Progress and prospects of services management in Latin America

This article presents insights on the increasing importance of services in the economic growth of Latin America and its complex evolution towards a service society. The article then illustrates the strategic role of services management in this new era of service competition, discussing managerial and research challenges being faced by service organizations and academic institutions in this region. The article concludes by providing a framework aiming to integrate a community which, sharing the common intellectual passion for service, would work towards the development of science, art and practice of services management, in order to contribute to the progress of this important field in Latin America.