THE ROLE OF CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE GLOBAL ERA

Authors

  • Xiaoling Yao Stamford International University

Keywords:

Roles, Cultural Intelligence, Global Era

Abstract

In the global era, our economies, cultures, and societies are more intertwined than ever, making cross-cultural competences very important. Cultural intelligence (CQ), a concept like IQ or EQ, reflects an individual’s cross-cultural capabilities. This academic article  aims to provide a whole picture of CQ research and disclose the implications of CQ for individuals and organizations in the global era. The paper articulates the theoretical framework of CQ, including its multidimensional model of cognitive CQ, metacognitive CQ, motivational CQ, and behavioral CQ. Furthermore, the paper highlights the positive roles of CQ in different fields. Finally, the paper summarizes CQ's key benefits, offers future research recommendations, and provides suggestions for educators, business managers, and the public. Academically, the present article provides an important opportunity to advance the understanding of CQ and lays the groundwork for expanding the study scopes of CQ to education, personal development, human resource management, psychology, and other social science fields.

References

Afsar, B. et al. (2019). The mediating role of transformational leadership in the relationship between cultural intelligence and employee voice behavior: A case of hotel employees. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 69(1), 66-75.

Akhal, K. & Liu, S. (2019). Cultural intelligence affects expatriates’ adjustment and turnover intentions in Mainland China. Management Research Review, 42(7), 818–836.

Ang, S. et al. (2007). Cultural intelligence: Its measurement and effects on cultural judgment and decision making, cultural adaptation and task performance. Management and Organization Review, 3(3), 335-371.

_____. (2015). Cultural intelligence: Origins, conceptualization, evolution, and methodological diversity. In M. J. Gelfand, C.-Y. Chiu, & Y.-Y. Hong (Eds.), Handbook of advances in culture and psychology, Vol. 5, (pp. 273–323). USA: Oxford University Press.

Ansari, M. I. et al. (2012). Analysis of the relationship between cultural intelligence and transformational leadership (the case of managers at the trade office). International Journal of Business and Social Science, 3(14), 252-261.

Barakat, L. et al. (2015). Global managers: An analysis of the impact of cultural intelligence on job satisfaction and performance. International Journal of Emerging Markets, 10(4), 781–800.

BOI, T. B. O. I. (2024). Thailand BOI Says 2023 Investment Applications up 43% to USD 24 Billion as Large FDI Projects Soar. Retrieved March 20, 2024, from https://www.boi.go.th/un/press_releases2

Charoensukmongkol, P. (2015). Cultural intelligence of entrepreneurs and international network ties: The case of Thailand's small and medium manufacturing firms. Management Research Review, 38(4), 421-436.

_____. (2020). The efficacy of cultural intelligence for adaptive selling behaviors in cross-cultural selling: The moderating effect of trait mindfulness. Journal of Global Marketing, 33(3), 141-157.

Earley, P. C. & Ang, S. (2003). Cultural intelligence: Individual interactions across cultures. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

Ersoy, A. (2014). The Role of Cultural Intelligence in Cross-Cultural Leadership Effectiveness: A Qualitative Study in the Hospitality Industry. Journal of Yasar University, 35(9). 6099-6260.

Fakhreldin, H. (2021). Cultural intelligence and the internationalization of SMEs: a study of the manufacturing sector in Egypt. Journal for International Business and Entrepreneurship Development, 13(1), 61-90.

Groves, K. S. & Feyerherm, A. E. (2011). Leader cultural intelligence in context: Testing the moderating effects of team cultural diversity on leader and team performance. Group & Organization Management, 36(5), 535–566.

IATA. (2025). Global Air Passenger Demand Reaches Record High in 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024, from https://shorturl.asia/CT4Lf

Imamov, M. & Semenikhina, N. (2021). The impact of the digital revolution on the global economy. Linguistics and Culture Review, 5(s4), 968-987.

Jiang, Z. et al. (2018). Cultural intelligence and voice behavior among migrant workers: the mediating role of leader-member exchange. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 29(5), 1082–1112.

Jyoti, J. & Kour, S. (2015). Assessing the cultural intelligence and task performance equation: Mediating role of cultural adjustment. Cross Cultural Management, 22(2), 236–258.

Kadam, R. et al. (2019). Impact of cultural intelligence on SME performance: The mediating effect of entrepreneurial orientation. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, 6(3), 161–185.

Lee, L. Y. & Sukoco, B. M. (2010). The effects of cultural intelligence on expatriate performance: The moderating effects of international experience. The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 21(7), 963-981.

Malek, M. A. & Budhwar, P. (2013). Cultural intelligence as a predictor of expatriate adjustment and performance in Malaysia. Journal of World Business, 48(2), 222-231.

Nosratabadi, S. et al. (2020). Leader cultural intelligence and organizational performance. Cogent Business & Management, 7(1), 1-17.

Pauluzzo, R. (2021). The imitation game: Building cultural intelligence as a social learning capability to boost SMEs' international performance. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 28(3), 317–336.

PRD, T. G. P. R. D. (2025). Thailand Hits Decade-High Investment Applications in 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024, from https://shorturl.asia/wcdSx

Presbitero, A. (2017). Religious expatriates’ cultural intelligence and adaptation: The role of intrinsic motivation for successful expatriation. Journal of Global Mobility: The Home of Expatriate Management Research, 5(2), 146-157.

Ramsey, J. R. et al. (2017). Developing global transformational leaders. Journal of World Business, 52(4), 461-473.

Seriwatana, P. & Charoensukmongkol, P. (2021). Cultural intelligence and relationship quality in the cabin crew team: The perception of members belonging to cultural minority groups. Journal of Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism, 20(2), 147-173.

Stoermer, S. et al. (2021). The influence of expatriate cultural intelligence on organizational embeddedness and knowledge sharing: The moderating effects of host country context. Journal of International Business Studies, 52(1), 432-453.

Van Dyne, L. et al. (2010). Cultural intelligence: A pathway for leading in a rapidly globalizing world. Leading across differences, 4(2), 131–138.

______. (2012). Sub‐dimensions of the four factor model of cultural intelligence: Expanding the conceptualization and measurement of cultural intelligence. Social and personality psychology compass, 6(4), 295-313.

______. (2015). Development and validation of the CQS: The cultural intelligence scale. In Handbook of cultural intelligence (pp. 34-56). New York: Routledge.

Vlajčić, D. et al. (2019). Expatriates managers’ cultural intelligence as promoter of knowledge transfer in multinational companies. Journal of Business Research, 94(1), 367-377.

Wang, L. et al. (2017). Cross-national cultural competency among Taiwanese international students. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 10(3), 271-287.

Wawrosz, P. & Jurásek, M. (2023). The Role of Cultural Intelligence Facets in Cross-Cultural Adjustment. Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, 52(2), 216-235.

Downloads

Published

2025-04-25

How to Cite

Yao, X. (2025). THE ROLE OF CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE GLOBAL ERA. Journal of MCU Social Science Review, 14(2), 313–326. retrieved from https://so03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jssr/article/view/285754