A Hypergraph-Based Modeling Approach for Service Systems

Abstract

Currently, research on service science has emerged as its own discipline, where service systems are its basic unit of analysis. However, without a clearly defined modeling approach for service systems, analyzing a service system is challenging. We therefore propose a conceptual hypergraph-based modeling approach, which can be used to model services for both traditional goods-dominant businesses, as well as service-businesses. We define key elements of a service system, while drawing upon hypergraph theory and present three modeling properties which are required to model a service systems graph (SSG). The focus of SSGs is to describe the relationships between the various resources, actors and activities, thus configuring a service system. It provides the foundation for computer graphic simulations and database applications of service business structure for future research.

Moving towards a Non-Dyadic View on Service Systems and its Operationalization – Applying the Hypergraph-based Service System Model

“…The service system model relies on the underlying mathematical service system graph (SSG) [29]. The service system graph extends hypergraph theory by introducing a mapping between different hypergraphs that allows modeling a processual perspective in and resource-driven data perspective.…”

“…Applying the service system graph to the above-mentioned service system concept we create a service system model. into the following constituent factors, which we will briefly outline and have been established in previous work [29]. Our understanding of service systems takes on a set theory conform perspective, in which we abstract the resources into sets and model the relationships between different resource sets.…”

Developing a Production Structure Model Using Service-Dominant Logic—A Hypergraph-Based Modeling Approach

“…This mobilization includes conceptual actors that describe any additional restriction in the resource configuration. A formal model for the structure and composition of service systems has been introduced, which can model the relationships of all resources and activities of services and corresponding service systems [7,19]. However, their model is not applicable to product models.…”

“…Apart from the required resource, to create value, we still need to define production functions that incorporate the transformational process. This approach applies to hypergraph theory, similar to how [7] applied the mathematical approach to service systems. They provide the value-addition for resources, while using supplementary resources.…”

“…Following the service-dominant logic perspective, a mathematical model for service systems has recently been introduced [7]. Its hypergraph-based service system graph (SSG) is a step towards operationalizing service-dominant logic [2] and particularly its views on service systems [3].…”