10 years ranking ICT Index: The measure of Finance modernization

	General Department of Customs in the "TOP 3" ICT Index of Financial Industry 2018
	Ministry of Finance tops the Vietnam ICT Index
	105 schemes, projects and tasks on IT and statistics in 2017 completed

Regularly update

Since 2008, the report on ICT Index of Finance has been made with annually published ranking results, and provided the annual data to develop the report on Vietnam ICT Index 2018 conducted by the Ministry of Information and Communications and Vietnam Informatics Association.

For the calculation method, based on the method of calculation transferred by the Vietnam Informatics Association, for the first implementation in 2008, the ICT Index of Finance only focused on the rankings for 2 groups (the central agencies and finance departments) including 14 units. Although the data in the report at that time did not accurately and comprehensively assess IT application in Finance, this was an important basis for ICT Index of Finance to be continuously improved.

In 2009, the number of ranked units was expanded in the whole sector. The questionnaire form was classified into 3 forms to be consistent with each survey group including, central agencies, provincial and municipal agencies (Tax, State Treasury, Customs, and Regional State Reserve) and Finance Departments. Annually, this questionnaire form has been amended towards simplication, easy-to-understand and in accordance with regulations of the Government, Ministry of Information and Communications in the field of IT and communication of Finance.

From 2008 to 2017, the data after inspection, amendment and supplementation has been standardized and included in calculating the component index by using S-PLUS 2000 Professional Release 3 Software of Mathsoft Firm (USA), to calculate correlative coefficient of the component index according the method of principal component analysis. ICT index will be calculated after correlative coefficients are released, which is used to rank units.

Since 2018, the ICT Index of Finance has been applying the new calculation method in accordance with the United Nations E-Government Report. instead of the method of principal component analysis that has been applied for the past 9 years.

Continuously enhance efficiency

According to Mr. Dang Duc Mai-Director of Department of Financial Informatics and Statistics, Ministry of Finance, the regular reports over the past times has shown an overview of the readiness for Information and Communications Technology application and development in the entire Financial sector, especially local units. Thereby, allowing an understanding of the IT application in their units to take appropriate measures and policies to improve and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of state management in administrative reform.

However, Mr. Mai said that as the first unit to develop the indicators for the Financial sector, the Department faced many difficulties and obstacles. For example, the data for development of the report was mainly collected through a survey form sent directly to the units to be assessed. Many units might not have fully received the information, or were not aware of the importance of data collection, leading to the failure to collect 100% of the survey forms. Some units did not pay attention to supplying accurate data, affecting the ranking results compared to the actual operation. However, after many years, this situation has gradually decreased.

General Department of Customs in the "TOP 3" ICT Index of Financial Industry 2018 VCN- In 8/11/2018, Department of Financial Informatics and Statistics - Ministry of Finance has released the Financial ...

From these difficulties and adequacies, the Ministry of Finance gradually gained experience, and in 2013, together with the maintenance of the indicator system in 3 years (changed once within 3 years) to facilitate the surveyed units in the preparation of data and comparison with the ranking results of the years, the unit responsible for the preparation of the report has also required units to re-supply the data of the previous year and explain if there are differences between the data of the reporting year and the data of the previous year. This method has reduced the changes of data, as well as limited the unexpected impact of change of officer in charge of data collection and fulfillment of the survey form.

In the coming time, the Department of Financial Informatics and Statistics will promote regular training on data collection skills for staff responsible for information technology, to enhance the efficiency and development of ICT Index of Finance. In addition, adjusting the indicator system in the survey form to closely follow with the direction for development and IT application in each period, reducing or abolishing indicators that are difficult for obtaining accurate data. Besides, the calculation method will be simplified to be easily publicized and in line with international practice. Especially, continuously applying calculation method of the United Nations E-Government Report.