Study On Evaluation/Measurement Theory And Method For China’s Rural Informatization

Since 1980’s, Information Technology (IT) has affected the human civilization more than any other new technologies. The level of informatization has become an important symbol to measure the modernization of a country or an area. The rural informatization in China has developed rapidly, summarizing the development of the construction of rural informatization, evaluating and analyzing the level of national and areal rural informatization is the foundation of making decision. For Chinese government, it’s very important to establish the indices system to measure the level of rural informatization, study the evaluation methods, measure, compare and analyze the level of informatization among different areas of our country is very significative, so the government can constitute feasible rural informatization strategy and policy.Through informatization theory, economic estimate theory and systems engineering methodology, with qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis and case study etc., this paper reviewed the history of domestic and international rural informatization, and put forward the concept and connotation of rural informatization. By using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Expert Assessment Method such as Delphi Method, the paper established the synthetical index method suitable for China to assess the rural informatization, and compared the synthetical index and each sub-index among the rural areas, provided a basis for the government to make leap-forward development strategy on rural informatization, developed a platform for the measurement of rural informatization with modern IT, and provided a scientific and convenient computing tool for decision-makers.The following points are obtained in this advanced study:(1) The concept and connotation of rural informatization were brought forward. According to the definition, rural informatization refers a process in which high-tech, such as communication technology and IT is widely adopted, and information resources are fully and effectively explored and utilized, to promote the rural economic and social development. The rural informatization includes the informatization of rural environment and resources, social economy, agricultural production, rural science and technology, rural education, rural market for production material, rural administration, etc.(2) It analyzed comprehensive the status quo and development trend of domestic and international rural informatization. Study concluded that the evaluation of rural informatization horizontal (evaluation methods) can be divided into the evaluation of informatization projects & work, the level evaluation of informatizatiion and the evaluation of informatization effects; vertical (Evaluation goals), particularly in China can be divided into provincial jurisdictions, Regional, county, community (village),enterprises, and other field informatizatiion.(3) An indecies system for the measurement of the rural informatization level in China had been established. Based on the evaluation methods on measurement of the domestic and international informatization level, and according to the principles of being scientific and systemic, typical and practical, comparative and directive, dynamic and complementary, etc., 25 sub indecies systems are established, including the resources, infrastructure, technology application, industry, human resource and external environment of rural informatization.(4) A synthetical index method was introduced to evaluate the rural informatization. Based on the established index system, and by following the steps of data collection-standardization-weights allocation-modeling-index calculation-comparison, not only the national level of rural informatization, but also the areal (such as the Mid-west, each province) level of rural informatization can be assessed and compared.(5) A platform for the measurement of rural informatization was developed with modern IT. The roles of the platform include data collection, management of index system, modeling, measurement and computation, graph output, etc., which provides for the related organization a computerized analysis and management platform based on B/S Mode.(6) Policy suggestions and safeguard measures were put forward for the development of rural informatization in China. The following works have to be done: to build a solid foundation, by integrating information resources; do a good job on the demonstrations of rural and social specialized organizations, by giving priority to the effects of informatization; break through the bottleneck of rural informatization, by improving rural education systems, assessment indicator and information collection and release; improve the environment of informatization, by setting up province-county-town-village 4-class platforms; improve the diversification system of information services, by using 5 networks including the traditional and modern medias; improve the rural community management, by developing 6 application systems such as rural affairs information system.