IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/aif/journl/v40y2024i1p124-139.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unlocking Global Success: The Role of Cultural Intelligence and International Experience in Enhancing Expatriates’ Adjustment and Well-Being

Author

Listed:
  • Dunia G Marino Zuleta

    (Business School, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing, China.)

  • Niu Xiongying

    (Business School, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing, China.)

  • Muhammad Qasim

    (Business School, University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), Beijing, China.)

Abstract

In today's increasingly interconnected world, the psychological well-being of expatriates remains a critical concern for organizations. This research analyzes the impact of informal field-based learning (IFBL) and expatriate leadership behaviors on increasing expatriate adjustment and well-being. Grounded in established theoretical models and extensive literature on cultural intelligence (CQ) and international experience, this study investigates the effect of CQ and international experience on expatriate performance; it employs a cross-sectional research method to administer questionnaires to the participants – Chinese expatriates working with Sinosteel Construction & Development Co. Ltda in Bolivia. Data was analyzed using SPSS and Hayes Process macro. Results show that IFBL has a large and highly significant positive impact on expatriate adjustment and psychological well-being. Furthermore, expatriate adjustment partially moderates the IFBL and well-being link, such that the relationship is stronger for those with higher IFBL scores. The study also looks at moderation effects, discovering that expatriate international experience (EIE) boosts the relationship between IFBL and adjustment. Thus, it has been determined that CQ does not exert a significant moderating effect on this relationship. Therefore, it provides useful suggestions to those multinational firms that want to improve their expatriate practices and policies. The current study proposes that organizations can enhance expatriate adjustment and organizational effectiveness by drawing attention to the role of informal learning and accenting the value of CQ, which can enhance the performance and well-being of expatriates.

Suggested Citation

  • Dunia G Marino Zuleta & Niu Xiongying & Muhammad Qasim, 2024. "Unlocking Global Success: The Role of Cultural Intelligence and International Experience in Enhancing Expatriates’ Adjustment and Well-Being," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 40(1), pages 124-139.
  • Handle: RePEc:aif:journl:v:40:y:2024:i:1:p:124-139
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://ijsab.com/wp-content/uploads/2448.pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://ijsab.com/ijsb/volume-40-issue-1/7144
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Caligiuri, Paula & Tarique, Ibraiz, 2012. "Dynamic cross-cultural competencies and global leadership effectiveness," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 47(4), pages 612-622.
    2. Joseph P. H. Fan & Qiankun Gu & Xin Yu, 2022. "Collectivist Cultures and the Emergence of Family Firms," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 65(S1), pages 293-325.
    3. Margaret A Shaffer & David A Harrison & K Matthew Gilley, 1999. "Dimensions, Determinants, and Differences in the Expatriate Adjustment Process," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 30(3), pages 557-581, September.
    4. Abdul Malek, Marlin & Budhwar, Pawan, 2013. "Cultural intelligence as a predictor of expatriate adjustment and performance in Malaysia," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 222-231.
    5. Muhammad Qasim & Muhammad Irshad & Mehwish Majeed & Syed Tahir Hussain Rizvi, 2022. "Examining Impact of Islamic Work Ethic on Task Performance: Mediating Effect of Psychological Capital and a Moderating Role of Ethical Leadership," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(1), pages 283-295, September.
    6. J Stewart Black & Hal B Gregersen, 1991. "The Other Half of the Picture: Antecedents of Spouse Cross-Cultural Adjustment," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 22(3), pages 461-477, September.
    7. Lauring, Jakob & Selmer, Jan, 2018. "Person-environment fit and emotional control: Assigned expatriates vs. self-initiated expatriates," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 982-992.
    8. Crowne, Kerri Anne, 2008. "What leads to cultural intelligence?," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 51(5), pages 391-399.
    9. Marie-France Waxin & Chris Brewster & Nicolas Ashill, 2019. "Expatriate time to proficiency: individual antecedents and the moderating effect of home country," Journal of Global Mobility, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 7(3), pages 300-318, July.
    10. Geneviève Morin & David Talbot, 2023. "Cultural intelligence of expatriate workers: a systematic review," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 73(1), pages 413-454, February.
    11. Dian Prihadyanti & Karlina Sari & Dudi Hidayat & Nur Laili & Budi Triyono & Chichi Shintia Laksani, 2022. "The Changing Nature of Expatriation: The Emerging Role of Knowledge Transfer Readiness," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(2), pages 1496-1541, June.
    12. Pidduck, Robert J. & Shaffer, Margaret A. & Zhang, Yejun & Cheung, Sally S.Y. & Yunlu, Dilek G., 2022. "Cultural intelligence: An identity lens on the influence of cross-cultural experience," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(3).
    13. Md. Sayed Uddin & Rosazman Hussin & Badariah Ab Rahman, 2020. "Socio-Cultural Adjustment and Job Performance Among Expatriates: A Critical Overview," International Journal of Human Resource Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 10(1), pages 146157-1461, December.
    14. Soon Ang & Linn Van Dyne & Christine Koh & K. Yee Ng & Klaus J. Templer & Cheryl Tay & N. Anand Chandrasekar, 2007. "Cultural Intelligence: Its Measurement and Effects on Cultural Judgment and Decision Making, Cultural Adaptation and Task Performance," Management and Organization Review, The International Association for Chinese Management Research, vol. 3(3), pages 335-371, November.
    15. Ang, Soon & Van Dyne, Linn & Koh, Christine & Ng, K. Yee & Templer, Klaus J. & Tay, Cheryl & Chandrasekar, N. Anand, 2007. "Cultural Intelligence: Its Measurement and Effects on Cultural Judgment and Decision Making, Cultural Adaptation and Task Performance," Management and Organization Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 3(3), pages 335-371, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Dimitrova, Mihaela & Chia, Sherwin Ignatius & Shaffer, Margaret A. & Tay-Lee, Cheryl, 2020. "Forgotten travelers: Adjustment and career implications of international business travel for expatriates," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(1).
    2. Sousa, Cátia & Gonçalves, Gabriela, 2019. "Multiculturality as an antecedent to work wellbeing and work passion," Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, Cinturs - Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being, University of Algarve, vol. 7(2), pages 101-124.
    3. Miroslav Jurasek & Petr Wawrosz, 2023. "How Does Self-Efficacy in Communication Affect the Relationship Between Intercultural Experience, Language Skills, and Cultural Intelligence," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.
    4. Vlajčić, Davor & Caputo, Andrea & Marzi, Giacomo & Dabić, Marina, 2019. "Expatriates managers’ cultural intelligence as promoter of knowledge transfer in multinational companies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 367-377.
    5. Abdul Malek, Marlin & Budhwar, Pawan, 2013. "Cultural intelligence as a predictor of expatriate adjustment and performance in Malaysia," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 48(2), pages 222-231.
    6. Martin Mabunda Baluku & Julius Fred Kikooma & Edward Bantu & Peter Onderi & Kathleen Otto, 2019. "Impact of personal cultural orientations and cultural intelligence on subjective success in self-employment in multi-ethnic societies," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 9(1), pages 1-22, December.
    7. Musarra, Giuseppe & Kadile, Vita & Zaefarian, Ghasem & Oghazi, Pejvak & Najafi-Tavani, Zhaleh, 2022. "Emotions, culture intelligence, and mutual trust in technology business relationships," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    8. Annelies Costers & Yves Van Vaerenbergh & Anja Van den Broeck, 2019. "How to boost frontline employee service recovery performance: the role of cultural intelligence," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 13(3), pages 581-602, September.
    9. Pidduck, Robert J. & Shaffer, Margaret A. & Zhang, Yejun & Cheung, Sally S.Y. & Yunlu, Dilek G., 2022. "Cultural intelligence: An identity lens on the influence of cross-cultural experience," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(3).
    10. Laura BRANCU & Valentin MUNTEANU & Ionut GOLET, 2016. "A Comparative Approach of Cultural Intelligence Profile of Management and Non-Management Romanian Students," REVISTA DE MANAGEMENT COMPARAT INTERNATIONAL/REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 17(4), pages 308-319, October.
    11. Presbitero, Alfred, 2021. "Communication accommodation within global virtual team: The influence of cultural intelligence and the impact on interpersonal process effectiveness," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    12. Khaled Elsayed Ziada & Dimitri van der Linden & Edward Dutton & Nabil Sharaf Almalki & Salaheldin Farah Attallah Bakhiet & Zohra Ihsan & Adrian Furnham & Yossry Ahmed Sayed Essa & Shehana Mohammed Alq, 2021. "Sex and Culture Differences in Cultural Intelligence: A Study Comparing Saudi Arabians and Egyptians," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(3), pages 21582440211, September.
    13. Schlägel, Christopher & Sarstedt, Marko, 2016. "Assessing the measurement invariance of the four-dimensional cultural intelligence scale across countries: A composite model approach," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 633-649.
    14. Kadri KARMA & Rebekka VEDINA, 2009. "Cultural Intelligence as a Prism between Workforce Diversity and Performance in a Modern Organization," REVISTA DE MANAGEMENT COMPARAT INTERNATIONAL/REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 10(3), pages 527-542, July.
    15. Ana Azevedo, 2018. "Cultural Intelligence: Key Benefits to Individuals, Teams and Organizations," American Journal of Economics and Business Administration, Science Publications, vol. 10(1), pages 52-56, December.
    16. repec:rai:zfpers:doi_10.1688/1862-0000_zfp_2013_02_remhof is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Maimunah Ismail, 2015. "Conceptualizing knowledge transfer between expatriates and host country nationals: The mediating effect of social capital," Cogent Business & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(1), pages 1101803-110, December.
    18. Sebastian Stoermer & Samuel Davies & Fabian Jintae Froese, 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, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(3), pages 432-453, April.
    19. Abdel-Rahim, Heba Y. & Lorenz, Melanie P. & Zaher, Angie Abdel, 2022. "How do cultural difference, cultural exposure, and CQ affect interpretations of trust from contract choices? Evidence from dyadic cross-country experiments," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    20. Mary Monica Jiony & Tek Yew Lew & Daria Gom & Geoffrey Harvey Tanakinjal & Stephen Sondoh, 2021. "Influence of Cultural Intelligence and Psychological Capital on Service Quality: A Study of the Hotel Industry in Sabah, Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-20, September.
    21. Tharapos, Meredith & O'Connell, Brendan T. & Dellaportas, Steven & Basioudis, Ilias, 2019. "Are accounting academics culturally intelligent?: An empirical investigation," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(2), pages 111-129.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:aif:journl:v:40:y:2024:i:1:p:124-139. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Farjana Rahman (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.