Which of the following is NOT part of the service-product chain?

The service-product chain is a concept that describes the relationship between the quality of service a company provides and various stakeholder outcomes, such as customer satisfaction and profitability. Each element within the chain contributes to the overall success of the service offering.

The first choice, which indicates "Healthy service profits and growth," is not part of the service-product chain primarily because it represents the outcome or result of effectively managing the chain rather than an actual component of it. The chain itself focuses on the processes and elements that contribute to delivering service, such as employee satisfaction, service value, and the nature of the services delivered.

In contrast, the other options describe integral aspects of the service-product chain. Increasingly intangible services highlight the evolving nature of services offered in today's market and their complexity, while greater service value points to the importance of enhancing customer perception and experience. Satisfied and productive service employees are crucial, as employee performance directly influences service delivery quality, influencing customer satisfaction. These components interact to create a cycle that can yield healthy profits and growth, but that growth is not a defining part of the chain itself.