Enhancing Intercultural Effectiveness Among Business Students: The Role of Team Commitment in Virtual Exchange

The integration of Virtual Exchange (VE) in business education strategically addresses the need for graduates skilled in global business communication and operations. However, previous research on VE programmes’ effectiveness in enhancing Intercultural Effectiveness (IE) has not employed comparison groups, leaving it uncertain whether improvements in IE can be attributed to the VE programmes. Additionally, the impact of team dynamics, such as satisfaction and commitment, on the development of IE within VE has been largely overlooked. This study addresses these gaps by implementing a between-subjects design to compare the IE of business students participating in VE in Hong Kong and the U.S. with those in a control group. The results reveal that VE participants demonstrate significantly higher IE than the control group, suggesting VE's potential in promoting intercultural learning. Furthermore, team commitment is identified as a partial mediator in the relationship between VE and IE, emphasizing the role of team dynamics in enhancing the VE experience. This study not only substantiates the value of VE in business education but also highlights the critical role of team commitment in optimizing intercultural learning outcomes. The findings provide educators with insights into the importance of fostering team commitment to maximize VE's impact on intercultural learning.