in terms of the application of scientific, management, and engineering disciplines. Service science and innovation has the goal of making productivity, quality,performance, compliance, growth, and learning improvements more predictable in work -sharing and risk-sharing (co-production) relationships.

This course focuses on business process innovation, business intelligence, and technology innovation and entrepreneurship and consists of three main foci: technology, business, and social-organizational foci.　Important topics covered include: business process modeling and management, service design development, technology innovation, business intelligence, organizational culture, consumer behavior, business relationship management, social capital and knowledge management.

The course will be taught through a combination of lectures, paper & case discussion, student presentations, and research projects. Lectures will focus on providing frameworks and theoretical foundation for analyzing and recognizing service innovation opportunities and issues resulting from the application of the relevant service science and innovation principles. The course will involve a significant amount of readings, discussion, and research proposal write-up.