Exploring the Impact of Cross-Cultural Management Education on Cultural Intelligence, Student Satisfaction, and Commitment

Increasing globalization, workforce mobility, and international assignments are creating demand for culturally adept employees. While developing these employees begins in the classroom, educators are experiencing difficulties motivating students to learn intercultural competences. Cultural intelligence (CQ) training may be one way to increase their competencies, as well as their commitment to and satisfaction with a cross-cultural management (CCM) course. As an extension to the AMLE 2013 Special Issue "Cross-Cultural Management Learning and Education-Exploring Multiple Aims, Approaches, and Impacts," we utilized a quasi-experimental design to survey 152 MBA students taking a CCM course. We also included a pre- and posttest along with a control group. The purpose of this study was to see whether CQ can be learned in the classroom, and if so, what are the consequences? Results revealed that students taking the CCM course increased their CQ and that CQ was positively related to their commitment to and satisfaction with their course. Furthermore, students who increased their level of CQ were more satisfied at the end of the course than those whose CQ level did not change.