Cultural Intelligence in the World of Work

This book provides a comprehensive review of both the theoretical development and empirical study of the concept of cultural intelligence. A review of previous work on cross-cultural competence provides an historical backdrop against which the two main theories of cultural intelligence are presented. These two approaches, as well as the assessments derived from them, are compared and evaluated. Issues associated with the measurement of cultural intelligence are examined in detail. An important feature of the review of the empirical work on cultural intelligence is that results are discussed in terms of the relationship of the four sub dimensions of the Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS) and also that results using the Short Form Cultural Intelligence Scale (SFCQ) and other measures of the concept are included. The review of empirical work includes studies that cast cultural intelligence as an antecedent, as a dependent variable, and as a moderator and a mediator. Cultural intelligence at the group and organizational levels are also discussed. Finally, this review sets the stage for a discussion of appropriate future directions in the study of cultural intelligence. Scholars in organizational psychology interested in the concept of cultural intelligence will find this an essential guide.

Yuan Liao (PhD, Simon Fraser University) is an Assistant Professor in the Managing People in Organizations Department at IESE Business School, Spain. She studies attitudes and behaviors in multicultural workplace and her work has appeared in the leading journals in the field of Cross-Cultural Management. She currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of International Business Studies and the Human Resource Management Review. 

David C Thomas (PhD University of South Carolina) is a Professor in the Gustavson School of Business, University of Victoria, Canada and Professor Emeritus of International Management at Simon Fraser University. He is the author of a dozen books including the bestselling Cultural Intelligence: Living and Working Globally, (2009, Berrett-Koehler Publishers). His book Cross-Cultural Management Essential Concepts (2008, Sage Publications) was the winner of the R. Wayne Pace Human Resource Development book of the year award for 2008. In addition, he has recently edited (with Peter B. Smith and Mark Peterson) The Handbook of Cross-Cultural Management Research from Sage Publications. His research on cross-cultural interactions in organizational settings has appeared in the leading journals in the field. He currently serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of International Business Studies, the Journal of Organizational Behavior, the International Journal of Cross-Cultural Management, and the European Journal of Cross-Cultural Competence and Management. Dr Thomas has consulted on cultural diversity issues with numerous organizations including, Tech Resources, Rio Tinto Group, Sun Microsystems, the Canadian Police College, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and Correctional Service Canada.