Representatives from the University of Economics - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, presented their research findings and proposed a pilot implementation of KPI-based evaluation software.
Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo identified science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as key drivers for rapid and sustainable national development in the new era. Throughout the resolution's spirit is the affirmation of the central role of human resources – the cadre of officials and civil servants – who are both the implementing subjects and the decisive factors in the effectiveness of all policies and guidelines. However, in current state management practice, the evaluation of officials in many agencies and units is still primarily based on qualitative assessments, heavily influenced by subjective feelings and averages. In many cases, the evaluation results do not fully reflect the workload, the level of task completion, or the actual value of each individual's contribution. This method of evaluation not only obscures differences in capabilities but also makes it difficult to motivate, identify, and utilize capable officials.
In the context of accelerated administrative reforms focused on serving citizens and businesses, these limitations become even more apparent. Without specific and transparent criteria for measuring public service effectiveness, achieving in-depth improvements in the quality of the administrative apparatus is difficult. Therefore, researching and applying a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) system in the public sector becomes essential. KPIs allow for the quantification of task performance through specific indicators linked to job positions, responsibilities, and assigned duties. When work results are measured by data, the evaluation of officials will move closer to objectivity, fairness, and transparency – core values of administrative reform.
For Thanh Hoa province , this requirement becomes even more urgent in the process of implementing the two-tiered local government model, promoting decentralization and delegation of power coupled with enhanced accountability. When authority is expanded, without accompanying tools to measure the effectiveness of public service, the risk of formalism and a lack of substance in management is unavoidable. In this context, KPIs are not only tools for evaluating individuals, but also a "measure" of the governance capacity of the entire administrative system.
Unlike traditional evaluation methods that heavily rely on year-end summaries, KPI-based employee evaluation takes a results- and data-driven approach. Through a system of specific indicators, the performance of employees is regularly monitored, linked to progress, quality, and efficiency. Each employee is assigned a set of criteria tailored to their job position and the overall goals of the agency or unit.
According to the plan, Thanh Hoa province plans to pilot a KPI evaluation software program in several local administrative units, initially in Hac Thanh and Dong Son wards and the Department of Science and Technology. The software is expected to become a digital management tool, supporting leaders at all levels in operational management and decision-making based on data. Through the software, data on workload, processing progress, and task completion levels for each employee will be regularly updated. This is an important basis for analyzing labor productivity, comparing individuals, departments, and units; and simultaneously providing a more scientific basis for rewarding, disciplining, assigning, and utilizing personnel, minimizing the subjective factors that have long existed.
KPIs not only serve a management purpose but also create a clear motivational tool. When each task is quantified and linked to specific results, employees are forced to shift their mindset from "getting it done" to "doing it effectively." Gradually, a results-based work culture is formed, contributing to improved administrative discipline and the quality of service provided to citizens and businesses.
To ensure the effective implementation of KPIs, Thanh Hoa province has chosen a cautious and systematic approach. At the end of December 2025, the Department of Science and Technology organized a conference to research and pilot the implementation of software for evaluating officials based on KPIs, with the participation of managers, scientists, and experts. This was an important forum for exchanging and debating the model, roadmap, and methods of applying KPIs in the public sector.
Notably, the participation of lecturers and experts from the University of Economics - Vietnam National University, Hanoi, brought both theoretical perspectives and practical experience in building indicator systems, standardizing evaluation processes, and managing data. There was a consensus that KPIs in the public sector cannot be mechanically copied from business models, but need to be designed to suit the specific characteristics of public service, ensuring both quantifiable work results and accurate reflection of the responsibility to serve the people.
In the context of increasingly in-depth administrative reform linked to digital transformation, KPIs are expected to become an important tool for quantifying task performance, clarifying individual responsibilities, and improving the efficiency of the administrative apparatus. If implemented systematically, with a suitable roadmap and regular review and adjustment according to practice, evaluating officials using KPIs will not only help overcome the limitations of traditional evaluation methods but also create a foundation for building a professional team of officials, civil servants, and public employees, meeting the development requirements of the province in the new phase.
Text and photos: Truong Giang
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/danh-gia-can-bo-bang-kpi-nbsp-huong-di-moi-trong-nang-cao-chat-luong-cong-vu-275046.htm
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