Measuring ICT-based agricultural knowledge transfer under a sender advantage asymmetric information structure

Abstract

Knowledge transfer (KT) has received increasing attention in recent years. This is eviident from many knowledge transfer initiatives and projects reported in the literature. However, how to measure the success of knowledge transfer projects still remains a challenge because knowledge transfer is a very complex process. This paper focuses on agricultural knowledge transfer facilitated by information and communication technologies (ICT). It attempts to develop a conceptual model for identifying the causal factors affecting the success of ICT-based knowledge transfer. Drawing firorn relevant literature it also proposes a set of associated measures for each dimension in the model. The success model of ICT-KT is based on a modification of a Delong & Mclean (2003) information system success model. Six dimensions in the model are developed, these being: knowledge quality; system quality; service quality (with sub-dimensions of e-service quality and extension quality); use; user satisfaction; and net benefits. Preliminary measures associated with each dimension are discussed and directions for future research are identified.