Cultural intelligence and sales performance in online insurance marketing: evidence from a Chinese insurance firm

The cultural clash between customers and salespeople in online marketing is observed as a barrier to promoting sales performance.The capability of handling cultural difference, or cultural intelligence (CQ), is therefore essential for salespeople. With data collected through questionnaires from a Chinese digital insurance brokerage firm, the impact of salespeople's CQ on sales performance is examined with the partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) method. It is identified that CQ serves as a positive moderating variable in the relationship between customer orientation and sales performance, as well as a partial mediating variable in the relationship between perceived organizational support and sales performance of the online insurance salespeople.

Cultural intelligence and innovative work behavior: examining multiple mediation paths in the healthcare sector in India

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to look at numerous mediating factors that influence innovative work behavior through cultural intelligence (CQ). The author specifically examines affective commitment, interpersonal trust and psychological well-being as three mediating pathways through which CQ predicts innovative work behavior (IWB).

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from 355 employees working in the health-care sector of India through convenience sampling.

Findings

Affective commitment, interpersonal trust and psychological well-being mediated the relationship between CQ and innovative work behavior. In addition, CQ positively relates to affective commitment (AC), interpersonal trust and psychological well-being and IWB.

Practical implications

Managers and human resource (HR) professionals can potentially stimulate employee innovation by developing cultural awareness programs for their employees. An organization must seek to provide a sense of attachment, a trustworthy environment and a favorable perception of psychological well-being to its employees. This could stimulate innovation in the health-care sector.

Originality/value

Although understanding the mechanism or processes by which CQ supports IWB is critical, research in this area is limited. This study theorizes and empirically examines affective commitment, interpersonal trust and psychological well-being as novel mechanisms through which CQ promotes innovative behavior in health-care organizations. Furthermore, the author presume that the intervening mediators guide the direction of social exchange.

Perceived risk and sensitivity and their influence on expatriate performance during the COVID‐19 pandemic

The COVID 19 pandemic has changed the way that global businesses function, and has been the driving force behind a reevaluation of the factors that influence expatriate performance. This study empirically examines the mediating effects of perceived risk and sensitivity in the relationship between self‐initiated expatriates support mechanisms (perceived organizational support and host‐country national support) and expatriate performance during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The data from 114 expatriates working and residing in Malaysia between March 27 and May 14, 2020 was analyzed using structural equation modelling. The results from the study indicate that host country national support significantly influences expatriate performance indirectly through expatriate engagement, while perceived risk and sensitivity moderate the relationship between perceived organizational support and host country national support through expatriate engagement. The integration of factors that influence work performance during a pandemic, such as perceived risk and sensitivity, leads to a more concise view of expatriation. Organizations need to be more prepared in terms of risk induced scenarios, and propose suitable intervention programs to mitigate the potential negative outcomes due to a pandemic.

Intercultural adjustment of internationally mobile academics working in Thailand

Non-nationals constitute up to a quarter of the academic staff workforce of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) worldwide. Their motivations to 'work abroad', and their experiences of doing so, are, however, under-researched, especially where migration is to or within the global South. We report a study conducted among internationally mobile academics from a variety of countries working in Thailand. At policy level, Thailand aspires to increase the numbers of international staff and students in its HEIs, but with mixed success in terms of recruitment levels and the reported quality of the experience among these migrants. Conceptually, our study drew on a framework of intercultural adjustment defined as a multidimensional construct comprising psychological, sociocultural and professional/work aspects of the experience. Semi-structured focus groups were conducted to explore experiences of working in Thailand. Thematic analysis of findings showed that reported experiences mainly fell under the category of professional/work aspects of intercultural adjustment, although sociocultural issues were also important. The reported quality of experiences was mixed and generally more negative than positive in the key areas of professional and work adjustment. Specific challenges highlighted by participants related to issues with the work environment, most especially lingual-cultural problems and, crucially, a lack of secure status. We detail and discuss these findings and present recommendations for policy makers and HEIs, aspirant academic migrants, and for future research into global academic migration, particular as it relates to Thailand and other destinations for academic migration.

Work engagement, affective commitment, and career satisfaction: the mediating role of knowledge sharing in context of SIEs

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine linkages between work engagement, affective commitment, and career satisfaction, while probing the mediating role of knowledge sharing in context of self-initiated- expatriates (SIEs).

Design/methodology/approach

A mediation model was tested using survey data from 266 SIEs working in US information technology (IT) multinational corporations (MNCs).

Findings

The results revealed significant direct and indirect effects of work engagement on affective commitment and career satisfaction through knowledge sharing.

Research limitations/implications

Although common method bias and validity of measurement were assessed in this study, the survey data were cross-sectional. Rigorous testing of the proposed mediated model through longitudinal design must be undertaken to allow for stronger inferences about causation.

Practical implications

The results suggest that organizations must nurture a knowledge sharing culture to promote knowledge exchange amongst SIEs. This study also underscores the importance of SIEs' work engagement as an enabler of knowledge sharing. Managers have a critical role in creating the right work environment, where SIEs feel engaged in their work and motivated to share knowledge.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine interlinkages between work engagement, knowledge sharing, affective commitment and career satisfaction in SIEs' context.

Expatriate's engagement and burnout: the role of purpose-oriented leadership and cultural intelligence

Purpose

This study analyzes the impact of purpose-oriented leadership and leader cultural intelligence on engagement and burnout among expatriates undertaking long-term corporate assignments, grounded on social psychology frameworks on interpersonal bias.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted with corporate expatriates from 21 different nationalities, who work for large multinational companies and were on assignment in 23 distinct countries – including Brazil, China, Japan and the UK Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling was used to evaluate the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

Results indicate that leader cultural intelligence is associated with lower burnout and higher engagement among expatriates, and that purpose-oriented leadership is associated with higher expatriate engagement but not with lower burnout.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the field by highlighting specific leader attributes that can foster successful expatriation: cultural intelligence and purpose-oriented leadership. The study adds to knowledge on leader–follower relationships amid national and cultural diversity by pointing to actionable leader qualities that can foster expatriate engagement and prevent his/her burnout.