Enhancing municipal e-procurement using inventory stock control: South African design approach

Abstract

The control of stock is imperative to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of municipal e-procurement. The main purpose of this study is threefold: to identify critical factors influencing e-procurement; to assess strategies used by inventory stock control to improve successful e-procurement; and to explore significant relationships between inventory stock control and e-procurement, in the South African municipalities, with specific reference to the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province. This study uses the 5Ps theoretical framework (purpose, principles, processes, people and performance). This census study was descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative in nature with 62 questionnaires administered by members of staff at procurement of the South African municipalities. Data are analyzed with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. The results indicate that stock inspection, control strategies, organizational support, staff skills and involvement, and sustainability of the 5Ps attributes are the main promotional tools for inventory stock control to improve e-procurement in the South African municipalities. Interestingly, the hypotheses of the study are accepted and the departments reveal a significant relationship with purpose (p=.008*), people (p=.021*), principles (p=.004*), and organizational support (p=.008*). The study recommends strategic advancements in the stock control to improve e-procurement, and it also recommends that other researches to test and validate a proposed model.