Information Communication Technology & Results Management: Using Technology to Manage for Results

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Jordan on April 27, 2010 at 5:30pm

Does anyone know if any free/open-source programs or online tools are available for this (Technology to Manage for Results)? I imagine different organizations have their own proprietary tools, but to really push ICT in development forward it seems to me that there is a need for free, flexible and easy to use software that implements a standardized set of metrics and processes. Do you think this is possible, or are the different approaches to MfDR being used too divergent/different, requiring custom solutions? What would be your idea/vision of a "core" ICT tool that might be expanded upon?

Thanks,
-dj

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Permalink Reply by Alexander Bertram on April 30, 2010 at 5:58pm

Yes !
ActivityInfo is an open source, web-based system for tracking indicators that is designed for flexibility. Project managers simply define their indicators, and then partners or staff login into enter their results each month and map their activities.

The system was developed for UNICEF in the DRC, but is being adopted by other organisations, and in other countries, including by GTZ and by organizations working in Haiti.

To make it easy to adopt, we also provide the system as a Software-as-a-Service at activityinfo.org. Email me at info@activityinfo.org and I can provide you with a login, and then setting up your indicators is straightforward. All organizations are welcome to use the server at no cost, but organisations with resources are asked to contribute to the running of the server.

We will soon begin work on the second version of the software, which we hope will make it even easier to use and make wider adoption possible.

You might also look at Groupe URD's Compass Dynamique (http://www.compasqualite.org/) which helps organizations systematically work through a set of standarized quality metrics and questions.

Best,

Alex

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Permalink Reply by Nimit Leelasorn on April 27, 2010 at 10:00pm

Dear Hanna,

Your suggested discussion is very useful to the members. I would like to contribute to the discussion our firm’s assessment framework that I developed based on past experience.

If there is a question from the members, it may take me time to respond as I am currently engaging in a number of M&E/MIS implementations, but I will respond.

Nimit Leelasorn

Attachments:

• M&E and MIS Assessment - Questionnaire - English.pdf, 47 KB
• M&E and MIS Assessment - Questionnaire - French.pdf, 45 KB

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Rosa Muraguri-Mwololo on April 28, 2010 at 12:52pm

Hello Hannah,
This is a great discussion but i will start by blabbing- it might just get us going---
Let me start by stating that as a citizen, I first want ICT to increase my interaction with interact with politicians or public servants and make their voices heard. I want to know what my government is doing with my tax money. I want to be able to ask specific question and get timely or real-time answers to questions regarding services I am entitled to. I want my Member of Parliament and public servants to see my views as a citizen and those of the other people they represent on any given issue. We want real real-time contact with elected officials The anticipated benefits of e-government include efficiency, improved services, better accessibility of public services, and more transparency and accountability.
Presently government tells me what it plans to do for me, but has not given me a platform to make suggestions, interact, to learn and to ask questions. For my mother in the village who is a farmer and who pays huge taxes on her milk and coffee sales – ICT should be a tool to help her access government information, or any other knowledge that if offered freely in the internet to make her a better farmer and to increase her yeild. The potential to reach many users including those who live in remote areas, have low literacy levels, exist on poverty line incomes, suffer from chronic illness, are single parents or older adults, presently is still remote. We as citizens want ICT to be able access public goods and services at any time and any location, eliminating physical travel to government agents sitting behind desks.

That said, I must say after the prodigious amount of money spent on the development and implementation of e-or ICT-aided government, many things have started to transformed for the better for me as an ordinary citizen. For instance, I do not have to go to the immigration to collect application forms for my passport or collect other basic service forms, as a voter I can check my registration electronically, national exam results are accessed electronically through cell phones or internet connections- I do everything on line and as a citizen I am enjoying the benefits of ICT. I am able to pay my electricity bills on-line, my banking on-line, cash transfers to the remotest village in Kenya as a result of improved ICT tools application and access. This is convenient and cost-effective for businesses, and the public including myself benefits by getting easy access to the most current information available without having to spend time, energy and money to get it. ICT tools are helping government simplify processes and makes access to government information more easily accessible for public sector agencies and citizens.

I must say we are also starting to see improved security because of improved ICT tools. We are enjoying some clean record keeping through computerization, and information and forms can be easily accessed, equaling quicker processing time. On the administrative side, access to help find or retrieve files and linked information can now be stored in databases versus hardcopies stored in various locations. Needless to say that money lost through bribes given to retrieve “lost” files from corrupt government officials -is now saved for other use in the family.

Some citizen are reaping good results from ICTs, others are excluded- mostly the poor and women--- we want equitable results for ALL.

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Permalink Reply by Hannah J Cooper on April 30, 2010 at 12:02pm

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you so much for your comments and input.

Dan – I think that there are open source (ie free) programs and tools available for this depending on what aspect of MfDR you are looking at. A wide range of survey tools (that role up data/aggregate data) can be found online. There are others in addition to just survey tool. I’ve explored this option before and will post links to several shortly.

Nimit – thank you so much for contributing your firm’s assessment framework! I am sure that members will find this very useful! Good like with your M&E/MIS implementations!

Rosa – thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I found it really heartening to hear that you can see the results of development and implementation of ICT-aided government and that it has a significant impact on your daily life.

I totally agree with you about using ICTs to interact with your political representative and using technology as a means to help hold them to account. This brings to mind a story that I heard about the Tanzanian President who encourages his citizens to send him text messages and he responds back. Have any of you heard about this as well?

As for our ediscussion, I think it’s important to establish a baseline of current knowledge and understanding on ICTs and results management. To do this, please post your answers to the following questions:

1) Have you or your organization used technology to manage for results? If so, what were the features of the approach? What were the aims? Constraints? Challenges? Uses?

2) What is the general tendency & approach within your organization on using technology to manage for results?

3) In your opinion, what are some of the questions challenges, difficulties that surround using technology to manage for results?

4) What are terms that you have heard discussed but would like to have a better understanding and definition provided?

Thanks so much! Really looking forward to reading your responses. Please let me know if you have other questions or comments.

Many thanks,

Hannah

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Permalink Reply by Sheka Bangura on May 5, 2010 at 3:04pm

ICT is proving to be a wonderful scientific tool for improving public sector management in Sierra Leone. For instance, the introduction of the Integrated Financial Management Information System within government system under the ministry of finance coordination has brought about improved probity and efficiency in the management of public funds. It has tremendously improved public accounts and auditing. The government has put together a comprehensive national communication strategy with e-government as a key strategic focus. Plans are underway to establish internet centres in all chiefdom to enable the ordinary man in the village access public information at a 'click'. A number of ministries have created websites with databases. This enhances inter-ministerial information exchanges and cuts down transaction cost within public administration. We have got an online system of tracking donor resources towards national development---donor resource tracking has been an internationally contentious area regarding transparency and accountability in the use taxpayers monies.

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Permalink Reply by Sheka Bangura on May 5, 2010 at 3:42pm

A thriving Anti-Corruption Commission in Sierra Leone benefits immensely from the availability of internet facilities in the country which aids the anonymous supply of corruption related information by the public.

The challenge to the use of ICT facing the country is poor infrastructure network including lack of adequate electricity supply and high levels of illiteracy in the country. Good is however very mindful of these limitations to taking advantage of information technology by stepping up it effort to increasing electricity supply nationwide and educational opportunities.

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Permalink Reply by Tamiru Terefe Cherinet on May 7, 2010 at 7:02am

Dear Members, I like the discussion on ICT in Improving performances in each sector of the economy. In my organization, the ministry is now coding budget information using IBEX and the benefit is for fast and easy compilation and assessment of the budget and actual expenditure from lower administration level to federal level. As public finance management is one of Monitoring and Evaluation tool to track development, there is aggressive activities to be done in the coming years.

Tamiru Terefe
Ministry of Finance and Economic Development
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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Permalink Reply by Hannah J Cooper on May 12, 2010 at 4:50pm

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for your feedback on this. It's really helpful to get an assessment of where things are in your respective countries.

I'd like to move on to demystifying or decoding some key ICT concepts and terms such as:

• Enterprise Architecture
• GUI – good user interface
• Balanced Scorecards
• Open source

Do you have others that you'd like us to look at? You can either let me know by posting below or send me an email at hjcooper12@gmail.com.

I really look forward to your feedback!

Hannah

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Permalink Reply by Hannah J Cooper on May 18, 2010 at 4:14pm

Dear Colleagues,

Often with ICTs there are a lot of confusing terms and complicated jargon. The purpose of this post is to try to unravel and demystify some of this terminology and to show that it is rather straightforward.

Before we get to that some of you asked if I know of any “open source” MfDR tools available. (First, what does open source mean? Basically it means free software and technology. Open source means that the program’s coding is freely available to the public and that anyone can use it or modify it to suit their needs. This can often cut costs and reduce duplication of work because IT programmers can use already available and free technology to build a new software program/solution to fit the needs of your organization).

I do know of some open source MfDR tools but they are mostly different types of surveys. Theses surveys can be used to gather information about productivity and performance of your organization. They also provide some useful ways to roll up data and present it in ways that can be useful for senior management because they allow comparisons of data across projects and programs. You can find out more about these tools here: http://www.limesurvey.org/ and here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/

There are many more out there – but these are two that I’ve experimented with before. If anyone else knows of other tools as well in addition to the ones that Alexander Bertrand and I’ve shared, please let us know!

Now for some definitions of some key ICT Terms:

GUI (pronounced gooey): Stands for Good User Interface. Basically what this means is that you want the front screen to be something that is appealing to those who are going to see you screen. For instance, the AfCoP’s homepage has a very colorful user interface with lots of options and buttons that users can press so that they can engage with the material.

Enterprise Architecture: This is a term that is brandied about a lot lately. What it means is that organizations are assessing their IT needs in tandem with their organizational objectives. Often IT solutions are developed afterwards or developers are brought into the room after the ideas and vision have been developed. So IT solutions wind up being retrofitted to match the objectives of an organization. Enterprise Architecture is a means of ensuring that your IT solutions match and grow collaborative with your organization’s objectives. To read more about enterprise architecture you can click here and here.

Egovernment: There are a lot of well defined and clear explanations for egovernment so rather than recreate the wheel here they are. Wikipedia’s entry on egovernance states that the definitions of e-government range from:
- “the use of information technology to free movement of information to overcome the physical bounds of traditional paper and physical based systems” (Kaylor, C., Deshazo, R. and Van Eck, D. Gauging e-government: A report on implementing services among American cities. Government Information Quarterly, 18 (2001), 293–307.) to
- “the use of technology to enhance the access to and delivery of government services to benefit citizens, business partners and employees.” (Deloitte Research. At the Dawn of e-Government: The Citizen as Customer. Public Sector Institute, 2000).

The common theme behind these definitions is that e-government involves the automation or computerization of existing paper-based procedures that will prompt new styles of leadership, new ways of debating and deciding strategies, new ways of transacting business, new ways of listening to citizens and communities, and new ways of organizing and delivering information.

Ultimately, e-government aims to enhance access to and delivery of government services to benefit citizens. More important, it aims to help strengthen government’s drive toward effective governance and increased transparency to better manage a country’s social and economic resources for development. (Source: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/E-government/Definition)

The four types of e-government services are Government-to-Citizen (G2C), Government-to-Business (G2B), Government-to-Employee (G2E), and Government-to-Government (G2G).
G2C includes information dissemination to the public, basic citizen services such as license renewals, ordering of birth/death/marriage certificates and filing of income taxes, as well as citizen assistance for such basic services as education, health care, hospital information, libraries, and the like.

These definitions are just a few to get us started. Please send me your questions and comments, in particular addition terms that you would like to see better defined!

I look forward to your comments!

Hannah

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Rosa Muraguri-Mwololo on May 28, 2010 at 10:05am

Hi Hannah,
We are listening very carefully and I have started the use of new knowledge- precisely dropping the ITC vocabularly among my peers -especially the males- and I am coming across as very technosavvy. Quite excited that for once I can intimidate them in a field that they feel like natural leaders :-)))

On a serious note- i must say I am enjoying the new knowldege and most important the demystifying of technical words.

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Permalink Reply by Goaba Mosienyane on May 20, 2010 at 2:59pm

Thank you Hannah for this pertinent topic. what does the process for introduction of e-government within a Ministry look like. I understand that ultimately, this becomes a part of the government wide process. i just wish to appreciate what the process specifically entails for an agency. Thanks
Goaba Mosienyane - Botswana

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