Language, cultural intelligence and expatriate success

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how cultural intelligence (CQ) and language proficiency are related to cross‐cultural adjustment, expatriate satisfaction, and expatriate desires towards the future, to further what is known about CQ.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative survey was developed and administered to 140 native English‐speaking expatriates living in Japan who were participating in the Japan Exchange and Teaching program. The survey was designed to measure CQ, language proficiency, cross‐cultural adjustment, satisfaction with their work and life in Japan, and their attitudes towards future expatriate assignments.FindingsIn total, there were eight criterion variables used in the study. Results from a series of hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the four CQ factors and language proficiency to various degrees were able to predict the various criterion variables. Motivational CQ was the only predictor variable that was able to predict all criterion variables.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper provides solid quantitative research into CQ. However, since the data come from self‐report surveys, its limitations in terms of common method bias are recognized.Practical implicationsThis study identifies both language ability and CQ as predictive of expatriate adjustment. This information enables organizations to better prepare their members for expatriate assignments.Originality/valueAlthough prior research has investigated a number of these issues separately on various types of samples, this paper is the first to combine all the variables into one study using expatriates.

The management of the international student experience in the South African context: The role of sociocultural adaptation and cultural intelligence

“…People who have greater levels of cognitive CI have the ability to understand and distinguish between the similarities and differences across different cultures (Brislin et al 2006;chen, Wu & Bian 2014;Huff et al 2014). According to Ang et al (2007), cognitive CI improves decision-making when individuals partake in cross-cultural interactions (Ang et al 2007;Huff 2013;Huff et al 2014;Ward et al 2009). From this literature, the following hypotheses are derived according to the logic explained in the previous section:…”

Assessing the measurement invariance of the four-dimensional cultural intelligence scale across countries: A composite model approach

“…The scale was developed in the U.S. and Singapore (Ang, Van Dyne, & Koh, 2006;Ang et al, 2007;Van Dyne, Ang, & Koh, 2008), but translated versions have been used in dozens of studies in non-Englishspeaking countries, such as China (Bücker, Furrer, Poutsma, & Buyens, 2014), Germany (Remhof, Gunkel, & Schl€ agel, 2013), and Turkey (Ş ahin, Gürbüz, K€ oksal, & Ercan, 2013). Numerous studies have applied the scale to compare CQ's effects across countries or cultures (Bücker, Furrer, & Peeters Weem, 2012;Ang et al, 2007;Engle & Nehrt, 2012;Engle, Dimitriadi, & Sadrieh, 2012;Imai & Gelfand, 2010), or have used it on pooled samples comprising individuals with different cultural backgrounds (e.g., Elenkov & Manev, 2009;Huff, 2013;Huff, Song, & Gresch, 2014;Lin, Chen, & Song, 2012;Malek & Budhwar, 2013;Ramalu, Rose, Kumar, & Uli, 2010). While these studies' findings contribute to a better understanding of CQ, researchers often inadequately examine the CQ scale's validity in country settings that differ from the context in which it had been developed and initially tested.…”

Exploring cultural intelligence truths: A systematic review

“…Motivational CQ was found to be positively related to each of general, interaction and work adjustment (Ang et al, 2007;Guðmundsdóttir, 2015;Huff, 2013;Ramalu, Rose, et al, 2010;Ramalu, Wei, et al, 2011;Templer, Tay & Chandrasekar, 2006) and explained the variance in general, interaction and work adjustment beyond that which the five-factor personality model could (Huff, Song & Gresch, 2014). Metacognitive CQ showed a positive association with (1) all three of these crosscultural adjustment components (general, interaction and work) (Guðmundsdóttir, 2015) and (2) with only the general and interaction components Ramalu et al, 2011).…”

“…This dimension also incorporates the utilisation of energy in transitioning to cultural settings that one may be unaccustomed to (Groves et al, 2015). The fourth dimension of CQ is that of behaviour, that is, a person's ability to act and react appropriately during cross-cultural exchanges (Huff, 2013). The actions may be both verbal and non-verbal (Ang et al, 2007).…”

“…Cognitive CQ refers to the knowledge one has about different cultures (Presbitero, 2016). This knowledge may be sourced from, and developed through, both personal and educational experiences (Huff, 2013). The desire to immerse oneself in other cultures is evidenced by motivational CQ.…”