Cultural change in the company: How value orientation strengthens leadership!

Cultural change in the company: How value orientation strengthens leadership!

On September 29, 2025, the Leuphana University of Lüneburg will publish interesting findings from Sylvia W. Schweigler-Zitko, who has developed new perspectives on leadership in the context of organizational culture and business. In her master's thesis at the university, she is evaluating a management program at Volkswagen AG that aims to promote value-oriented behavior in management. A central aspect of her research is the question of how cultural change in large companies can be initiated and sustainably anchored through such programs.

Schweigler-Zitko, who studied cultural studies with business administration at Leuphana College, completed her master's degree in Culture, Arts and Media with a detailed qualitative content analysis of over 1,100 texts from VW's internal management program. Her cultural studies approach aims to examine how the program is understood, communicated and lived in everyday company life. The overall goal is to create trust at and between all levels of the hierarchy.

Cultural change and its meaning

Cultural change describes the change in an organization's culture and is often necessary when companies are faced with internal or external challenges, such as mergers or workforce reductions. The goal of a culture change is to adapt to new circumstances and ultimately increase the success of the organization andrea-maria.com explained.

The methods for changing a corporate culture are diverse. This includes adapting reward and recognition systems and improving communication and collaboration. Effective companies recognize culture change as a central element of their corporate strategy and view it as a long-term process that requires time and effort.

The role of managers

As Schweigler-Zitko emphasizes, it is crucial that the visual representation of leadership in everyday life is consistent with the company's stated values. A strong organizational culture is reflected not only in the company's formal values, but also in the daily interactions of employees. Loud kaizen.com Strategic corporate goals and corporate culture are closely linked.

A successfully implemented cultural change requires the active involvement of managers who must act as role models. To avoid cultural mismatches, companies should ensure that their strategy and culture work synergistically. Challenges in cultural change are often resistance from employees and inadequate support from management.

Schweigler-Zitko's results not only led to her doctorate in vocational education and adult education at Leibniz University Hannover, but also to her working in the area of ​​Learning Experience Design and Delivery at the Volkswagen Group Academy since 2021. In 2022, her innovative research was awarded the Honorary Senator Westermann Prize, which is awarded for application-oriented research work.

A culture change is initiated by employees' individual values, which can create collective alignment. Companies that cultivate a positive and strong culture are more resilient in crises and can adapt more quickly to changes.