TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABBREVIATION

LIST OF FIGURES

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

1. RATIONALE 12

2. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES: 13

3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS: 14

4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 14

4.1. Research phases 14

4.2. Methods of data collection 15

5. RESEARCH SCOPE 16

6. THESIS STRUCTURE 17

CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND ON INFORMATION SYSTEM (IS) AND INFORMATION SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT METHODS

1.1. Theoretical background on Information System 18

1.1.1. Definition of Information System 18

1.1.2. Information system perspectives 18

1.1.3. Functions of IS in organization 20

1.1.4. Impacts of information systems on organizations 21

1.2. Information system development methods 22

1.3. Criteria to evaluate an Information System 25

CHAPTER 2: MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) AND INFORMATION SYSTEM (IS) SUPPORTING M&E IN ODA PROJECTS

2.1. Overview of Monitoring & Evaluation 29

2.1.1. Definitions and role of M&E 29

2.1.2. Monitoring & Evaluation classification 32

2.1.3. M&E steps 33

2.2. The supportive relationship between IS and M&E 34

2.3. Principles to build an information system supporting Monitoring & Evaluation 36

2.4. Experience in applications of Information system supporting M&E in some ODA projects in Viet Nam 36

2.4.1. Experience in application of Information system supporting M&E in Road Network Improvement Project (RNIP) funded by the World Bank 37

2.4.2. Experience in application of Information system supporting M&E in Viet Nam Land Administration Project (VLAP) funded by the World Bank 41

CHAPTER 3: CURRENT SITUATION OF IINFORMATION SYSTEM SUPPORTING MONITORING &EVALUATION IN STDPVN

3.1. STDPVN introduction 50

3.1.1. The overview of project 50

3.1.2. Project Organizational Chart 51

3.2. Monitoring & Evaluation in the Project 52

3.2.1. M&E system 52

3.2.2. Reporting arrangement 54

3.3. Description of STDPVN’s IS supporting M&E 54

3.3.1. Overview of STPDVN’s IS supporting M&E 54

3.3.2. Description of STDPVN’s IS supporting M&E 56

3.4. Assessment on the current STDPVN’s IS supporting M&E 64

3.4.1. Level of use 64

3.4.2. Users’ satisfaction 65

3.4.3. Attitudes of users toward the current information system 72

3.4.4. The extent to which current IS meet specified objectives 73

3.4.5. Financial payoff in application of the information system 74

CHAPTER 4 RECOMMENDATIOINS FOR IMPROVING INFORMATION SYSTEM SUPPORTING MONITORING AND EVALUATION IN STDPVN

4.1. Gaps between key requirements and current situation of IS 76

4.2. Recommendations for improving IS supporting M&E 78

4.3. Implementation plan to improve STDPVN’s IS supporting M&E: 87

4.4. Budget for improving IS supporting M&E 90

CONCLUSION

BIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES 93

APPENDICES 94

Appendix 1: Survey questionnaires 95

Appendix 2: List of respondents 104

Appendix 3: Sample key in-depth Interviews guide 105

Appendix 4: List of interviewees 109

Appendix 5: RNIP’s AMT formats 110

Appendix 6: Key elements of RFP to the IS supporting M&E in STDPVN 111

Appendix 7: STDPVN’s IS output – Weighted progress 114