Bicultural Resourcefulness in International Projects

Bicultural individuals are increasingly recognized as valuable resources in international organizations, yet their specific role and impact within international project contexts remain underexplored. This study presents a theory-driven literature review on bicultural resourcefulness in international projects, informed by systematic search procedures, aiming to consolidate current knowledge, assess empirical findings, and identify research needs. A structured keyword-based search following Webster and Watson was conducted across major academic databases, resulting in five empirical studies. The review revealed a limited but growing body of literature highlighting the competencies of bicultural professionals, including bicultural competence, boundary spanning, and cultural mediation. Key research gaps were identified, particularly regarding differences between first- and second-generation biculturals, their impact on project-related outcomes, and the organizational conditions that enable the effective use of their skillsets. The findings underscore the need for a more nuanced understanding of biculturalism beyond broad, generic identity framings. This review contributes to the emerging discourse in international management by combining a Multicultural Input-Process-Output (MIPO)-oriented integrative framework with a focused research agenda for further empirical investigation on bicultural professionals in project-based contexts.