Explicit and tacit knowledge transfer in entrepreneurial education: the Method Approach

Effective entrepreneurial learning is based on creative partnerships between academics, learners and practitioners, and is supported by appropriate theoretical immersion (explicit knowledge) and entrepreneurial exposure (tacit knowledge). This study explores the use of the Method Approach as a tool in entrepreneurial learning knowledge transfer. Adopting a qualitative research methodology, 22 in-depth interviews were undertaken with learners who had participated in three entrepreneurship modules using a variety of educational tools based on the Method Approach. The study found that the Method Approach and its five linked constituent elements (play, empathy, creation, experimentation and reflection) is an effective entrepreneurial learning tool in transferring both explicit and tacit knowledge, helping learners transition from nascent entrepreneurial knowledge to a more holistic, applied interpretation of entrepreneurship as practice. The results suggest that the Method Approach should be extended to include module delivery and entrepreneurial identity.