Abstract
The conceptualization of service is important for proper modeling of service. Aiming at an ontological conceptualization of service, we make an ontological consideration on distinction between notions of service and function. Firstly, we extract the characteristics of service from the literature in different disciplines in order to find out important characteristics of service. Next, we show many of them are not inherent characteristics in the notion of service. Then, we propose essential characteristics of services by comparison between service and function of artifacts based on a model of goal-oriented effects.
