Cultural intelligence and performance: a bibliometric analysis of individual and organizational outcomes (2005–2025)

The rapidly evolving global marketplace demands a systematic understanding of the impact of cross-cultural competence on workforce effectiveness. This comprehensive bibliometric investigation examines intellectual structures within cross-cultural competence research through dual analytical frameworks applied to 242 peer-reviewed articles from the Web of Science database (2005–2025). Employing bibliographic coupling and co-word analysis via VOSviewer, the study unveils four distinct research clusters: intercultural competence development in global management education; knowledge dynamics and expatriate effectiveness in multinational contexts; acculturation processes and cross-cultural adjustment mechanisms; and theoretical conceptualizations and measurement frameworks. The co-word analysis reveals four emergent thematic patterns: management effectiveness models integrating cross-cultural competence; expatriate success antecedents and adjustment pathways; leadership effectiveness in diverse workplace environments; and personality-intelligence interactions in international contexts. Publication trends demonstrate substantial scholarly growth, particularly over the past decade, signaling increasing recognition of cross-cultural competence as a strategic organizational capability. Building on existing reviews and partial bibliometric efforts in the cultural intelligence domain, this study offers a comprehensive, dual-framework, performance-focused scientific map of cross-cultural competence–performance relationships, clarifying the field’s intellectual structure, dominant themes, and emerging directions across both individual and organizational outcomes. This investigation establishes a robust knowledge architecture for researchers and practitioners seeking evidence-based approaches to multicultural workforce development and enhancing organizational effectiveness.