On assessing the effectiveness of information systems in agriculture

Issue № 4, 2021, article № 5, pages 39-50

Section: Economic mechanism of managing

Language: Russian

Original language title: ОБ ОЦЕНКЕ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫХ CИСТЕМ В СЕЛЬСКОМ ХОЗЯЙСТВЕ

Keywords: AGRICULTURE, RURAL AREAS, INFORMATION SYSTEMS, EFFICIENCY OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS, EFFECTIVENESS, TECHNICAL EFFICIENCY

Abstract: The complexity of determining the effectiveness of the information systems is that, firstly, the results of information systems do not always receive economic expression and, secondly, it is not always easy to single out the result of the influence of the information system on the result of the “metasystem” for which the information system is intended and created. Three classes of information systems have been identified: 1) systems of an economic nature, that is, those when the result of a metasystem can be measured by cost indicators (revenue, turnover, profit, etc.); 2) systems of a non-economic nature, when the result of the metasystem cannot be measured by cost indicators; 3) mixed systems. Relevant examples are provided for systems in agriculture and rural development. Further, information systems of an economic nature are subdivided into two subclasses, depending on whether their result can be distinguished from the general economic result of the metasystem or not. For economic systems of the first subclass, the well-known indicators for evaluating an investment project are applicable. For economic systems of the second subclass, a method of comparable assortment and comparable prices is proposed, and the corresponding formulas are given. For systems of a non-economic nature, where the results cannot be measured by economic indicators, but can be measured by a single effective indicator (or summarized into a single indicator using weights), the calculation of efficiency is proposed, that is, the value of the indicator of the results obtained per unit of cost. For systems of a non-economic nature, it is proposed to use the indicator of technical efficiency, which is understood as the ratio of the achieved results to the planned or maximum possible results of the given system at the given costs. The paper describes such methods for assessing technical efficiency as the "data envelopment analysis" and "the method of stochastic frontier production function".

Authors: Epshtein David Berkovich