The change in focus is often accompanied by organisational restructuring and improvements in the flow of communication. 2. Action is far more important than rhetoric - it is not sufficient for an organisation to broadcast that it cares about its customers unless it can demonstrate customer care through action. Changes may entice customers to enter the premises but the quality of the service experience will determine the development of customer loyalty. 3. There is a shift from telling customers about the benefits of the product or service to listening to what customers say they require. This relies on gathering feedback from customers that is often highly subjective and difficult to quantify. More importantly, the data must be translated into action in the form of superior service, to retain customers, improve market reputation and thereby to remain viable. 4. Authority is delegated to middle and lower levels of the organisation and is accompanied by empowerment of workers. This indicates that management recognises that workers have an inherently high and sensible capacity to run things well, given an organisational climate that encourages risk-taking and innovation and supports a customer service focus. 5. Instead of being the prerogative of `shop floor' staff or a particular department, customer service becomes an integrated function that involves employees at all levels of the organisation. All organisational policy needs to be examined regarding customer benefits, to recognise that all internal activities, such as research and development, accounting and production departments, have a direct impact on customers and exist to serve external customers. 6. Management recognises expertise at employee level and shows appreciation through remuneration and incentives schemes. As Le Bouef (1985) has stated, "what gets rewarded gets done". Therefore, giving employees a greater stake in the future of their organisations can break down the barrier of