Measuring organizational cultural intelligence

Abstract

This study presents a five-factor, 21-item measure of cultural intelligence (CQ), at the organizational level of analysis. This instrument builds on the conceptual model espoused by Ang and Inkpen (2008). The scale included items elicited through a literature review, the use of the Delphi technique with a panel of experts, and tested on 234 full-time employees of 10 North American nonprofit organizations. The five factors are: (a) leadership behavior, (b) adaptability, (c) training and development, (d) organizational intentionality, and (e) organizational inclusion. The findings of this study contribute to a small, but growing body of literature on organizational CQ not based on aggregate individual-level data or referent-shift data. The findings provide insights for both researchers and practitioners, and they have implications for leadership appointments and leadership development in organizations seeking to develop organizational CQ.