Determinants and constraints to effective procurement management in government projects: a practitioner's perspective

Abstract

Procurement management in public procurement has significant implications for service delivery. Any challenges accruing from this function pose several challenges. Yet, procurement management offers an important framework for ensuring the success of any project undertaking. Despite its importance, limited scientific research has been undertaken to examine the factors that influence procurement performance in Bangladesh. An understanding of the determinants and constraints to effective procurement management provided an impetus for the study. Data were collected from 34 respondents (procurement practitioners) using purposive sampling. A semi structured questionnaire as a data collection instrument was developed. The study identified multifactorial influences to effective procurement management. The major determinants found are the factors related to strategic planning, organizational culture, staff competency, organizational capacity that positively affected procurement performance. Various factor related to socio-political, ethical, and resource allocation constraints effective procurement management. These findings offer a useful foundation for policy and practical improvement in this important area.