Readiness factors affecting e-procurement in South African government departments

Background: South Africa’s government departments use a manual paper-based procurement system with some electronic features despite the high level of human interference contributing to corruption, favouritism and inefficiency associated with manual paper-based procurement system. This suggests a lack of readiness towards full e-procurement adoption in South Africa’s public sector. However, studies on readiness factors affecting e-procurement adoption have been scantly investigated in multiple government departments in South Africa. Objectives: This study aims to determine the readiness factors that affect e-procurement in multiple government departments in South Africa. Method: A quantitative research design was adopted to sample 113 public procurement officials using a cluster sampling method from five identified national government departments across five ministerial clusters. The data were collected using an online self-administered survey questionnaire and processed and analysed through Stata Release 15 statistical analysis software. Results: Six factors were identified to influence e-procurement readiness in South African government departments. These include technology and organisation’s finance, among others. These factors will aid in effective planning of government departments regarding e-procurement readiness. Conclusion: Government departments should consider the factors that influence e-procurement readiness when deciding to adopt e-procurement system. This would help government departments to plan effectively e-procurement acquisition, running and training of users and thereby streamlining their procurement processes, reducing operating costs and minimising corruption. Contribution: This study fills a lack of knowledge on the readiness factors affecting e-PP adoption in the South African government department context. The knowledge of these factors, generated through empirical analysis, would guide government departments when deciding on e-PP readiness and streamline procurement processes in South Africa.