Organizational CQ: Cultural intelligence (CQ) for 21st century organizations

Abstract We’re in an age of massive global disruption. Technological advancements threaten century-old business models, globalization is re-ordering supply chains, and people need to work with colleagues and customers who have vastly different backgrounds. On top of that, we’re in the midst of a global pandemic and customers, employers, and investors are demanding more than just a “Black Lives Matter” social media post. Organizations with high cultural intelligence are able to navigate this volatility and complexity effectively. Over the last two decades, scholars from across the world have published hundreds of articles on cultural intelligence (CQ), the capability to relate and work effectively in complex, culturally diverse situations. Most of the work has examined cultural intelligence at the individual level. But what about organizations? Can organizations be culturally intelligent? The emerging research on CQ at the organizational level offers leaders and organizations critical insights for navigating today’s diverse, digital world. Organizational CQ is a firm’s capability to function effectively in a complex and unpredictable multicultural world. This article explicates the importance of the culturally intelligent organization and how to develop organizational CQ.