Transfer of Social Competencies to the Intercultural Environment. The Relationship between Social and Cultural Intelligence

Abstract

Purpose of the article: The purpose of this quantitative empirical study is to examine the relationship between social and cultural intelligence. The aim is to determine whether social skills are transferable and applicable anywhere, regardless of external conditions given by cultural differences. Methodology/methods: Data were collected using an online questionnaire, which was completed by 92 students studying economics and management at universities in the Czech Republic. Data were analyzed using the PLS-SEM method. Scientific aim: The aim is to determine the predictive power of the social intelligence construct (SQ) (and their individual components - processing, skills and awareness) on the target variable, cultural intelligence (CQ). The mediation influence of two traditional antecedents of cultural intelligence, language skills and intercultural, experience is compared. The stability (immutability) of the basic theoretical model, the relationship between social and cultural intelligence, depending on gender, is also examined. Findings: It has been found, that there is a statistically significant positive relationship between social and cultural intelligence. Social skills have the greatest effect on cultural intelligence, but our data did not confirm the statistically significant effect of one dimension of SQ (awareness). The relationship between SQ and CQ is well explained by language skills; complementary mediation was confirmed. On the contrary, the second mediator examined, intercultural experience, does not explain the SQ-CQ relationship. Only a direct effect was identified. The found relationship applies equally to men and women. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups. Conclusions: The results of our study are important for HR management and personnel management, who select new employees. The knowledge can also be used to make decisions about sending employees abroad: individuals with a high SQ are likely to do well and be work-efficient, both at home and abroad. A limitation of our research to some extent distorting its results and findings is a relatively small sample, or certain problems associated with the measurement of individual constructs. Suggestions for further research are discussed.

Keywords

• social intelligence
• cultural intelligence
• language skills
• international experience
• pls-sem