Management Culture in Contemporary China: Civilizational Foundations, Creative Practices, and Transformational Challenges

Background. The article examines the management culture of contemporary China as a complex socio-cultural phenomenon shaped at the intersection of civilizational tradition and modern transformational processes. The relevance of the study is determined by China's growing role in the global economy and the need for a deeper understanding of the cultural foundations of its managerial practices. The aim of this article is to delineate the civilizational foundations of Chinese management culture, analyze the specific features of creative practices within its structure, and identify key transformational challenges. Methods. The methodological framework of the study is based on civilizational, cultural, and systems approaches, as well as methods of theoretical generalization and comparative analysis. Results. The study demonstrates that Chinese management culture is grounded in Confucian ethics, collectivist values, and hierarchical principles, which ensure its integrity and stability. It is revealed that creativity in the Chinese context has a collective, context-dependent, and managed character, combining innovation with social harmony and strategic orientation. Creativity is thus interpreted as a form of civilizational transformation of tradition rather than its rejection. The study also shows that contemporary Chinese management culture operates under systemic challenges related to globalization, digitalization, and the need to integrate traditional and modern management models. In response, a hybrid model of management is emerging, combining elements of different cultural and organizational systems. Conclusions. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the cultural embeddedness of management and expands theoretical perspectives on innovation in different civilizational contexts. The practical significance of the research lies in its applicability to cross-cultural and creative management, as well as to educational practices.