Institutional performance: assessing the impact of information management

Assessing the impact of information and communication management on institutional performance is a complex matter, with quantitative techniques not yet well defined and the development of appropriate indicators still at an early stage. In order to develop a framework for evaluating the impact of information a workshop was organised by CTA from 27 to 29 January 1998, in Wageningen, the Netherlands. This event brought together experts from various fields to share their experiences and exchange ideas. The main objectives of the workshop were: ? to identify the relationship between information and communication and the performance of organisations with particular reference to effectiveness, efficiency and networking; ? to determine the indicators which can be employed to illustrate this relationship; ? to find the best way of collecting information on the indicators; ? to assess the significance of such information; ? to develop a practical and cost-effective approach for measuring the impact of information and communication on institutional performance and identifying priority issues. The keynote address, given by Dr Cooke, Director of the CTA, highlighted the importance of information and communication channels in agriculture and rural development and in institutional strengthening, including empowering the National Agricultural Systems (NAS) through capacity building, and identifying key indicators to determine effectiveness and efficiency. Several approaches which could be used to assess these indicators were discussed. Based on workshop discussions, the participants identified the following key issues relating to the concept and implementation of impact assessment : Impact assessment is an ongoing learning process intimately tied to the organisational environment. The impact of information activities can be assessed by looking for indicators relating to the client orientation of the information activity, the information channels used by an organisation, and the organisation's policy on information and management systems. Selection of the key indicators should be participatory and easy to follow. Impact assessment should take into account human and socio-economic indicators. The working groups strongly recommended that CTA should continue to pursue its goal of developing a cost-effective method for such impact assessment by carrying out pilot studies in collaboration with organisations in ACP countries.

In order to develop a framework for evaluating the impact of information a workshop was organised by CTA from 27 to 29 January 1998, in Wageningen, the Netherlands