At the center of Shostack’s (1977) model is the core benefit that
focuses on customer needs. This is linked to a series of other service
characteristics. Surrounding the core service or the molecule is a series
of bands. These bands represent price, distribution and marketing
positions (communication messages) (Lovelock, 1996). This model
indicates that a change in the supplementary or augmented service will affect the core service. It makes a distinction between the tangible and
intangible elements involved in service delivery. In a hotel, for example,
the intangible elements include check-in, and checkout services,
housekeeping, and room service. But the room, bed, food and drinks
that are served are all tangibles.