Final answer:
The sixth component of the customer service environment is the prevailing culture and societal arrangements. These elements encapsulate the shared values, regulations, and structures that shape and are shaped by the broader society and impact how customer service is delivered.
Step-by-step explanation:
The customer service environment is comprised of six components: customer, organizational culture, human resources, products/deliveries, delivery systems, and the sixth component is prevailing culture and associated societal arrangements. Prevailing culture includes the shared beliefs, knowledge, values, and priorities, which indirectly impact human activities within the service sector. Societal arrangements encompass elements such as legislation, regulations, economic systems, and educational programs that are shaped by and help shape the prevailing culture.
In essence, organizational culture is manifested through elements like values, beliefs, attitudes, and systems that influence employee behavior and has three layers: observable artifacts, espoused values, and basic assumptions. It's important to understand how this culture can affect customer service delivery. Every organization participates in a wider societal context that can have a significant influence on how customer service is structured and delivered, which in turn reflects the abstract aspects of human situations, including prevailing culture and cultural arrangements.