What is Cultural Intelligence ?

sorted and written by Fiona Tung

According to Professor Christopher Earley and Soon Ang in the book Cultural Intelligence: Individual Interactions Across Cultures, we know that Cultural Intelligence, known for Cultural Quotient or CQ, describes a theory within management and organisational psychology, asserting that understanding the impact of one's cultural background on their behaviour is very important for effectiveness in business, and measuring one's ability to engage successfully in any environment.


If we applied the theory of CQ into our topic – foreign study experience, it seems to be quite related, for the interaction an international or exchange student could have is part of the process of building up one’s cultural intelligence. In other words, it is a good opportunity for any student studying overseas to make their ability to overcome cross cultural things into practice.

The brief introduction of the way of how CQ's been developped:

-cognitive means/ the head (learning about your own and other cultures, and cultural diversity)
-physical means/ the body (using your senses and adapting your movements and body language to blend in)
-motivational means/ the emotions (gaining rewards and strength from acceptance and success)

CQ is measured on a scale, similar to that used to measure an individual's intelligence quotient. People with higher CQ's are regarded as better able to successfully blend in to any environment, using more effective business practices, than those with a lower CQ.

source: wikipedia