Service Network

A service network is a collection of people and information brought together on the internet to provide a specific service or achieve a common business objective. It is an evolving extension of service systems and applies Enterprise 2.0 technologies, also known as enterprise social software, to enable corporations to leverage the advances of the consumer internet for the benefit of business.

A service network is designed to benefit from the wisdom of crowds and a human's natural tendency and desire to share information, collaborate, and self organize into communities of common interests and objectives. In business, the value of collaboration is clearly recognized, but the ability is often hampered by rigid organizational boundaries and fragmented information systems. A service network enables businesses to realize the benefits of mass collaboration despite the constraints of modern organizational structures and systems.

The term service network is increasingly being used within the context of service innovation initiatives that span academia, business, and government. Some examples include:

• The University of Cambridge and IBM Corporation use the term service network in their discussion paper, "Succeeding through Service Innovation" and describe it within the context of service systems networks.
• Ingres Corporation uses the term service network as a new paradigm in software service to enable Enterprise 2.0 IT service management.
• Openwater Corporation uses the term service network to help describe and brand their product offerings and solutions.