The integration of Management Information Systems (MIS) into disaster recovery programs is widely promoted as a means to enhance transparency, efficiency, and evidence-based decision-making. Following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, Nepal implemented a large-scale digital reconstruction monitoring system through the National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) to manage beneficiary data, financial disbursement, and infrastructure progress. Despite the technical success of these systems, the use of data in actual decision-making remained limited. This study examines the “MIS–Decision Gap,” defined as the disconnect between data generation and its practical use in governance processes. Using secondary data from institutional records, MIS operations, and reconstruction reports from 2016–2020, the study applies a socio-technical framework to analyze interactions between data systems, institutional structures, and human actors. The findings show that while MIS improved monitoring and transparency, factors such as fragmented data systems, limited interoperability, institutional silos, and capacity constraints reduced its effectiveness in decision-making. The study concludes that the value of MIS in disaster governance depends not only on technological capability but also on its integration within institutional workflows and decision processes. These findings contribute to ICT4D and disaster governance literature and provide practical insights for designing more effective, decision-oriented digital systems in developing country contexts.
Deependra Paudel (Sun,) studied this question.