Ethnocentrism, Cultural Intelligence, and Conflict Management Styles: A Comparative Cross-Cultural Outlook of China and Pakistan

Abstract

Globalization has paved the way for individuals and industries to engage in cross-border work and business opportunities. However, dealing with cultural barriers is still the biggest challenge for those who are part of such a diverse work group. Cultural intelligence has emerged as a valuable construct for overcoming cultural barriers. The current study sought to expand the existing comprehension of the connection between ethnocentrism and conflict management styles using the theory of cultural intelligence. The data from 310 Chinese and Pakistani workers working on renewable energy projects under CPEC in Pakistan was analyzed using partial least square - structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) by using SMART-PLS 3.0 software. Results from the analysis confirmed the significance of the proposed theoretical framework in determining the effect of cultural intelligence on the relationship between ethnocentrism and conflict management styles. The finding from this study provides significant insight into the conflict management styles preferred by Chinese and Pakistani workers and how ethnocentrism affects those choices. It also provides valuable information about the mediating effect of cultural intelligence on this relationship