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Summary form only given. Institutional planning, in its broader conceptualization, is the strongest tool to guarantee an enhanced influence by objective factors on management. Planning, nevertheless, is the application of knowledge, based on systematized information. To organize information for decision making implies, therefore, the structuring of information on management information systems (MIS). This paper focuses the development, validation and implementation of such a MIS at Embrapa (Brazilian Corporation for Agricultural Research). The MIS described here (named SIGER) is linked to the conceptual framework for planning, monitoring and evaluation adopted by the Embrapa's R&D Planning System (SEP). SIGER implementation as well as its problems sources, identification and solution are discussed. Critical factors affecting implementation success are indicated. Lessons learned throughout the whole process of design, automatization, validation and implementation are described.

This paper has the objective of introducing a conceptual and methodological framework, as well as a strategy for setting agricultural R&D priorities based on client demands to Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) a large public agricultural research organization. It is the result of a five year project aiming at developing a strategy, conceptual framework and methodology for determining R&D client demands, using a technological demands prospective analysis of agricultural production chains. Besides strategy, conceptual framework and methodology development, the project also included results validation, training of key personnel and application of technological demands analysis in determining R&D demands in several Embrapa R&D centers. This paper also discusses results of some studies carried out on R&D demands determination and further applications of prospective analysis of production chains, in agricultural research environment as well as in planning of development organizations.