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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 16 November 2022

David Špaček and Zuzana Špačková

Scholarly research on e-procurement has been limited and, like e-government, e-procurement has been researched primarily from the perspective of adoption/non-adoption. This paper…

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Abstract

Purpose

Scholarly research on e-procurement has been limited and, like e-government, e-procurement has been researched primarily from the perspective of adoption/non-adoption. This paper aims to focus on public administration employees’ perceptions of the quality of národní elektronický nástroj (NEN) – the Czech national e-procurement tool they are required to use.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based primarily on statistical analysis of data obtained through two questionnaire surveys addressed to contacts from of all Czech central state administration bodies using NEN; 175 completed questionnaires were gathered in 2020 and 128 in 2022 and subjected to statistical analysis in SPSS.

Findings

NEN was launched as fully operational in August 2015. The research indicates that in 2022 there were still important gaps in the quality of NEN as perceived by public employees.

Social implications

The paper has important practical implications for e-procurement policymakers. It shows that making the e-procurement system compulsory is not sufficient. The government needs to guarantee that it would be competitive with tools that would otherwise be preferred. Otherwise, the application of the digital-by-default principle may lead to institutionalisation of services that are not user-friendly. This has important implications for e-government/e-procurement management and change management.

Originality/value

Little is known about public employees’ perceptions of the quality of e-government and e-procurement. Although e-procurement is an area where the digital-by-default principle was implemented rather early, the quality of e-procurement has still received limited attention in research.

Details

Journal of Public Procurement, vol. 23 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1535-0118

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 October 2014

Juan Carlos Barahona and Andrey M. Elizondo

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate a unique opportunity to analyze the implications of two different approaches to develop and deploy a national public electronic…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate a unique opportunity to analyze the implications of two different approaches to develop and deploy a national public electronic procurement system.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used multiple data collection methods. The data were collected from 2009 to 2013 from primary sources, studies, consulting work, seminars, official documents and the written press. The structure includes a teaching case, a teaching note and a discussion on the potential of case research as a powerful method to elicit valuable insights and knowledge creation.

Findings

The research shows that literature on E-Procurement and E-Government is oblivious to the disruptive character of this technology in public administration. This case allows the discussion on the consequences of this omission for the success of E-Procurement implementations. Lessons drawn are extendable to other E-Government ventures.

Practical implications

Despite multiple stakeholder views and a long and difficult debate among different technical platforms, the underlying problem remains unnoticed. The authors show that decisions on E-Procurement implementations should also consider organizational design and adoption of innovation strategies. By re-framing the problem, much of the complexity of the decision disappears.

Originality/value

Many nations around the world are developing or revamping their National Public E-Procurement Systems, this parsimonious account of a complex decision allows for the exploration and discussion of the various complexities surrounding technological innovations in public management and brings light to a critical and mostly ignore success factor associated with the choice on the implementation and operational model.

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 13 April 2015

Achmad Nurmandi and Sunhyuk Kim

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the implementation of initiative e-procurement in decentralized system on Indonesia’s local government system.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the implementation of initiative e-procurement in decentralized system on Indonesia’s local government system.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors combine quantitative and qualitative methods. The central finding of this research is that human resources are the pivotal factors that determine the performance of local e-procurement in three cities. This research focusses on three local governments in Indonesia – Yogyakarta City, Tangerang City, and Kutaikartanegara Regency.

Findings

The central finding of this research is that human resources are the pivotal factors that determine the performance of local e-procurement in three cities. However, Tangerang City is going institutionalization phase in e-procurement initiative to ensure its sound local regulation.

Research limitations/implications

There are several limitations to this study including the recent nature of decentralized procurement in Indonesia, limited standardized and disaggregated data on local government procurement expenditures and performance.

Practical implications

The study recommends that human resources management in procurement needs to be addressed by both local and central government.

Originality/value

e-Procurement is an important instrument for preventing corruption in goods and services procurement. Indonesia has been implementing an e-procurement policy since 2008 based on a Presidential Decree. The president has issued annual orders (presidential instructions), and all central ministries and local governments have been required to comply with them to obtain their budget through the e-procurement system. However, as of 2012 fiscal year, only around 10.26 percent of the central government institution procurement budget and 10 percent of the local government procurement budget in Indonesia went through the e-procurement system, with wide variations among cities.

Details

International Journal of Public Sector Management, vol. 28 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3558

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 October 2019

Tashfeen Ahmad, Ruba Aljafari and Viswanath Venkatesh

Realizing value from information and communication technology (ICT) in procurement in developing countries is complex due to diverse stakeholders and intertwined procurement…

Abstract

Purpose

Realizing value from information and communication technology (ICT) in procurement in developing countries is complex due to diverse stakeholders and intertwined procurement processes. The purpose of this paper is to examine the experience of the Government of Jamaica in leveraging ICTs as an intervention to transform its procurement operations and combat corruption.

Design/methodology/approach

The study examines conversations with employees in the Government of Jamaica to understand key milestones in its procurement history. Based on the view that the intervention context is an ecosystem where multiple and inconsistent views of the e-procurement system evolve over time, the study analyzes milestones to reveal key actions that contributed either to the initial success of or introduced challenges to the e-procurement system.

Findings

The findings suggest that inducing positive sentiments about the intervention through transparency will overcome a long history of negative sentiments about the initiatives of government bodies in general. Furthermore, positive sentiments may not be directly related to the e-procurement system.

Research limitations/implications

The study offers important insights that government bodies in similar contexts can apply to guide initiatives for transforming procurement operations. For instance, training should emphasize not only the technical aspects of the system from the perspective of different stakeholders but also their job descriptions. Future research may examine other initiatives in developing countries to compare the role of sentiments over time.

Originality/value

The study adopts a unique approach to understand the experience of a developing country in harnessing ICTs to transform procurement operations.

Details

Internet Research, vol. 29 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1066-2243

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2010

Mi Jung Lee

There are Increasing applications of e-procurement by government along with active e-commerce by the private sector in an advanced information society. The Korea e-Procurement

Abstract

There are Increasing applications of e-procurement by government along with active e-commerce by the private sector in an advanced information society. The Korea e-Procurement System (G2B) is recognized as a successful example of substantially enhancing procurement process efficiency by making it transparent and professional. An analytic work is needed to systematically assess the functionality and role of the system. This paper's purpose is the exploratory study on a mature indicator of evaluation of public e-procurement systems. This paper compares Korea’s case with those of the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand to show that in Australia and New Zealand, which are adopting a as dispersive supply method, the e-procurement system is not developed on a large scale in comparison with the US and Korea that are adopting a central supply method. There are some differences among the four countries according to the trait of their procurement institution and base value in terms of capability of system. Different usefulness for e-procurement depends on the public procurement institution in each country. This paper suggests that eprocurement systems can be used helping purchasing goods and services most reasonably. This paper can help us evaluating substantial value of eprocurement system clearly.

Details

Journal of Public Procurement, vol. 10 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1535-0118

Article
Publication date: 1 April 2002

Susan A. MacManus

Government’s e-procurement system has not caught on as rapidly as has e-Bay! This article examines the slow implementation rate of public e-procurement systems. It challenges the…

Abstract

Government’s e-procurement system has not caught on as rapidly as has e-Bay! This article examines the slow implementation rate of public e-procurement systems. It challenges the notion that efficiency gains alone can entice governments to leave traditional procurement systems and principles behind. Four traditional procurement principles are reexamined to see whether they are deterrents to e-commerce: (1) low bid wins and that’s a must; (2) separation between the vendor and user is desirable to avoid claims of favoritism; (3) fixed price and fixed term contracts are best for government; and (4) open access is absolutely imperative in all situations. The jury is still out as to whether the new commerce is contingent upon a reformulation of these principles.

Details

Journal of Public Procurement, vol. 2 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1535-0118

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2012

Clifford McCue and Alexandru V. Roman

Governments across the globe appear to identify and tout technology as a way to transform how they govern. Public procurement is at the forefront of most reform efforts given that…

Abstract

Governments across the globe appear to identify and tout technology as a way to transform how they govern. Public procurement is at the forefront of most reform efforts given that it plays a significant role in promoting accountability and transparency. This study relies on survey data of procurement professionals to delineate the current status of eprocurement implementation in United States and Canada. Findings suggest that digitalized public procurement has not yet led to significant transformative changes. Unsuitability of software platforms, organizational resistance, lack of strategic systemsʼ integration and failure to involve public procurement professionals in the design of e-procurement systems were identified as the primary obstacles of effectively implementing digital procurement. These findings suggest that in order to capitalize on the potentially transformative nature of ICT in procurement, policymakers, system designers, and procurement professionals must take an active role in both the design of the software and its adoption across political, institutional and behavioral domains.

Details

Journal of Public Procurement, vol. 12 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1535-0118

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2005

M. Jae Moon

State governments have begun to introduce various eprocurement tools to improve inefficient and ineffective procurement management; however, few empirical studies have documented…

Abstract

State governments have begun to introduce various eprocurement tools to improve inefficient and ineffective procurement management; however, few empirical studies have documented the diffusion of e-procurement. This study uses data collected from state procurement agencies to examine which e-procurement tools state governments are using as well as to explore what factors affect the adoption of these tools. This study confirms that simple innovations are more rapidly diffused than those that are technically or legally complex. State governments that are more likely to adopt e-procurement tools tend to be larger, managerially innovative, and to have a strong centralized procurement office. Overall, e-procurement is promising technology, but managerial and technical challenges still remain.

Details

Journal of Public Procurement, vol. 5 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1535-0118

Article
Publication date: 15 June 2020

Lela Mélon and Rok Spruk

Because of the renewed interest in public purchasing and the strategic use of public funds under the requirements of sustainable development, the question arose once again as to…

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Abstract

Purpose

Because of the renewed interest in public purchasing and the strategic use of public funds under the requirements of sustainable development, the question arose once again as to how to curb the fall of institutional quality once criteria other than price are inserted into the decision-making in public purchasing. E-procurement has been repeatedly named as one of the most efficient tools to that effect and the present paper sets out to discover whether the implementation of e-procurement in a particular country per se entails also higher institutional quality, allowing for a wider implementation of green and sustainable procurement at the national, regional and municipal level without the fear of worsening the country’s institutional quality. By analyzing the implementation of e-procurement in Denmark, the Netherlands and in Portugal, this paper aims to verify the hypothesis that the implementation of e-procurement implies better institutions in terms of public purchasing. As such, the conclusions will be used in further research on the prerequisites for a successful implementation of green public procurement across the European Union.

Design/methodology/approach

Gathering data on institutional quality of three early e-procurement adopters (Denmark, the Netherlands and Portugal) allows for comparison of institutional quality pre- and post-e-procurement implementation. By using difference-in-differences comparison the paper seeks to answer the question how doesmandatory e-procurement influence institutional quality on the national level.

Findings

The paper finds that the reform is generally associated with a relatively stronger control of corruption in the Netherlands and Denmark, while a similar reform in Portugal failed to translate into a stronger control of corruption. Furthermore, while using the quality of regulation as a dependent variable, a positive and robust effect on the quality of regulation in Denmark was shown, while the quality of reputation in the Netherlands and Portugal declined in the post-reform period, with the drop in the quality of regulation in Portugal being considerably greater, a two-fold higher amount than the estimated drop in the Netherlands. The paper suggests that in spite of the same aims, the reform yielded substantially different or even opposing effects compared to Denmark.

Research limitations/implications

By examining three examples of early adopters, further research with broader impact is needed to deduce general implications for e-procurement implementation. Furthermore, implementation of e-procurement at the regional or local level can also yield distinct results.

Social implications

Understanding the actual impact of e-procurement on institutional quality is indispensable for further study on the matter. The present study argues that e-procurement needs to be accompanied by additional measures or variables to yield a positive impact on institutional quality in public procurement.

Originality/value

As to originality, the present paper uses a law and economics approach, originating or better said drawing motivation from green public procurement concerns, trying to provide an insight in terms of tools that can be used to eliminate concerns regarding institutional quality when implementing green public procurement practices.

Details

Journal of Public Procurement, vol. 20 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1535-0118

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 December 2021

Hawa Ahmad, Sitti Hasinah Abul Hassan and Suhaiza Ismail

This paper aims to examine the level of transparency of the electronic procurement (e-procurement) system in Malaysia.

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the level of transparency of the electronic procurement (e-procurement) system in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the content analysis method, 23 transparency disclosure items from the Website Attribute Evaluation System (WAES) checklist were used to evaluate the transparency level of the e-procurement system. The data gathered from the WAES were analysed using frequency and percentage based on the various categories of transparency.

Findings

The study reveals that the e-procurement system disclosed 17 out of the 23 WAES transparency disclosure items, which represents a transparency disclosure level of 73.91%. Of the five categories of disclosure, i.e. ownership, contact information, organizational information, citizen consequences and freshness, the detailed results show that the items are fully disclosed for only two categories, and for three categories, i.e. ownership, contact information and organizational information, the items are not fully disclosed.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of the present research offer a positive indication that the government is moving in the right direction, particularly in efforts to reduce the corruption level in procurement activities and to improve the accountability level of the government.

Originality/value

The present study is among the few studies that attempts to address a fundamental issue of transparency in the public procurement system that has an important relationship with the occurrence of corruption in procurement activities.

Details

Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, vol. 21 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1985-2517

Keywords

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