The effects of cultural intelligence on leadership performance among Chinese expatriates working in Thailand

Abstract

There are numerous differences between Chinese and Thai cultures and work styles. Chinese expatriates unable to understand Thai culture, or those unwilling to adjust their behaviors to align with Thai cultural preferences, can potentially lead their Thai employees to perceive Chinese expatriates as ineffective leaders. Drawing upon social exchange theory, this study investigates the effects of cultural intelligence (CQ) of Chinese expatriates on supervisor support, perceived leadership effectiveness, and subordinates’ commitment to the supervisor. This study utilizes survey data from 169 pairs of Chinese expatriates and Thai subordinates employed by Chinese subsidiaries located in Thailand. Using Partial Least Squares structural equation modeling to analyze the data, the results reveal that Thai subordinates evaluate Chinese expatriates as possessing high CQ and perceive them more favorably in terms of supervisor support. Additionally, supervisor support mediates the positive effect of CQ of Chinese expatriates for leadership effectiveness and subordinates’ commitment to the supervisor.