Studying the moderating effect of entrepreneurial orientation on the positive relationship between cultural intelligence and opportunity recognition in the MENA region during the Covid19 pandemic

Abstract

Entrepreneurs tend to recognize better opportunities when conscious and appreciative of either the Meta-cognitive or Cognitive cultural intelligence (CQ) dimensions. This exploratory research questioned whether individuals having an Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) with its innovative, pro-active and risk-taking facets are better suited to use their Meta-Cognitive and Cognitive CQ capabilities in the recognition of opportunities in a culturally diversified context during the Covid19 pandemic. In other words, the main aim behind the present study was to determine whether EO moderates positively or negatively the relationship of Meta-Cognitive CQ-OR and Cognitive CQ-OR. Based on a sample of 515 observations from the MENA region, results showed that there was a strong relationship between the Meta-Cognitive dimension of CQ and Opportunity Recognition and the Cognitive dimension of CQ and Opportunity Recognition (OR). These two positive relationships were both moderated one positively (Cognitive CQ-OR) and the other negatively (Meta-Cognitive CQ-OR) by Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO).