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GameAccess - Service Delivery System
Case 9 50 2014 003
Languages : 
  • English
Keywords: 
  • Service delivery,
  • Delivery Channel,
  • Service capacity,
  • Service system design
Year of production : 
2013
Registration date : 
2014-05-01
Teaching notes included : 
Yes
Abstract

GameAccess is a Canadian pioneer in the online game rental business. It enjoys a membership base of nearly 3,000, with annual revenues of $900,000. GameAccess believes strongly in the philosophy of linear and incremental growth. All its activities and investments are centred on customer acquisition. The company operates with a lean mindset and investments are made on the basis of sound ROI decisions. Abundant attention is paid to customer engagement and constant communications efforts are made in order to gain feedback on existing services as well as to co-create new initiatives. Due emphasis is put on the customer experience and care is taken to ensure that a rich experience is provided.

The company’s largest challenge concerns its mail delivery partner. Not only did GameAccess experience a huge setback in 2010 (a loss of close to $2M) due to alleged pilferage and damage caused to its inventory at the delivery partner company, it was also constrained owing to its mail delivery partner. Service quality correlates with the timeframe within which games are delivered to customers and the company has too often had to compensate customers due to delays. While GameAccess has attempted to combat the limitations imposed by its mail delivery partner by introducing initiatives such as a fast-return feature, thus reducing the turnaround time by 50%, the partner continues to be a bottleneck in the delivery chain.

Primary domain : 
Logistics and operations management
Secondary domain : 
Management  - SME management
Sectors : 
  • Arts, entertainment and recreation
Source : 
HEC Montréal
Type : 
Brief case (Decision-making case)
Type of data used in the production of the case : 
Factual data that is not public wherein the identity of the company/person is disclosed
Event location : 
Montréal, QC, Canada
Year of start of the event : 
2013
Year the event ended : 
2013
Business size : 
Small- and medium-sized
Main themes covered

The central theme of the case revolves around the design of a service delivery system. The case also covers the topic of service capacity, variability, service delivery channels and service inventory.

Teaching objectives

The objective of this case is to learn sketching of process maps, the main drivers of a service delivery system, namely, service capacity network, service delivery channel and information and customization. The case also looks at an approach that could be adopted to design a service delivery system.

Concepts and theories related to the case

First, the case provides an opportunity for readers to sketch a business process map based on the information provided in the case. Hence, business process mapping is one of the learning areas covered by the case. Second, the main drivers of a service delivery system are explored. Third, a step by step approach to designing a service delivery system is provided.