MANAGING CORPORATE CULTURE IN SERVICE COMPANIES: MODERN APPROACHES AND CHALLENGES
Abstract
The aim of the article is to explore the specific features and mechanisms of managing corporate culture in service companies under modern economic conditions. The study emphasizes the strategic importance of corporate culture as a driver of customer orientation, service quality, and competitive advantage. Unlike manufacturing enterprises, service organizations rely on intangible assets, employee competencies, and the quality of client interaction, which makes corporate culture a critical factor for sustainable development. Methods applied in the research include theoretical analysis of international and domestic literature, synthesis of conceptual approaches such as service-dominant logic, and comparative review of management practices in service organizations. The study also integrates insights from models of cultural transformation and strategic alignment to identify effective tools for embedding corporate values into operational processes. The results of the study demonstrate that corporate culture in service companies functions as a cross-cutting mechanism that unites strategic priorities, managerial decisions, and service practices. At the tactical level, transformation of culture is achieved through policies, HR tools, operational routines, communication channels, leadership development, and cultural risk management. At the operational level, service culture acts as a practical manifestation of corporate values, ensuring consistency in customer interactions and enhancing loyalty. The research confirms that strong corporate culture significantly improves service effectiveness and brand perception. The practical significance of the study lies in providing a framework for service companies to integrate corporate culture into their business models. Recommendations include implementing service standards, customer satisfaction metrics (NPS, CSI), emotional intelligence training, and internal service practices to strengthen customer orientation and organizational resilience.
References
Bell D. (1973). The Coming of Post-Industrial Society: A Venture in Social Forecasting. New York : Basic Books, 507 p.
Rostow W. W. (1960). The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 272 p.
Vargo S. L., Lusch R. F. (2004). Evolving to a New Dominant Logic for Marketing. Journal of Marketing. Vol. 68, No. 1. P. 1–17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkg.68.1.1.24036
Vargo, S. L., & Lusch, R. F. (2008.) Service-Dominant Logic: Continuing the Evolution. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. Vol. 36(1). P. 1–10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-007-0069-6
United Nations. International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC), Rev.4. New York: UN, 2008. 159 p.
Eurostat. NACE Rev.2: Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2008. 363 p.
European Commission, IMF, OECD, UN, World Bank. System of National Accounts 2008 (SNA 2008). – New York: United Nations, 2009. 662 p.
Grönroos C. (2023). Business model innovation through the adoption of service logic: evolving to servification. Journal of Business Research. Vol. 154. P. 113–124.
Wieland H., Hartmann N., Vargo S. (2017). Business models as service strategy. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. Vol. 45(6). P. 925–943.
Von Nordenflycht A. (2010). What Is a Professional Service Firm? Toward a Theory and Taxonomy of Knowledge-Intensive Firms. Academy of Management Review. Vol. 35(1). P. 155–174.
Hofmeister J., Kanbach D. K., Hogreve J. (2023). Service productivity: a systematic review and future research agenda. Journal of Service Management. Vol. 34(2). P. 123–145.
Ponsignon F., Smart A., Maull R. (2021). Process design principles in service firms: universal or context dependent? International Journal of Operations & Production Management. Vol. 41(4). P. 415–437.
Kolyadenko S. V., Tytarchuk S. O. (2021). Servisnistʹ ukrayinsʹkykh kompaniy yak kontseptsiya zbilʹshennya prybutkiv [Service orientation of Ukrainian companies as a concept for increasing profits]. Ekonomika ta derzhava, n. 3, pp. 45–49. Available at: http://repository.vsau.vin.ua/getfile.php/35533.pdf (accessed: 13.01.2026). [in Ukrainian].
Lisun Ya. V. (2020). Stratehichnyy potentsial servisnykh pidpryyemstv: osoblyvosti formuvannya v Ukrayini ta krayinakh SND [Strategic potential of service enterprises: features of formation in Ukraine and CIS countries]. Ekonomichnyy prostir, no. 158, pp. 112–120. Available at: http://www.economy.nayka.com.ua/?op=1&z=486 (accessed: 13.01.2026). [in Ukrainian].
Andrushevych Z., Boiko R., Nyanko V. (2022). Kliyento-oriyentovanyy pidkhid v formuvanni brendu ta upravlinni reklamnoyu diyalʹnistyu pidpryyemstva [Client-oriented approach in brand formation and advertising management of the enterprise]. Herald of Khmelnytskyi National University. Economic Sciences, no. 312(6(1)), pp. 169–173. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31891/2307-5740-2022-312-6(1)-24 (accessed: 13.01.2026). [in Ukrainian].
Roy A., Newman A., Round H., Bhattacharya S. (2022). Ethical Culture in Organizations: A Review and Agenda for Future Research. Business Ethics Quarterly. Vol. 32, No. 1. P. 97–138. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/beq.2022.44.
Mosquera P., Soares M. E. (2025). Onboarding: a key to employee retention and workplace well-being. Review of Managerial Science. Vol. 19. P. 3687–3711. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-025-00864-3
Walentynowicz P. S. (2025). A model of the Kaizen organizational culture shaping process in the company. Management – Poland. Vol. 29, No. 2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58691/man/208186
De Smet A., Rubenstein K., Vierow M. Promoting psychological safety starts with developing leaders. McKinsey & Company. 2021. URL: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/promoting-psychological-safety-starts-with-developing-leaders (accessed: 08.01.2026).
Bell D. The Coming of Post-Industrial Society: A Venture in Social Forecasting. New York : Basic Books, 1973. 507 p.
Rostow W.W. The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1960. 272 p.
Vargo S. L., Lusch R. F. Evolving to a New Dominant Logic for Marketing. Journal of Marketing. 2004. Vol. 68, No. 1. P. 1–17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkg.68.1.1.24036
Vargo, S. L., & Lusch, R. F. Service-Dominant Logic: Continuing the Evolution. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. 2008. Vol. 36(1). P. 1–10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-007-0069-6
United Nations. International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC), Rev.4. New York: UN, 2008. 159 p.
Eurostat. NACE Rev.2: Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, 2008. 363 p.
European Commission, IMF, OECD, UN, World Bank. System of National Accounts 2008 (SNA 2008). – New York: United Nations, 2009. 662 p.
Grönroos C. Business model innovation through the adoption of service logic: evolving to servification. Journal of Business Research. 2023. Vol. 154. P. 113–124.
Wieland H., Hartmann N., Vargo S. Business models as service strategy. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. 2017. Vol. 45(6). P. 925–943.
Von Nordenflycht A. What Is a Professional Service Firm? Toward a Theory and Taxonomy of Knowledge-Intensive Firms. Academy of Management Review. 2010. Vol. 35(1). P. 155–174.
Hofmeister J., Kanbach D. K., Hogreve J. Service productivity: a systematic review and future research agenda. Journal of Service Management. 2023. Vol. 34(2). P. 123–145.
Ponsignon F., Smart A., Maull R. Process design principles in service firms: universal or context dependent? International Journal of Operations & Production Management. 2021. Vol. 41(4). P. 415–437.
Коляденко С. В., Титарчук С. О. Сервісність українських компаній як концепція збільшення прибутків. Економіка та держава. 2021. № 3. С. 45–49. URL: http://repository.vsau.vin.ua/getfile.php/35533.pdf
Лісун Я. В. Стратегічний потенціал сервісних підприємств: особливості формування в Україні та країнах СНД. Економічний простір. 2020. № 158. С. 112–120. URL: http://www.economy.nayka.com.ua/?op=1&z=486
Андрушевич З., Бойко Р., Нянько В. Клієнтоорієнтований підхід в формуванні бренду та управлінні рекламною діяльністю підприємства. Herald of Khmelnytskyi National University. Economic Sciences. 2022. № 312(6(1). С. 169-173. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31891/2307-5740-2022-312-6(1)-24
Roy A., Newman A., Round H., Bhattacharya S. Ethical Culture in Organizations: A Review and Agenda for Future Research. Business Ethics Quarterly. 2022. Vol. 32, No. 1. P. 97–138. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/beq.2022.44
Mosquera P., Soares M. E. Onboarding: a key to employee retention and workplace well-being. Review of Managerial Science. 2025. Vol. 19. P. 3687–3711. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-025-00864-3
Walentynowicz P. S. A model of the Kaizen organizational culture shaping process in the company. Management – Poland. 2025. Vol. 29, No. 2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.58691/man/208186
De Smet A., Rubenstein K., Vierow M. Promoting psychological safety starts with developing leaders. McKinsey & Company. 2021. URL: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/promoting-psychological-safety-starts-with-developing-leaders (дата звернення: 08.01.2026).
Copyright (c) 2026 А.В. Дудченко

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

