Assessing the Perception of Quantity Surveyor on Adoption of E-procurement to Mitigate Corrupt Practices in Public Procurement
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The primary objectives of this study is to assess the perception of quantity surveyors on adoption of E-procurement to mitigate corrupt practices in public procurement. Specifically, the study seeks to:
- Examine the benefits of e-procurement in public procurement
- Examine the extent to which the adoption of e-procurement will mitigate corrupt practices in public procurement
- Examine the risks associated with adoption of e-procurement in public procurement
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
E-Procurement
There are several definitions and explanations of e-Procurement in existing literature. Bausal et al (2013) defined e-Procurement as the use of electronic communications and transaction process when buying supplies and services or conducting tendering for works. While Lee and Whang (2005) defined e-procurement as the use of online means to source direct or indirect materials and to handle value-added services such as transportation, payments or warehousing. Another important definition of e-Procurement by Tatsis (2006) is that e-Procurement is the integration, management, automation, optimization and enablement of an organization’s procurement process, using electronic tools and technologies and web-based applications. Summarily, e-Procurement is seen as an end-to-end solution that integrates and streamlines many procurement processes using automation throughout the organization. There are various opinions regarding the number of existing e-procurement processes. Corsi, Gumina and Ciraci (2006) grouped the construction e-procurement process into nine stages of operation namely e-Sourcing, e-Aggregation, e-Tendering, e-Catalogue/Purchasing, e-Contract, eAward, e-Ordering, e-Invoicing and e-Payment. While United Nations Procurement Practitioners’ Handbook (2006) grouped the e-Procurement process into two phases namely, the pre-award phase (comprising e-Notification; e-Submission; e-Evaluation; and e-Awarding) and the post-award phase (comprising e-Ordering; e-Invoicing; and e-Payment). Existing technologies integrate these eProcurement processes for easy adoption. Ibem and Laryea (2014) in their research also identified several of these e-procurement technologies and applications available to support the execution of construction procurement activities. Some of these e-Procurement technologies and applications are in the form of web-enabled/ supported software packages for the performance of specific procurement tasks, network technologies for the exchange of data and information among project participants. Others are web-supported transactional and collaboration applications, websupported data collection and handling technologies, and interactive, integrative and collaboration technologies. The common feature of these technologies is that they tend to promote real time interactions and exchange of information and data in the entire construction procurement lifecycle. There are various benefits accrued from the use of e-procurement in businesses as it utilizes ICT tools and applications. Several empirical studies opined that e-Procurement makes the procurement process more efficient and effective and has an impact on firms’ performance (Eadie, Perera and Heaney, 2011). Other benefits outlined by Hashim, Said and Idris (2013) includes lowering of procurement cost, reduce time of preparing cot plan, improve control and monitoring, reduce and eliminate problems with suppliers, and reducing operational costs.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
AREA OF STUDY
The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors was founded in 1969 by a group of Nigerians who trained, qualified and practiced in the United Kingdom but who upon returning to Nigeria sensed the urgent need to develop the profession of Quantity Surveying in Nigeria by establishing a parallel body to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors of United Kingdom.
The Profession of Quantity Surveying is practiced in Nigeria along the same pattern as in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries. In America, they are known as Cost Engineers. Quantity Surveying functions is carried out in other countries under a variety of names. Thus, the role is universal.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of one hundred (100) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which all were returned and validated and used for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
In this study, our focus was to carryout to assess the perception of quantity surveyors on adoption of E-procurement to mitigate corrupt practices in public procurement using Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors as a case study. The study specifically was aimed at examining the benefits of e-procurement in public procurement; examine the extent to which the adoption of e-procurement will mitigate corrupt practices in public procurement; and examine the risks associated with adoption of e-procurement in public procurement.
The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 100 responses were purposively selected validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are members of Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Lagos State.
CONCLUSION
Based on the finding of this study, the following conclusions were made:
- The benefits of e-procurement in public procurement includes the following:
- E-procurement can centralize data in order to improve audit and analysis
- E-procurement eliminates the direct human interaction on bidding and other work and services, corruption is decreased significantly, and internal efficiency increase
- From an e-procurement system, government can monitor all the works and services more easily and efficiently
- E-procurement system provides better status monitoring and tracking of applications
- It increases transparency in works and services and improves better interaction between supplier and vendors and citizens through online system
RECOMMENDATION
Based on the responses obtained, the researcher proffers the following recommendations:
- The Government should create a legal framework and regulatory control for e-Procurement adoption in Nigeria.
- Construction stakeholders should be enlightened on existing internet security that ensures the safety, security and integrity of e-Procurement transactions.
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