Learning goal orientation and turnover intention: an interplay between cultural intelligence and organisational commitment

Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationship between cultural intelligence and organisational commitment and its effect on learning goal orientation and turnover intention within the expatriate society of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design/methodology/approach: A survey instrument was developed to collect data from 173 non-management expatriates employed by multinational corporations located in Dubai, UAE. SmartPLS bootstrap software was used to analyse the path coefficients and test the research hypotheses. Findings: The results demonstrate that cultural intelligence enhances both learning goal orientation and turnover intention of expatriates. Moreover, organisational commitment partially mediates the relationship between cultural intelligence and turnover intention/learning goal orientation. Originality/value: This study contributes by advancing extant knowledge with regard to cultural intelligence and organisational commitment effects on turnover intention and learning goal orientation of expatriates within a context of high cultural heterogeneity.