When in Rome do as the Romans do or not? Cultural Intelligence and Cross-Cultural Learning

Abstract

Cultural intelligence, does it come naturally, or one has to learn it. The answer is a bit of both. Adaptation of a culture in a new environment is pertinent for the newcomers in society. Collaborations among different countries for different purposes (i.e. economic, commercial, social, etc.) also require an understanding of home-country and host-country cultures i.e. China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Just like countries and societies, organizations also enjoy different cultures and the need for adaptation increases when it involves some organizational scenario. The focus of this study is mainly on the pertinence and utilization of cultural adaptation in settings that are novel to the new-comers. The current study has generated a conceptual discussion on cultural intelligence while understanding its role and significance in settings where cross-cultural learning is adopted. A thorough discussion is generated on the standing of cultural learning and the importance of cultural intelligence along with the theoretical developments in the area. A practical example of Australian investment in the Chinese market is shared followed by concluding the study. Findings of this study are significant for organizations as well as countries with workforce serving from various countries having diverse cultures.