The Influence of the National E-Procurement System on Employees’ Performance in Selected Public Institutions in Tanzania

Abstract

The study assessed the influence of the Tanzania  National E-Procurement System (TANePS) on  employees’ performance in the selected public  institutions in Tanzania. Specifically, we  investigated the extent to which TANePS is being  adopted, and its influence on employee  performance at the following institutions:  Government Procurement Services Agency  (GPSA), and the Public Procurement Regulatory  Authority (PPRA). We conducted a self administered questionnaire survey to 200  employees at the selected institutions, with a rate  of return of 66 per cent. The study found that most respondents (84%, n=168) frequently completed  their daily tasks easily by using TANePS. In  particular, most of the respondents frequently used TANePS for e-tendering, and e-payment,  while user registration and e-contract  management had low use. On factors enabling  adoption of TANEPS, the software design had a  positive impact on the IT readiness (b=0.696,  p=0.042). Management policies negatively  affected internal resistance (b= -0.517, p=0.002),  and internal resistance negatively affected adoption of TANePS (b= -0.506, p=0.002). At the  same time, two factors (i.e., management policies  (b= 0.649, p=0.002) and IT-readiness (b= 474,  p=0.002)) had a positive effect on adoption of  TANePS. Consequently, adoption of TANePS had a positive effect on the effective procurement  (b=0.674, p=0.007), and the reduction of  imperfections (b=0.721, p=0.001). The study  further found that the use of TANePS led to better  performance (p>0.045 [F (2, 183=26.737,  p=0.045]), increased accuracy of production capacity (p>0.045 [F (2, 183=3.190, p=0.045]),  and shortened process cycle times (p>0.024 [F (2,  183=17.347, p=0.024]). The study recommends  that government procurement authorities and  public institutions in Tanzania and other countries  of similar environment should ensure that an e-procurement system is designed based on user  needs; there are supportive management policies,  there is a regular system review and maintenance,  adequate technical user support and training, user friendly software design, a secure system, and  stable network. These suggestions will increase  the number of bidders and enhance stiff and fair  competition among them.

https://doi.org/10.59200/ICONIC.2022.008