Extended Abstract Submitted for IFIP 9.4 Workshop THEORISING DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE Yingqin Zheng and Bernd Stahl Center of Computing and Social Responsibility Department of Informatics Faculty of Technology De Montfort University Critical theory and the capability approach are two of the theories that are highly relevant to issues of development the technological change. During the last decade critical theory (CT) has grown in influence in information systems research (Brooke, 2009; Stahl, 2008) for example from the perspectives of post-colonial influences (Maysandra et al., 2006), gender (Howcroft & Trauth, 2008), discourses and power relationships (Jackson et al., 2006). The capability approach (CA), in contrast, is less recognised and applied in IS research, although it has been making major contributions in the research and practices on human development, e.g. poverty alleviation, gender equality, and democracy. In recent years the CA has been drawn upon to address technological implications for development, such as means and ends of ICT for development (Garai & Shadrach 2006), evaluation of ICT projects (Madon 2004), empowerment (Johnstone 2007), the global digital divide (Wresch 2009), social inclusion (Zheng & Walsham 2008), and theoretical exploration on applying the CA in e-development (Zheng 2009). The main contention of the present paper is that CT and CA are similar in many respects. They both constitute schools of thought that are meant to make a difference - to improve individual and social lives; both are normative theories rooted in ethics; they share an interest in democracy, and both are concerned with the pursuit of “a good life”. They develop different streams of ideas to support freedom, empowerment and emancipation. Meanwhile, they differ in many aspects, including the specifics of their “commonalities”. It is thus a reasonable question to ask whether and in what ways these two approaches can learn from each other. This exercise should enhance our understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches, and help us explore whether the two can cross-fertilise, theoretically and methodologically, and generate implications in relation to ICT and development. CT is used as a label for a rich body of theories which encompass diverse critical approaches and methodologies. Sen’s capability approach was intentionally left incomplete, and has been extended, enriched and applied by various scholars from diverse disciplines. This paper starts by providing overviews of both bodies of theories in relation to technology and development, then go on to compare their philosophical outlooks, conceptual constructs and methodologies. This comparison gives rise to a discussion about new avenues and tools for both research and practice on development and technological change. References Brooke, C. (Ed.). (2009). Critical Management Perspectives on Information Systems (1st ed.). Butterworth Heinemann.