Cultural drivers of high performing knowledge-intensive service organisations

Organisational culture is considered an important influence on performance, particularly for service firms that rely on values-driven social controls to enhance human interactions. Using a qualitative approach, we show how the modified Organisational Culture Profile developed by Sarros, Gray, Densten, and Cooper to assess Australian organisations provides a framework for exploring the cultural drivers of high performing knowledge-intensive service firms in New Zealand. Our study provides rich insights into how six key cultural dimensions – competitiveness, innovation, performance orientation, emphasis on rewards, supportiveness and social responsibility – are translated into strategic human resource management practices.