How cultural intelligence affects expatriate effectiveness in international construction projects

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the influence mechanism of expatriates' cultural intelligence (CQ) on expatriate effectiveness (task performance and premature return intention), identifying work engagement as a mediator and cultural distance as a boundary condition.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the conservation of resource theory and the person-environment fit (P-E fit) theory, a moderated mediation model is built. Working with a sample of 303 international construction expatriates collected by snowball sampling, the hypotheses are tested by using the structural equation model analysis.FindingsWork engagement partially mediates the relationship between expatriates' CQ and task performance, as well as fully mediates the relationship between expatriates' CQ and premature return intention. Cultural distance moderates the positive relationship between CQ and work engagement, as well as moderates the mediating effects of work engagement.Research limitations/implicationsThe impacts of potential moderators (e.g. work-family conflict and organizational culture) on the relationship between CQ and expatriate effectiveness have not been considered in this study.Practical implicationsThis study is useful for international construction firms to optimize the allocation of human resources.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the expatriate literature by adding empirical evidence to explain the influence mechanism of expatriates' CQ on expatriate effectiveness.