From cognition to performance: An analysis of the mechanisms affecting managers' cultural intelligence and its consequences in multicultural environments.

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Seyed Mohammad Danesh ¹

Yaghoob Maharati ²

Hossein Afkhami Rohani ¹

Gholamreza Malekzadeh ¹

¹ Ferdowsi University of Mashhad

² Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/tmj.2026.96522.1789

Abstract

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Purpose: This study aims to clarify the factors that influence managers’ cultural intelligence and the outcomes it generates at different levels within multicultural settings.
Methods: The systematic review was conducted through an extensive search across reputable databases including Scopus, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Springer, and ProQuest—covering the fields of management, organizational behavior, human resources, and psychology. The screening process took place in three stages, and from an initial pool of 8,463 articles, a total of 74 studies were ultimately selected for analysis. The coherent design of the identification and selection stages, the careful control of potential biases, and adherence to transparency and reproducibility principles reflect a systematic and scholarly approach that provides a reliable basis for developing theoretical frameworks and identifying research gaps in the area of managers’ cultural intelligence. The search terms included “cultural intelligence,” “manager/leader cultural intelligence,” “multicultural organizations,” “organizational cultural intelligence,” and related concepts.
Discussion: A review of the 74 studies related to cultural intelligence shows that it is a multidimensional construct shaped through the interaction of knowledge, motivation, practical experience, and organizational support. Individual characteristics—such as flexibility and cognitive reflection—play a central role in enabling effective intercultural behavior, while a learning-oriented organizational environment helps institutionalize this capability and improve both individual and organizational performance.
Conclusion: Cultural intelligence results from the synergy among individual, experiential, and organizational factors and plays a pivotal role in enhancing innovation, adaptability, and effectiveness within multicultural organizations.

Keywords

Cultural intelligence

intercultural leadership

multicultural organizations

antecedents and outcomes of cultural intelligence and organizational cultural intelligence

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