Interactions among culturally diverse personnel: an analysis of individual difference variables

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate attitudes toward interacting with foreign nationals from emerging and developed markets. Differences in attitudes are assessed using liability-of-foreignness factors. Design/methodology/approach – Purposive sample collected at a private university in Australia; hierarchical linear modeling approach examines differences across regions of Australia, Asia, Middle East, Europe, and North America; Type 2 moderated mediation procedures. Findings – Findings argue for variations across individual difference variables relative to the inclination to interact with emerging markets foreign nationals. Europeans’ willingness to interact with emerging market foreign nationals is diminished with high levels of tendency to stereotype, whereas North Americans’ willingness to interact with developed market foreign nationals is enhanced with high levels of tendency to stereotype. Research limitations/implications – Use of self-reported measures may limit validity and gene...