Cultural Identification and Global Mobility: Exploring the Willingness of Bicultural Individuals to Work Internationally

This study explores the effect of cultural identification on global mobility. Specifically, it examines the impact of self identification as monocultural or bicultural on a persons willingness to undertake an international assignment. It also considers how, the degree of integration between the cultural identities of bicultural individuals, known as bicultural identity integration, influences this. The study of bicultural individuals continues to move beyond its origins in the psychology literature as business and management scholars increasingly recognize the significance of bicultural experiences and skills within organisations. Culturally diverse individuals, such as biculturals, who are poised between two cultures, multiple languages, and several cultural traditions, are increasingly seen to represent a significant source of value for multinational organisations. Given the consistent increase in the need for globally mobile employees, this study considers the suitability of bicultural individuals for international work. The study analyzes the impact of cultural identification on the willingness of third level students to undertake an international assignment in the future. Data for the study came from 285 third level students, across eighteen third level institutions in the Republic of Ireland. The results indicate that bicultural individuals are more willing to work internationally than monocultural individuals. Furthermore, the results reveal that bicultural individuals exhibit higher levels of cultural intelligence, and cultural intelligence mediates the relationship between cultural identification and willingness to undertake an international assignment. This study provides empirical evidence that culturally diverse individuals, such as biculturals, are a distinctive source of talent for global mobility.