Government needs "overarching vision" to bridge development gap
Vietnam must develop a more holistic vision about what government is trying to achieve and the process of change, a new report from the Central Institute for Economic Management has said.
Many reform programmes have not had sufficient impact due to lack of focus in both design and implementation, it said.
Some elements of reform programmes have moved ahead, but other parts have lagged badly behind, retarding overall progress, according to the institute.
The report was released by the institute in co-operation with the Government Office and Institute of State Organisation Science, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Consultants for the report were Public Administration International/SKL International.
It said that senior government officials must think more holistically about what the goals of the government and have an overarching vision.
Analyzing how different reform strategies are linked is also critical.
The report set out two complimentary tools which could help Vietnam's government generate better recognition of the interconnectedness of the reform programme.
This will help the government to make decision on what it needs to be done and in what sequence.
One of the tools is a Balance Scorecard, a technique to align strategic initiatives, factors in critical successes, and performance measures.
The technique has been used by government departments in many countries, especially in the US at both central and local levels.
Grayson Clarke of Public Administration International/SKL International suggested that the technique should be used for Vietnam's next five-year plan on economic and social development.
Every ministry and different government agency in Vietnam should be encouraged to use it, Clarke said.
He also said that Vietnam should have a better financial planning system and a faster and more efficient legal system.
Paul Collins, an expert on civil service reform and human resources from the Public Administration International/SKL International, said Vietnam should change its methods of recruitment and promotion of civil and public servants at all levels.
Recruitment and promotion should be based on capacity for the job, he said, adding that better qualified people in jobs at all levels will improve the quality of public services and governance.