Speak to your heart: The joint moderating effects of language proficiencies on cultural intelligence and expatriates’ work performance

Authors: Angela Shin-Yih Chen, & Yi-Chun Lin

Journal: Corporate Management Review. June. 2019, 39(1): 119-154.

Keywords: Cultural intelligence; host-country language proficiency; English proficiency; in-role performance; expatriates.

Abstract:
The purpose of the current study is to examine the relationship between cultural intelligence (CQ) and proficiency in the host-country language and English and the impact of these on expatriates’ in-role performance. On-line questionnaires were used to collect data from 232 Taiwanese managers who had taken up assignments in Vietnam. The data were explored via a three-way interaction to examine the effects of CQ and language proficiencies on expatriates’ performance. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the Harman’s one-factor test and ULMC technique were performed before the data were analyzed, and all results indicated that the CMV was not a serious problem in this study. In testing the hypotheses, the results demonstrated that CQ is positively related to expatriates’ work performance. Furthermore, both proficiency in the host-country language and English can enhance the link between CQ and in-role job performance. In terms of the three-way interaction effect, it was found that expatriate managers who are higher proficient in English as well as in the language of the host country, will have a stronger relationship between CQ and performance than those who are less proficient in the host-country language proficiency. Our findings contribute new knowledge to the field of international human resource management studies. Our results also have managerial implications for international human resources selection strategies.