Emotional intelligence and British expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment in international construction projects

Ashwini Konanahalli,Lukumon O Oyedele

doi:10.1080/01446193.2016.1213399

Abstract

Today’s internationalized business demands global mindset, intercultural sensitivity and the ability to skilfully negotiate through cross-cultural interactions. Therefore, the overall aim was to investigate the influence of emotional intelligence (EI) on cross-cultural adjustment (CCA) of British expatriates working on International Architectural, Engineering and Construction assignments in Sub-Saharan Africa, China, Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent. Specifically, the causal relationship between EI and three facets of CCA i.e. work, general and interaction adjustment was explored. A sequential exploratory mixed methods design was adopted. These include extensive review of existing literature, eighteen unstructured interviews, and questionnaire survey of 191 British expatriates operating in 29 different countries from the four regions under investigation. Structural equation modelling was used to assess the causal relationship between EI and CCA. Results show that EI accounted for 91, 64 and 24% of the variance in work, interaction and general adjustment respectively. Overall, the model was able to explain 60% variance in CCA, suggesting that EI competencies play a huge role in facilitating an expatriate understand and adapt to host country culture. The findings would help decision-makers (HR managers) during expatriate selection process, in understanding that along with technical skills, it is the emotional competencies that are crucial in assisting expatriates adjust to foreign way of life.

Highlights

Increased spending on infrastructure projects in emerging economies has had a tremendous influence on expatriation within the Engineering and Construction sector (PWC, 2008)
The overall aim was to investigate the influence of Emotional Intelligence (EI) on cross-cultural adjustment (CCA) of British expatriates working on International Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) assignments in Sub-Saharan Africa, China, Middle East and Indian Sub-Continent
Very few studies have investigated expatriation issues in AEC sector with exception of Konanahalli et al, (2014) who investigated the impact of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) on cross-cultural adjustment of British expatriate; Santosoa & Loosemore, (2013) who investigated expatriation issues in Australian construction sector; Konanahalli et al, (2012) looked in to cross-cultural adjustment of British expatriates in Middle East; Puck et al, (2008) who investigated the adjustment of expatriates working in multi-national project teams and Zainol et al, (2013) and Zainol & Abdul Aziz., (2010) who investigated a sample of Malaysian expatriates

Summary

Introduction

Increased spending on infrastructure projects in emerging economies has had a tremendous influence on expatriation within the Engineering and Construction sector (PWC, 2008). Researchers like, Bonache et al, (2001), Scullion and Brewster (2001) and Dowling et al, (2004) have devoted significant attention to investigating the topic of expatriation These studies have predominantly focused on exploring the process of expatriate adjustment (Puck et al, 2008) which involves uncertainty reduction by imitating or learning appropriate local behaviours and harmonising with the culture (Peltokorpi and Froese, 2009). In their pioneering study, Black and his colleagues conceptualised adjustment as a multi faceted concept as opposed to the dominant unitary view proposed by Oberg, (1960); Torbiorn, (1982) and Tung, (1987). The current sample is worthy of investigation because, Great Britain has expatriated AEC professionals since the colonial times and it ranks as one of the strongest in the world

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion