New Characteristics of Services within the Knowledge-based Society

The study investigates the main changes in characteristics of services within the knowledge-based society as compared to the industrial society. The findings of this study reveal an ambiguity in characterizing services and goods within the knowledge-based society. There is a "grey" zone, populated by tangible and/or homogeneous and/or separable and/or durable services, as well as intangible and/or heterogeneous and/or inseparable and/or perishable goods. The study was carried out by combining a wide variety of sources, such as research papers, literature reviews, conceptual papers and books. The results reported in this research may be used for designing new methods for the management of services so as to consider the changes in characterizing services.