Together we are strong? A systematic literature review on how SMEs use relation-based collaboration to operate in rural areas

Figures & data

Figure 1. Overview of the research framework.

Table 1. Overview of the systematic literature framework.

Step 1: Planning the review	Step 2: Conducting the review	Step 3: Reporting & dissemination
Scoping Study Aim of the review and research question Development of a review protocol, key words and search strings Chose databases Create inclusion- and exclusion criteria.	Locating publications through database search Literature screening: abstract and title according to the different inclusion- and exclusion criteria Create an A-B-C list Data extraction to CITAVI and MAXQDA.	Report the whole review in the review protocol Descriptive analysis of the publications (e.g. year, journal, methods) Qualitative analyses with MAXQDA to get answers to the research questions: Abstract coding and category building Presentation und discussion of the results Create a framework Limitations and impulse for further research.

Table 2. Search terms.

Type of Search term	First iteration	Second Iteration
Topic related	SME, SMB, ‘Small business’, ‘Small enterprise’, ‘Small firm’, ‘Medium business’, ‘Medium firm’, ‘Medium enterprise’, ‘Small and medium sized enterprise’, ‘Small and medium sized firm’, ‘Small and medium sized business’	‘Entrepreneurship’, ‘Entrepreneur’
Sector-related	Rural, ‘Structurally weak region’, ‘Structurally weak area’, ‘Structurally backward region’, ‘Structurally backward area’	‘Peripheral Region’, ‘Peripheral Area’, Provincial

Figure 2. Distribution of publications per year across the period studied. * publications in the year 2020 are only included up to October 2020.

Figure 3. Publication frequency in the main journals.

Figure 4. Research methodologies employed.

Figure 5. Country focus of the identified publications (*other countries include Ireland (4), Netherlands (3), Czech Republic, France, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia (all 2) as well as Austria and Estonia (1)).

Figure 6. SWOT analysis for SMEs in rural areas.

Figure 7. A conceptual framework of how rural SMEs use relationship-based collaboration.

Figure 8. Implications of digitalization for SMEs in rural areas.