Cultural intelligence as a predictor of expatriate managers turnover intention and creative self-efficacy

Purpose The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between cultural intelligence (CQ) and job satisfaction and its effect on creative self-efficacy and turnover intention within the expatriate manager community of the UAE. Design/methodology/approach The study proposes a theoretical model that was tested using a survey instrument administered to expatriate managers working in multi-national organizations in Dubai’s Jabal Ali Free Trade Zone. Findings The results show that job satisfaction fully mediates the relationship between CQ and turnover intention. Furthermore, the results indicate that job satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between CQ and creative self-efficacy. Originality/value The study contributions to the literature on international business by examining how expatriate manager’s job satisfaction is affected by CQ and its effect on turnover intention and creative self-efficacy within the expatriate manager context, which is seldom investigated.