Critical Comparison of the Two Articles

Task 5. Critically Compare Two Articles

Critical comparison of the two articles provided with Task 5

The articles to be compared are:

First article-

Geoff Walsham , Making a World of Difference; IT in a Global Context

LIMNET, pages 150 to 160

Second article-

Geoff Walsham , Making a World of Difference; IT in a Global Context

China Management Information Systems review, Pages 221 to 227

Both articles are reviewing aspects of applying complex information systems in environments, previously not used to apply such systems in. While the LIMNET article emphasizes business structure related implications, China MIS article describes cultural aspects such as implications of using MIS with Western approach in China.

Since the goals of the both articles are more or less similar, we can compare them from researcher’s point of view. The quality of research done for both cases determines the value of the articles.

As a first feature of comparison, I would mention a table in the China MIS article that Walsham (2001, p.222) shows different constraints of MIS use along with Chinese cultural characteristics. Such a research given at the beginning of the article, gives the readers better foundational knowledge about particular issue. The LIMNET article also has such “introduction” part, but it is very brief and less informative (Walsham, 2001, p 155). Also, giving such information in a tabular form better attracts readers’ attention to the most important aspects.

As a second feature, I can think of the feedbacks from the end users. Both articles have such feedbacks given in various contexts. The first article has more valuable feedbacks, that allows readers to get into the problems and implications that users experienced in the adoption stage of this Electronic Placement System. It has feedbacks from brokers and underwriters explaining their impressions and concerns about the system. This is rather important, because end-user satisfaction...