Personality traits and cross-cultural competence of Chinese expatriate managers: a socio-analytic and institutional perspective

Abstract

Drawing from socio-analytic theory and institutional theory, this study investigates the influence of personality traits on cross-cultural competence (CCC) in Chinese expatriate managers' overseas managerial experiences. Given the growing importance of Chinese outward foreign direct investment to other economies, this study is timely as it expands our knowledge of expatriates from this large emerging ‘superpower’. In order to explore the impact of personality traits on CCC, multi-level in-depth interviews were conducted including interviews with 25 Chinese expatriate managers, 15 foreign colleagues and 10 cross-cultural experts or expatriate supervisors. The findings suggest that although conscientiousness and openness emerge as major traits that may contribute to CCC, their influences are considerably constrained by institutional differences between home and host countries. This study contributes to theory building by proposing a new conceptual model that incorporates institutional factors into socio-analytic theory to explain how personality traits contribute to CCC of expatriates. It also advances the field by examining the experiences of expatriates from an emerging economy and how their experiences differ from those previously researched.

Keywords::

• China
• cross-cultural competence
• expatriate
• institutions
• personality traits

Acknowledgements

The authors are highly appreciative of the valuable inputs by Dr Lin Cui (ANU) and Dr Thin Vu (Monash University) during the early drafts of this paper. The authors also wish to express their gratitude for the insightful comments provided by the anonymous reviewers. This study is supported by the Monash Postgraduate Publications Award.