Title: Motivational differences: the moderated link between cultural experience and cultural intelligence

Authors: Michael R. Montanye; Rimi Zakaria; Aditya Simha

Addresses: School of Business and Entrepreneurship, North Central College, Naperville, Illinois, USA ' College of Business and Economics, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater, Wisconsin, USA ' College of Business and Economics, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Whitewater, Wisconsin, USA

Abstract: This study attempts to expand cultural intelligence's (CQ) nomological network. Specifically, we examine the roles of interdependent self-construal (ISC) and generalised self-determination (GSD) in individuals to explain how motivational differences supplement the relationship between cultural experience (CE) and CQ. As we replicate the findings of prior studies on a sample of 546 respondents, our empirical analyses confirm a positive association between broad CE and overall CQ. Additionally, building on the assertions of self-determination and expectancy theories, we examine the impacts of two moderators that shape the CE and CQ relationship. First, we find a substituting effect of CE and ISC on CQ. Second, we observe that GSD strengthens the overall CE-CQ connection. This study theoretically advances our conceptualisation of CQ by affirming the explanatory power of motivation-based models. These results provide organisations with evidence-based approaches to developing a cross-culturally effective workforce.

Keywords: cultural intelligence; motivation; cultural experience; interdependent self-construal; generalised self-determination.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2026.152254

European Journal of International Management, 2026 Vol.28 No.4, pp.649 - 675

Received: 29 Dec 2022
Accepted: 25 Sep 2023
Published online: 13 Mar 2026 *

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