Procurement Practices, E-Procurement Usage and Firm Performance Among Selected Printing Firms in Kampala Metropolitan Area.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2025-04-14
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Makerere University Business School
Abstract
Printing firms in the Kampala Metropolitan Area face several problems in implementing efficient procurement processes and e-procurement systems, leading to delays, revenue losses, and customer dissatisfaction. These inefficiencies, caused by inadequate procurement practices and limited e-procurement adoption, hinder overall operation performance. This attracted researcher’s study on procurement practices, electronic procurement usage and firm performance amongst selected printing businesses in Kampala Metropolitan Area. The study focused on the link that exist between procurement practices and firm performance, procurement practices and e-procurement usage, Electronic procurement usage and firm performance and mediating role of Electronic procurement usage in the relationship between procurement practices and firm performance. The study used cross-sectional survey design, with quantitative method. Data were analyzed using SPSS, with correlations and regression techniques used. The key findings show procurement practices and firm performance has a strong and positive relationship; the regression analysis tells a different story. The regression results, as indicated by the standardized beta value, were statistically insignificant. The regression analysis between procurement practices and e-procurement usage reveals a significant positive relationship, as indicated by the unstandardized coefficient. This suggests that improvements in procurement practices contribute to higher usage of e-procurement systems. The standardized coefficient demonstrates the strong effect of procurement practices on e-procurement usage. The relationship between electronic procurement (e-procurement) usage and firm performance were significant, indicating that e-procurement usage has a substantial impact on firm performance. Specifically, the standardized beta value for e-procurement usage was statistically significant. This suggests that e-procurement usage is a strong predictor of firm performance, with a positive and meaningful effect. Also electronic procurement usage significantly mediates the relationship between procurement practices and firm performance.
It was concluded that a significant positive relationship exists between procurement practices and firm performance. Firms with structured procurement processes benefit from improved efficiency, reduced costs, and better operational outcomes. The regression analysis shows that procurement practices have a strong impact on e-procurement usage, highlighting the importance of formal strategies for maximizing technological advantages. The findings suggest that e-procurement fully mediates the link between procurement practices and firm performance, meaning its adoption is crucial for translating effective procurement into better performance. Managers should prioritize integrating advanced e-procurement systems to streamline processes and reduce costs, while training staff in data analytics for better decision-making. Future research could explore how technology mediates procurement performance, barriers to e-procurement adoption in small medium enterprises, the role of stakeholder engagement, and the impact of specific e-procurement system features on firm success.
Description
This is a master's thesis.
Keywords
Citation
Akello, K. D. (2025) Procurement Practices, E-Procurement Usage and Firm Performance Among Selected Printing Firms in Kampala Metropolitan Area. (Unpublished master's dissertation). Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda.