The mediating role of organizational capabilities in the effect of cultural intelligence on export performance: A research on Western Mediterranean enterprises

For Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), especially in the process of entering international activities, as a result of the complexity of global markets and the influence of national cultures, cultural competencies and cognitive abilities have become key factors in overcoming the difficulties arising from different cultural environments. Based on these findings, this study firstly aimed to examine the effect of the cultural intelligence levels of the owners and managers of SME-type businesses that export on the export performance of their businesses. Secondly, the study also aimed to reveal the mediating role of the organizational capabilities of the businesses, which are their ability to acquire international knowledge and their ability to adapt to international markets, in this interaction. In the study, data were collected from a sample of 408 people consisting of the owners and managers of businesses operating in the provinces of Antalya, Burdur and Isparta in the Western Mediterranean Region of Turkey by applying the survey technique. The surveys were conducted using 7-point Likert-type scales. Validity and reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were applied to the obtained data and the research hypotheses in the research model were tested with structural equation modeling. However, beforehand, the existence of a relationship between the structures was evaluated with correlation analysis. According to the analysis results, significant, moderate and positive relationships were found between all variables in the research model. It was shown that the ability to acquire international knowledge had a mediating effect on the relationship between the three sub-dimensions of cultural intelligence (meta-cognitive, cognitive and behavioral KZ) and export performance. It was found that the ability to adapt had a mediating effect on the relationship between the two sub-dimensions of cultural intelligence (meta-cognitive and behavioral KZ) and export performance. The information obtained as a result of the research was transformed into suggestions that will be useful for all other related businesses, especially SME-style businesses with the ability to export, and will provide specific perspectives for the owners of these businesses and all managers who are in a position to make decisions regarding exports.