E-Services and the Codification of Informational Services

The concept of e-services has gained increasing use during the past decade. There is, however, no general agreement as to the precise meaning and scope of the term. The research purpose of the present chapter is, therefore, to discuss the e-service concept, its strengths and scope, and thereby contribute to the general understanding and definition of the term. More specifically, the chapter aims at examining one of the primary conditions for the development of e-services, namely the codification of knowledge in connection with knowledge intensive services. The e-service concept is used in relation to private as well as public e-services. The present chapter examines the e-service concept at a generic level and does not differentiate between private and public e-services.