Service delivery is part and parcel of every higher education professional’s job, both to improve service to students and to each other as “internal customers”. Until now higher education professionals have had to rely, for their professional development, on books and training designed for the business sector. This book is the first to specifically address the needs of higher education professionals across a wide range of administrative functions within college and university environments. It is designed for administrative staff and management, ranging from professionals working in centralized functions such as student affairs and enrollment management to those working as advisors or in career centers, whether in community colleges, four-year institutions, or for-profit institutions.Each chapter applies customer service principles to scenarios that are relevant to higher education. The book begins by engaging the reader to define service and identify the external and internal customers who are recipients of that service. It then maps customer interactions into a series of steps and offers departments and individuals a tool to maximize the customer experience. Additional chapters address customer expectations, creating a service culture on your campus, and managerial influences on staff service delivery. Creating a Service Culture in Higher Education Administration is a complementary book to the online customer service and management training resources at softskillspros.com.

Table of Contents:
Preface Getting to the How of Service Delivery Overview of This Book 1 DEFINING SERVICE EXCELLENCE Do Customer Service Concepts Apply to Higher Education? Starting the Service Excellence Journey Step 1. Identify Excellent Service Experiences Step 2. Define Excellent Service Delivery Step 3. Be Conscious of Bad Service Delivery Step 4. Your Department’s Service Delivery Step 5. Your Service Delivery Defining Service Excellence Summary 1 Takeaways 2 EXTERNAL CUSTOMER SERVICE The Three External Customer Profile Questions Step 1. Who Are They? Step 2. What Do They Want? Step 3. How Have They Changed? External Customer Service Summary 2 Takeaways 3 INTERNAL CUSTOMER SERVICE The Critical Role of Internal Customer Service The Three Internal Customer Service Profile Questions Step 1. Who Are They? Step 2. What Do They Want? Step 3. How Have They Changed? The Internal-External Customer Service Connection Internal Customer Service Summary 3 Takeaways 4 CYCLE OF SERVICE THINKING Cycle of Service. A Brief History Moments of Truth Applying the Cycle of Service to Higher Education Setting a Service Standard Teamwork and Communication Cycles of Internal and External Customer Service Cycle of Service Thinking Summary 4 Takeaways 5 CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS The Four Customer Types The Loyal Customer The Status Quo Customer The Intrigued Customer The Disgruntled Customer Identifying Your Customers by Type Customer Expectations Summary 5 Takeaways 6 CREATING A CULTURE OF SERVICE The Effects of Formal Structures on Service Physical Layout and Distance Work Processes and Service Delivery Work Process Design and Customer Service Creative Work Process Design Work Process Assessment Values and Beliefs Additional Pieces of the Service Culture Puzzle Language and Dress Routines, Customs, and Activities Organizational Climate Creating a Culture of Service Summary 6 Takeaways 7 MANAGERIAL INFLUENCE ON SERVICE DELIVERY Management Style and Customer Service Two Management Styles The Task-Centered Manager The People-Centered Manager Management Expectations and Service Delivery Star Employee Worker Bee Employee Problem Employee Misplaced Employee Assessing Your Performance and Potential Managerial Influence Summary 7 Takeaways 8 ACHIEVING SERVICE EXCELLENCE Service Excellence = Commitment + Attitude + Action Commitment Service Attitude Service Action Index