Organizational e-readiness and adoption of e-procurement in Ugandan armed forces: a case of Uganda police force

Abstract

The general objective of the study was to establish the relationship between organizational ereadiness and adoption of e-procurement in Uganda Police Force. The study specifically examined the extent to which management, technological and staff e-readiness influence adoption of e-procurement in the UPF. The study used a cross sectional design adopting quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study population included 194 respondents consisting of Accounting Officer, Contracts Committee members, procurement and Disposal Unit staff, User Departments, and IT and IM Departmental staff The study found a moderate positive and significant relationship between management e-readiness and adoption of eprocurement in UPF although it was the least significant predictor of the variance in adoption of e-procurement (r = 0.478**, p = 0.000, Pl-= 0.198, t= 2.246, Sig. = 0.027). There was a high positive significant relationship between technological e-readiness and e-procurement adoption and it was the most significant predictor of the variance in adoption of e-procurement (r = 0.576**, Pl= 0.389, t= 4.573, sig = 0.000). Staff e-readiness had a positive significant re:l!\tionshi~ with adoption of e-procurement and it was the <>econd most significant predictor of the variance in adoption e-procurement (r = 0.498**, Pl= 0.228, t= 2.575, Sig. = 0.011). To enhance e-procurement adoption, the study recommends that the management of UPF should review and strengthen the e-procurement vision and communicate it to all procurement levels, develop a budget that supports e-procurement initiatives, commission and communicate an eprocurement steering committee, strengthen the e-procurement policy and guidelines, procure modern procurement software, identify staff training needs and train them in e-procurement operation s, and conduct staff change management sessions.