Relevance and importance

SME partner relationships are based extensively on building trust. This can be difficult when national cultural needs and preferences are not fully understood, or when the skills for dealing with differences are not sufficient.

Overview

Invest time and effort to learn about other partners' cultures. Be prepared to take extra care in developing transparency and rapport. Show a willingness to be flexible and adaptable so that cross-cultural SME partnerships can start, develop and flourish.

Top

Recommendations and practical tips

Identify cultural training and briefing needs (training needs analysis). Evaluate options and approaches for obtaining cultural understanding and skills (internal and external). Develop a positive mental attitude towards the benefits that an SME partner from a different culture can bring to your organisation.

Top

Warnings and potential pitfalls

	Avoid heavy stereotyping.
	Eradicate blatant prejudices.
	Be careful not to jeopardise a project by mis-reading the culture with only 'half-knowledge'.

Top