Understanding Service Quality in Health/Fitness Clubs from A Systems Perspective

Despite of the vibrant nature of the fitness industry, there has not been a sustained effort to understand the dynamics of the industry, particularly with reference to the quality of services offered in that industry. The purpose of this paper is to present a system based process model of quality in health/fitness services. The characteristics of the organization, the service employees and the client are the inputs into the service encounter where the service is produced (i.e., the throughput). The output is the quality of the service. The extent of quality perceived by both the service provider and the client is said to influence the satisfaction of the respective parties, and subsequent motivation to participate in the production of quality in the service. The model also suggests that physical environment as well as other customers and their behaviors influence customer perception of service quality. The quality of service is enhanced through the quality assurance practices of the organization and the feedback from client. Further, the input, throughput, and output in our model reflect (a) quality of the design of the service delivery system, (b) objective quality of the product, and (c) quality as perceived by client. The specific attributes of the design element (i.e., organization, service employee, and the client) are elaborated upon. It is suggested that the organization can assure quality by seeking feedback from clients and service employees, monitoring the service production phases, and managing inter-customer interactions.