Abstract

This paper develops a conceptual model for the explanation of the role and impact of cultural intelligence (CQ) on conflict and its management and negotiation behaviors in culturally diverse environments. The literature on cultural diversity, conflict management and negotiation, and cultural intelligence is reviewed and systematized under the social identity theory. The present research makes two major contributions to the literature on diversity, conflict, negotiation and CQ. First (and given the scarcity of literature in this area), it reviews literature to explore the link between diversity, conflict, conflict/ negotiation strategies and CQ. Secondly, it builds a theoretical model that depicts diversity giving rise to conflict while conflict predicts organizational outcomes. The models also shows that CQ has an impact on the link between diversity and conflict but also directly impacting the conflict and negotiation strategies employed to manage conflict in organizations.