Leslie Ottavi

 

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Cultural Intelligence in the Globalized Work Environment

by Leslie Ottavi

December 2009

Cultural intelligence is the “capability of an individual to function effectively in situations characterized by cultural diversity” as defined by Earley and Ang (Ang and Van Dyne 2008). There are three key conceptual models of cultural intelligence that present similar views of the attributes needed to thrive in culturally diverse work environments. These include Earley, Ang, and Van Dyne’s four-factor model, Earley and Mosakowski’s best practice, and Thomas and Inkson’s global management approach. Suspending judgment, integrity, openness, and hardiness are personal attributes that complement an individual’s effort to acquire cultural intelligence.  Global businesses benefit from workers who are culturally intelligent because they can be more effective in culturally diverse teams in their home countries, spanning multiple countries, or in overseas assignments. Effective culturally diverse teams position organizations to achieve their business goals by delivering more rapid responses to a dynamic global marketplace. Cultural intelligence is a best practice. 

Cultural Intelligence Conceptual Models Summary

Four-Factor Model

Earley & Ang (2003)

Ang & Van Dyne (2008)

Best Practice

Earley & Mosakowski (2004)

Global Management

Thomas & Inkson (2004)

Metacognitive CQ – an individual’s cultural consciousness and awareness during interactions with others from different cultural backgrounds.

Cognitive (head) - Learning strategies which allow individuals to notice clues to a culture’s shared understandings.

Mindfulness – the ability to pay attention in a reflective and creative way to cues in cross-cultural situations.

Cognitive CQ – an individual’s cultural knowledge of norms, practices, and conventions in different cultural settings.

Knowledge – Knowledge of culture and the fundamental principles of cross-cultural interactions. Knowing what is culture, how it varies, and how it affects behavior.

Motivational CQ – an individual’s capability to direct attention and energy toward cultural differences.

Emotional/Motivational (heart) – an individual’s belief that they are capable of understanding people from unfamiliar cultures and can overcome any obstacles.

Behavioral Skills – adapting behavior to act appropriately and successfully in a range of cross-cultural situations. To have the confidence to respond both in words and in action in a way that would be authentic, but also sensitive to others from different cultures.

Behavioral CQ – an individual’s capability to exhibit appropriate verbal and nonverbal actions during interactions with others from different cultural background.

Physical (body) – an individual’s actions and demeanor must prove that they have already to some extent entered the different culture.