CQ and global work: a focus on work contexts and referent others

In recent years, cultural intelligence (CQ) has received considerable interest from researchers and practitioners alike. Despite growth in the various types of global work, most research to date has been conducted in the context of expatriation. In this chapter we review the literature on CQ as its relationship to various indicators of success in global work. Further, we examine the limitations of current research and suggest a more nuanced perspective on the role of CQ for facilitating different types of global work. Specifically, we explore the possibility that certain dimensions of CQ are more (or less) relevant for certain types of global work, depending on job demands. We also examine dyadic approaches to investigating CQ, which consider the CQ level of all parties involved in cross-cultural interactions. Based on these arguments, we propose avenues for future research that might propel the field forward.