Exam 2: Conceptual Framework of the Book: the Gaps Model of Service Quality

Provider ______ is the difference between company understanding of customer expectations and development of customer-driven service designs and standards.

_____ standards are operations standards set by a service firm to correspond to customer expectations.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company conducts telephone interviews each week to obtain information on customers' satisfaction with each of its 1200 retail stores. When dissatisfied customers are identified, they are asked if they would like to be contacted by the store or district manager to address unresolved complaints or problems. The company also follows some buyers up to two years to track their experiences, attitudes and satisfaction. These results are compiled and regularly reported back to managers in marketing, production and product development. By conducting market research, Goodyear Tire & Rubber is closing provider _____ of the gaps model of service quality.

Telepizza S.A. Is a Spanish pizza restaurant chain that offers children membership in its magic club. The magic club gives its members small prizes, usually simple magic tricks, with each order their parents place. Telepizza has 65 percent of the Spanish market has a result of using _____ marketing.

Sam Goody, a tape, compact disc and video store, has a frequent buyer program called Replay that rewards members a $15 gift certificate for every $150 in purchases made at Sam Goody. In addition, Replay members receive a coupon each month for a 20-25 percent discount on the purchase of an unlimited number of CDs and/or cassettes from a specific music category. By having a frequent buyer program, Sam Goody is closing provider _____ of the gaps model of service quality.

List three sources of customer expectations that are market-controlled factors.

On which of the provider gaps are deficiencies in human resources management policies most likely to have the greatest impact?

In India weddings are timed to occur when Venus is in the ascendant and Jupiter is strong. This day is deemed lucky. In 2005, almost 15, 000 couples in New Delhi had their wedding on December 25, the day astrologers announced would be the best day for a wedding. It is very likely that wedding planners in New Delhi have difficulty narrowing provider ______ of the gaps model of service quality due to their inability to match supply and demand.

Briefly describe the four provider gaps that are the underlying causes behind the customer gap.

American Airlines pilots and crews are trained to inform customers immediately when flight delays occur and to keep customers advised at regular intervals about the changes in a flight's schedule. By keeping customers informed during a flight, American Airlines is closing provider _____ of the gaps model of service quality.

On which of the provider gaps does an inappropriate servicescape have the greatest impact?

What is the key to closing the customer gap?

Provider gap 3 of the gaps model of service quality is caused by:

Telepizza S.A. Is a Spanish pizza restaurant chain that offers children membership in its magic club. The magic club gives its members small prizes, usually simple magic tricks, with each order their parents place. Telpizza's use of a frequency marketing program has allowed it to narrow provider _____ of the gaps model of service quality.

The ads for a weight loss program that promised the program would change an individual's eating habits through hypnosis is probably overstating its usefulness because there are some people in the world that cannot be hypnotized. This sort of misleading advertising broadens provider _____ of the gaps model of service quality.

What is provider gap 4 of the gaps model of service quality?

The synchronizing of supply and demand will narrow provider gap 4.

The New York Palace, an upscale hotel in New York City, synchronizes demand and hotel capacity by offering an attractively priced weekend package during the fall when demand for its rooms slows down. In addition to having a luxury-filled weekend at the New York Palace for $199 per night, guests enjoy very select privileges from Saks Fifth Avenue. Its weekend package provides a personal shopping coordinator, complimentary gift wrap and package delivery to the hotel, individual beauty consultation and a 10 percent Saks discount. The New York Palace's weekend package closes provider ____ of the gaps model of service quality.

The 25th Hour Inc. is a business that runs errands for people. Its employees have been called in to care for a toddler when her mother went into labor, to buying groceries for a mother who wanted to attend her child' soccer game and to decorate for parties. If any customer is not completely happy with the service The 25th Hour provides, its employees are told to immediately refund the customer's money (less any expenses) as soon as the complaint is made known. This sort of service recovery policy helps to narrow provider _____ of the gaps model of service quality.

The use of transactional marketing will tend to narrow provider gap 1.