Vol 12 , Issue 1 , January - June 2011 | Pages: 1-16 | Research Paper
Published Online: January 04, 2011
Author Details
( * ) denotes Corresponding author
Higher education plays a crucial role in knowledge-based economies. In the New Economy, only complex and multi-colour higher education institutions can meet the varied expectations and challenges of the ever-changing environment. This paper explores the frontline focusing
on the conflicts at higher education institutions. It is assumed that there is a close relationship between judging the quality of services and the quality of frontline since an immediate message about the culture and values of the service-provider is conveyed to the customer by the behaviour perceived in the frontline. Based on both qualitative and quantitative research, this paper aims to draw general and practical conclusions about the following:
a) What are the main causes of satisfaction or dissatisfaction for users in an educational context?
How does frontline judge its position, how does it rate its own activity and what do students think of this?
b) Which are the critical areas, causes of conflicts between students and the frontline?
c) How can jay-customers be typified and how can they affect the service process? The exact definition of behaviour-types may facilitate proactive provider behaviour.
d) The study intends to prove the importance and feasibility of experimental research, a useful method to refine results.
Keywords
Higher Education, Frontline, Jay-customers, Conflicts.