The Role of Digital Procurement Systems in Mitigating Project Delays

Abstract

vi ABSTRACT This study investigated the role of digital procurement systems in addressing project delays within the context of TANESCO – Dar es Salaam. The specific objectives include assessing users' perceptions of the system's impact on mitigating delays, evaluating the effectiveness of digital procurement systems, and identifying challenges faced in this context. Employing a mixed research approach combining quantitative and qualitative methods, the study targeted employees within TANESCO's Dar es Salaam regional offices. Data was collected using closed- ended questionnaires administered through simple random sampling for quantitative analysis using SPSS, emphasizing descriptive statistics. Qualitative data, gathered through open-ended questions and interviews, were subjected to content analysis. The study found that users have a high level of satisfaction with the system's user-friendliness and they perceive the system as easy to use, indicating a strong likelihood of active adoption and utilization. Also, findings indicated that digital procurement system was seen as effective in minimizing delays to a moderate extent, suggesting that it plays a valuable role in reducing project delays. The study revealed that challenges such as technical issues, insufficient training, and security concerns were identified as significant hurdles. The study recommends TANESCO to actively engage with users to gather continuous feedback, proactively maintain the system, and invest in user training programs to ensure its efficient utilization. This holistic approach will aid in streamlining project management and reducing delays. Future research can encompass a multifaceted approach, focusing on comparative analysis across industries to gauge adaptability, longitudinal studies for tracking long-term system performance, qualitative investigations for user experience insights, training program effectiveness, and the impact of robust cybersecurity and privacy measures.