Best Companies to Work for and Technology Management in the Service Sector

Each year, FORTUNE undertakes a study aimed at identifying the 100 best companies to work for. The results of the FORTUNE survey for the period 1998 to 2005 were further examined. Using a technique called "data surface mining" (DSM), these previously published data were analyzed to characterize the similarities and differences between the goods and service sectors; the results of the analyses are presented herein. In addition, the issues of technology management especially relevant to the service sector are presented. These issues are of critical importance in light of the fact that the service sector represents 80% (GDP and/or employment) of the United States economy and are of increasing importance in the global economy. It is also important to note that technology management in the service sector has not to date been given proportionate attention in the academic literature