The Role of Cultural Intelligence in Facilitating Tacit Knowledge Sharing in ICT Organisations in Vietnam : exploring the role of motivational cultural intelligence and behavioural cultural intelligence

Abstract

Vietnam's rapidly growing ICT sector plays a pivotal role in the country's economic development and global integration, attracting a diverse and multicultural workforce. This diversity underscores the importance of cultural intelligence (CQ) in fostering effective tacit knowledge sharing (TKS), which is essential for competitiveness and innovation. This thesis investigates how motivational CQ (MCQ) and behavioural CQ (BCQ) influence TKS among ICT professionals in multicultural work environments in Vietnam. A quantitative approach was employed, gathering data collected from 152 ICT professionals through a structured survey, with regression analysis used to assess the impact of these dimensions of CQ on TKS behaviours. The results indicate that MCQ enhances the ICT professionals’ willingness to TKS, and BCQ assists in developing their attitude towards TKS. Additionally, the effect of BCQ was moderated by demographic factors, with older professionals (over 40) and those with more than ten years of experience exhibiting a more positive attitude towards TKS. These findings validate the framework proposed by Murugan (2020) and offer new insights into how age and experience amplify the role of BCQ in promoting TKS attitude.

The study contributes to the literature on CQ and knowledge management by highlighting the importance of cultural adaptability and motivation in facilitating TKS in multicultural ICT work environments in Vietnam. Practical implications include boosting employees' MCQ through cross-cultural training and team-building initiatives, investing in developing employees' BCQ through workshops and scenario-based training, recognising older professionals as knowledge-sharing champions, and promoting mentorship to bridge generational knowledge gaps. Future research could explore the long-term impact of CQ on TKS and examine other factors within ICT professionals’ maturity or career stage that may influence TKS in multicultural work environments.