What are the incentives and disincentives for poor-country governments to improve information systems to Manage for Development Results (MfDR)? This paper argues that the main incentive is the recognition of long-term benefits of MfDR approaches and tools for social welfare. MfDR can increase the inclusiveness of government interests, improve decision making for policy and implementation, and help address information asymmetry problems. Disincentives arise especially out of weak governance capacity and narrow interests. Narrow interests may seek to maintain the status quo creating low demand and possibly opposition. A poor country is more likely to move towards results-based management approaches if political leaders are convinced to take a long-run perspective, and bureaucrats given appropriate incentives to address short-term costs and provide security. This paper considers a range of material and non-material incentives that may either support or hinder implementation of MfDR, as influenced by local and international actors.