Strategic Communication as a Bridge: How Small and Medium Enterprises Overcome Power Imbalances and Cultural Differences in Collaborative Partnerships

This systematic review examines the intersection of cultural factors, power relationships, and collaborative practices within Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through analysis of 108 peer-reviewed publications spanning 2015–2025. Results demonstrate a fundamental transformation in SME approaches to cross-cultural challenges—evolving from passive recipients to strategically adaptive organizations that employ cultural competence, stakeholder involvement, and flexible communication strategies to address power imbalances. The research identifies five key strategic domains—perception & alignment, reframing & utilization, involvement & facilitation, collaborative creation & embedding, and evaluation & adaptation—each grounded in established theoretical frameworks. Communication functions as a core competency enabling SMEs to overcome cultural barriers, redistribute influence dynamics, and establish enduring partnerships. An integrated model is developed combining cultural adaptation, power restructuring, and collaborative coordination, providing both theoretical contributions and actionable insights for stakeholder management in contemporary global, digital, and sustainability-focused contexts. This analysis advances a relationship-based, systems perspective on SME cooperation within multicultural environments.