Bridging indigenous knowledge and technology: CSITM to host webinar under the series ‘Top IS Publications from India’ on June 22
The session will feature Dr. Rishikesan Parthiban, IIM Trichy, on research on using ICT-enabled practices to empower rural micro-entrepreneurs
08 June, 2026, Bangalore: The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore is set to host the next session in the ‘Top IS Publications from India’ webinar series, an initiative of the Centre for Software and Information Technology Management. The series is designed to recognize and showcase high-quality research in Information Systems published in leading management journals by scholars from Indian business schools, and to bring these contributions to a wider academic and practitioner audience.
In the upcoming session, Dr. Rishikesan Parthiban will present his paper titled ‘Technoficing and Indigenous Knowledge: Insights from Research with Rural Micro-Entrepreneurs’, on June 22, 2026, at 6:00 PM IST via Zoom.
The study explores how social enterprises can assist rural micro-entrepreneurs in mobilizing and leveraging indigenous knowledge to align production with demand. By conducting a case study of CommunityLink, a social enterprise implementing ICT-enabled practices to facilitate the growth of rural micro-entrepreneurship in India, it proposes technoficing as a strategic approach to rural microentrepreneurship. The session will provide an opportunity to engage with the valuable insights and understand their broader implications for rural development using off-the-shelf technologies strategically.
Registration Details: Participants are requested to register using the link.
Abstract: The micro-entrepreneurship sector, as the second-largest employment generator in rural areas, plays a crucial role in alleviating poverty. This study explores how social enterprises can assist rural micro-entrepreneurs in mobilizing and leveraging indigenous knowledge to align production with demand. It proposes technoficing as a strategic approach to rural microentrepreneurship. It conducted a case study of CommunityLink, a social enterprise implementing ICT-enabled practices to facilitate the growth of rural micro-entrepreneurship in India. The findings reveal knowledge disconnections impeding the development of rural microentrepreneurship. Importantly, it proposes a four-phase approach of technoficing - basic, internal, external, and online-offline - that can effectively mobilize and leverage indigenous knowledge for rural micro-entrepreneurs with minimal resource investment. It synthesizes the findings into a comprehensive process model. The research contributes to the discourse on ICT for development and the emerging academic dialogue on decoloniality by highlighting the significance of empowering local institutions and practices through the strategic use of off-the-shelf technologies. Practitioners and policymakers can leverage the findings to propel indigenous efforts toward rural development and improve rural livelihoods.
Speaker Profile
Dr. Rishikesan Parthiban is an Assistant Professor in the Information Systems and Analytics area at IIM Trichy. He has completed his doctoral studies with a major in MIS and minor in Marketing from IIM Calcutta and graduated in Engineering from BITS Pilani, Rajasthan. His primary research interests include digital social innovations, subsistence marketplaces, and grand challenges. His research work has appeared in journals such as the Journal of Strategic Information Systems, Information & Organization, Information Technology & People, Information Systems Frontiers, International Journal of Information Management, Journal of Computer Information Systems, among others. His passion for digital social enterprises in general, and those focusing on rural development in particular, leads him to adopt action-oriented approaches that balance research efforts with practical implications.
For queries, please write to: csitm@iimb.ac.in
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/centre-for-software-it-management/
Bridging indigenous knowledge and technology: CSITM to host webinar under the series ‘Top IS Publications from India’ on June 22
The session will feature Dr. Rishikesan Parthiban, IIM Trichy, on research on using ICT-enabled practices to empower rural micro-entrepreneurs
08 June, 2026, Bangalore: The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore is set to host the next session in the ‘Top IS Publications from India’ webinar series, an initiative of the Centre for Software and Information Technology Management. The series is designed to recognize and showcase high-quality research in Information Systems published in leading management journals by scholars from Indian business schools, and to bring these contributions to a wider academic and practitioner audience.
In the upcoming session, Dr. Rishikesan Parthiban will present his paper titled ‘Technoficing and Indigenous Knowledge: Insights from Research with Rural Micro-Entrepreneurs’, on June 22, 2026, at 6:00 PM IST via Zoom.
The study explores how social enterprises can assist rural micro-entrepreneurs in mobilizing and leveraging indigenous knowledge to align production with demand. By conducting a case study of CommunityLink, a social enterprise implementing ICT-enabled practices to facilitate the growth of rural micro-entrepreneurship in India, it proposes technoficing as a strategic approach to rural microentrepreneurship. The session will provide an opportunity to engage with the valuable insights and understand their broader implications for rural development using off-the-shelf technologies strategically.
Registration Details: Participants are requested to register using the link.
Abstract: The micro-entrepreneurship sector, as the second-largest employment generator in rural areas, plays a crucial role in alleviating poverty. This study explores how social enterprises can assist rural micro-entrepreneurs in mobilizing and leveraging indigenous knowledge to align production with demand. It proposes technoficing as a strategic approach to rural microentrepreneurship. It conducted a case study of CommunityLink, a social enterprise implementing ICT-enabled practices to facilitate the growth of rural micro-entrepreneurship in India. The findings reveal knowledge disconnections impeding the development of rural microentrepreneurship. Importantly, it proposes a four-phase approach of technoficing - basic, internal, external, and online-offline - that can effectively mobilize and leverage indigenous knowledge for rural micro-entrepreneurs with minimal resource investment. It synthesizes the findings into a comprehensive process model. The research contributes to the discourse on ICT for development and the emerging academic dialogue on decoloniality by highlighting the significance of empowering local institutions and practices through the strategic use of off-the-shelf technologies. Practitioners and policymakers can leverage the findings to propel indigenous efforts toward rural development and improve rural livelihoods.
Speaker Profile
Dr. Rishikesan Parthiban is an Assistant Professor in the Information Systems and Analytics area at IIM Trichy. He has completed his doctoral studies with a major in MIS and minor in Marketing from IIM Calcutta and graduated in Engineering from BITS Pilani, Rajasthan. His primary research interests include digital social innovations, subsistence marketplaces, and grand challenges. His research work has appeared in journals such as the Journal of Strategic Information Systems, Information & Organization, Information Technology & People, Information Systems Frontiers, International Journal of Information Management, Journal of Computer Information Systems, among others. His passion for digital social enterprises in general, and those focusing on rural development in particular, leads him to adopt action-oriented approaches that balance research efforts with practical implications.
For queries, please write to: csitm@iimb.ac.in
Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/centre-for-software-it-management/