A Classification Framework for Service Modularization Methods

Service modularity has been suggested as a promising concept that can resolve the dilemma between increasing diversification of customer demands and the provider’s need for standardization and efficiency gains. Despite having been in the center of attention amongst service researchers for the past decade, service modularity still remains a rather theoretical concept with little application in practice. Previous publications have contributed conceptual and enterprise modeling methods to achieve modular service architectures by both adjusting product modularization methods to the service domain as well as designing new ones specifically for services. However, up to date, there exists no framework that would systematize and classify these methods concerning their premises as well as underlying modularity principles and objectives. The main contribution of this paper is the development of a framework that can be used to classify existing and future methods for service modularization based on two key dimensions, i. e., the phases of the modularization process and the types of structuring the modular architecture. The developed framework further points out which phases of the overall modularization process are still underdeveloped and how future research can contribute to making service modularity more accessible for practitioners.