Videos in the choupal

Abstract

Extant research suggests that the use of templates may facilitate the transfer of sticky knowledge. However, the use of templates is prohibitively costly. We examine the use of 'partial templates,' which we define as incomplete representations of the knowledge intended for transfer, and ask: "What determines the degree of success of knowledge transfer when a partial template is used?" We explore a theoretically extreme case of knowledge-transfer using partial templates among rural Indian farmers. We find that the success of transfer through a partial template depends to a large extent on the re-creation of knowledge through highquality dialogue, which depends on the extent to which the social context of knowledge reception facilitates inclusion, participation, and trust. We seek to contribute to theory by developing the concept of partial templates, highlighting the role of knowledge re-creation, and better understanding how the social context of reception influences the success of knowledge transfer. Show more