Statistical information system development

PROJECT TARGETS INCLUDE (1)ORGANIZATION OF CENTRAL STATISTICS OFFICE/(CSO)WITH CENTRAL CONTROL OF ALL STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES OF THE VARIOUS MINISTRIES; (2)DEVELOPMENT OF STATISTICAL PROGRAMS WHICH REFLECT AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRY, CONSTRUCTION, CONSUMER PRICES, CONSUS FIGURES, GENERAL DEMOGRAPHIC DATA, AND GNP/NATIONAL INCOME DATA; (3)ESTABLISHMENT OF GOVERNMENT DATA PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS CENTER; (4)ESTABLISHMENT OF STATISTICAL TRAINING CENTER AND (5)STATISTICAL INFORMATION OFFICE WITHIN THE CSO. DESPITE THE OPTIMISTIC TONE OF EARLY PROJECT DOCUMENTATION, THE PROJECT WAS TERMINATED PREMATURELY (6/30/75) DUE TO (1)LACK OF SATISFACTORY PROGRESS AND (2)CHANGE IN MISSION PRIORITIES RESULTING FROM NEW LEGISLATION. PROJECT SUCCESSES WERE LIMITED TO: (1)CONSOLIDATION OF RGA STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES UNDER THE CSO; (2)PRODUCTION AND TIMELY PUBLICATION OF 3 PRICE INDICES; (3)ESTABLISHMENT OF GOVERNMENT DATA PROCESSING CENTER; (4)PUBLICATION OF RAINFALL STATISTICS; (5)TABULATION OF EXISTING FOREIGN TRADE AND RURAL POPULATION DATA; (6)PREPARATION FOR URBAN CENSUS/HOUSING SURVEY. NOTABLE AREAS OF FAILURE INCLUDE: (1)SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF ONLY ONE/OF PROPOSED STATISTICAL PACKAGES (PRICE INDICES); (2)LACK OF EFFECTIVE TRAINING CENTER, AND CONSEQUENTLY, CONTINUED ASSIGNMENT OF STAFF BY CRITERIA OTHER THAN MERIT; (3)FAILURE OF PARTICIPANT TRAINING PROGRAM (5 OUT OF 75 PROPOSED WERE ACTUALLY TRAINED, 3 OF WHOM RESIGNED FROM CSO); (4)OVERALL LACK OF DATA RESPONSIVE TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL NEEDS. QUALITATIVE GOALS, SUCH AS THE PRESENCE OF BETTER QUALIFIED STAFF, THE IMPROVEMENT OF CSO ADMINISTRATION, AND THE RECOGNITION OF CSO AS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTION, HAVE ALSO FAILED TO BE MET. 10 MAJOR DEFICIENCIES ARE CITED IN US PROJECT DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION. ALSO FAULTED WERE THE LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATIVE ABILITIES OF THE PRESIDENT GENERAL OF THE CSO, THE MOTIVATION OF THE CSO STAFF, AND THE ASSUMPTION THAT INCREASED STATISTICAL DATA WAS REALLY DESIRED BY THE RGA.