Document Type
Dissertation
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration
Major/Program
<--Please Select Department-->
First Advisor's Name
Jayati Sinha
First Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Second Advisor's Name
Attila Hertelendy
Second Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Third Advisor's Name
Chaitali Kapadia
Third Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Member
Fourth Advisor's Name
Miguel Aguirre-Urreta
Fourth Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Chair
Keywords
Leader Cultural Intelligence (CQ), Leader-Member Exchange (LMX), Multicultural Team Performance, Empowering Leadership
Date of Defense
5-29-2025
Abstract
As workplaces become increasingly diverse, the ability to lead multicultural teams effectively has become a critical organizational priority. While diverse teams offer the potential for innovation and global competitiveness, they also present challenges related to communication, collaboration, and trust. This dissertation investigates the impact of leader cultural intelligence (CQ) on multicultural team performance, focusing on the mediating role of leader-member exchange (LMX).
Leader cultural intelligence (CQ)—the capability to understand, adapt to, and manage culturally diverse individuals—is hypothesized to enhance the quality of leader-member relationships, thereby improving team performance. Empowering leadership, which emphasizes participative decision-making and autonomy, was also examined as a potential moderator in this relationship. A quantitative research design was used, with data collected from 236 professionals working in multicultural teams across various U.S. industries.
Results demonstrate that leader CQ significantly predicts LMX quality, which in turn positively impacts multicultural team performance. These findings contribute to leadership and team performance literature by highlighting the importance of relational mechanisms, such as LMX, in translating cultural intelligence into practical team outcomes. The study offers valuable insights for organizations seeking to develop culturally competent leaders and foster more effective, inclusive team environments.
Identifier
FIDC930251
Recommended Citation
Santos, Danielle, "Multicultural Team Performance: The Impacts of Leader Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and Leader-Member Exchange (LMX)" (2025). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5397.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/5397
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