Procurement planning and purchasing performance at Uganda Management Institute

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of procurement planning on purchasing performance at UMI. The study was guided by the resource-based view (RBV) theory and the European foundation for quality management model. In Uganda most government Institutions such as UMI have registered certain constraints in purchasing performance and this could be a result of inadequate procurement planning on a timely basis as required by the PPDA Act 2003. The objectives of the study were: (i) to find out the relationship between procurement needs assessment and purchasing performance, (ii) to examine the relationship between procurement budgeting and purchasing performance and (iii) to analyze the relationship between information sharing and purchasing performance at UMI. The study used the cross sectional research design. The sample size comprised of 119 stakeholders and the response rate was 63%. The information got from the data collection instrument was analyzed by the researcher and the findings of the study were: (i) there is a strong positive relationship between needs assessment and purchasing performance, (i) there is a weak positive relationship between procurement budgeting and purchasing performance and (iii) there is a fairly positive relationship between information sharing and purchasing performance. Based on these findings, the following recommendations were made: (i) The PDU should always liaise with User Departments to ensure that they undertake a thorough needs assessment, (ii) the heads of departments should always ensure that they involve their subordinates in procurement budgeting (iii) the PDU should always avail the User Departments, with the right PPDA procedures and guidelines on procurement planning and budgeting. The study concludes by suggesting that if the above recommendations are implemented, procurement planning would form a strong foundation for improved purchasing performance at UMI.