The relationship of big five personality traits, emotional intelligence, and cultural intelligence in predicting posting outcomes of South African ex-pats

Abstract

Owing to the ever-increasing globalisation and global integration, many countries and organisations are compelled to post increasing number of employees to represent their countries and conduct business in foreign countries. These posted employees face serious challenges of culture shock and cross-cultural-adjustment, which may impair their ability to perform duties, leading to unsuccessful posting. Cultural intelligence characterises an individual’s capability to function and manage effectively in culturally diverse situation (posting). The big five personality traits, along with emotional intelligence, are postulated to have effect on adjustment, and task (work) performance. The aim of this study was to determine the nature of relationship between cultural intelligence factors on posting experience. To investigate the relationship between cultural intelligence factors and big five personality traits; as well as the relationship between cultural intelligence factors and emotional intelligence factors. To assess whether the big five personality traits and emotional intelligence factors moderate the relationship between cultural intelligence and posting experience. The results of Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a very weak to no correlation between cultural intelligence and posting experience. The results of the correlation analysis between big five personality traits and cultural intelligence revealed significant moderate positive correlation between all big five personality traits and cultural intelligence factors. The results of the correlation analysis between all emotional intelligence factors and cultural intelligence factors demonstrated significant moderate positive correlation between emotional intelligence factors and cultural intelligence factors. Results of the linear multiple regression analysis revealed that motivational and metacognitive cultural intelligence have significant effect on posting experience. However, the findings also indicated that cognitive cultural intelligence does not have significant effect on posting experience, and that behavioural cultural intelligence has significant but negative effect on posting experience. The results of moderation analysis revealed that big five personality traits and emotional intelligence factors did not have significant moderating effect on the relationship between cultural intelligence and posting experience. Limitation of the empirical study was linked the utilisation of self-report measures and relatively small target population. A common limitation of self-report study is the self-report bias. The theoretical and mixed empirical findings of the study illustrate that cultural intelligence factors of motivational and metacognitive have positive effect on posting experience. The findings also revealed a positive relationship between cultural intelligence and both the big five personality traits, and emotional intelligence. Therefore, organisations need to consider the significance of cultural intelligence, big five personality trait, and emotional intelligence in their pre-posting personnel selection, assessment, and capacity building, for effective and desirable posting experience.