Assignment: Reflective essay Overview The literature of ICTs and strategic change has developed largely by reference to experience in business enterprises in the industrialised nations, particularly in Western Europe and North America. Challenges encountered in developing countries are often ignored or underplayed. You are required to undertake a comparative analysis of the issues faced by both the developed and the developing nations in implementing ICT-based strategic change initiatives. This assignment requires you to conduct a detailed review of the literature. As such, you are expected to examine a wide range of viewpoints – some of which will be conflicting – and numerous cases and examples. In particular, comparing one or two cases from the developing countries with a couple of cases from the developed nations will be deemed insufficient to meet the requirements of the task. Crucially, you should focus on demonstrating critical reflection, and a theoretical and practical understanding of issues and challenges, as outlined below in the module learning outcomes (LOs). . Your essay should have an introduction that gives some context to the work you will discuss and a conclusion that draws out relevant implications from your work and suggests directions for further research. You will be assessed on both your final written contribution and your preparation for it through engagement with the seminars. In the latter sense, students will be expected to come to every seminar prepared to speak for a few minutes on one of the recommended readings or a paper of their own choice Learning outcome 1. Describe and discuss the means and approaches through which contemporary organisations endeavour to accomplish strategic change using ICTs. In order to demonstrate this learning outcome you need to give a good and succinct appraisal of the literature on ICT-based strategic change, covering the means and approaches used in both the developed and developing countries. In addition to the recommended readings, you need to introduce a significant amount of further material from books, journals and conference proceedings. Learning outcome 2. Demonstrate a theoretical and practical understanding of the key issues surrounding efforts to achieve ICT-based strategic change in different contexts. In order to demonstrate this learning outcome you need to associate practical examples and cases with the concepts and ideas about particular strategic change innovations discussed in the literature. As part of this process of showing how theory and practice are related, you should reveal and discuss key issues and challenges in achieving ICT-based strategic change in both developed and developing countries. Learning outcome 3. Reflect critically on technology-related strategic change as a socio-technical intervention that poses multiple and diverse challenges for organisations. In order to demonstrate this learning outcome you need to present a reflective comparative analysis that highlights both the similarities and differences between implementing strategic innovations in developing and developed country contexts. You must also (i) prepare a suitable introduction to your essay to set the context for your analysis; (ii) make a case for the contribution of your work; and (iii) offer some suggestions for future research in the area. With this in mind, the module seeks to develop an awareness of the following aspects: first, the general nature and basic techniques of planning approaches to ICT-based strategic change; and second, the central issues and challenges in adopting strategic initiatives using ICTs. In the context of the Masters degree, the first aspect provides the necessary foundation for the second aspect. As a result, an emphasis is placed on gaining a reasoned understanding of the nature of the efforts made to exploit the potential of ICT innovation in contemporary organisations. Cases are used throughout the module to examine the experience with adopting particular strategic initiatives, such as electronic business, outsourcing, and enterprise systems. These cases are used to demonstrate that (a) theory in the area is often conflicting and (b) practical situations often involve unforeseen circumstances that require flexibility and contextual insight on the part of managers, IS professionals and ICT users.