EFFECTS OF SUPPLIER SELECTION PRACTICES ON SERVICE DELIVERY IN WEST POKOT COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Samuel Kibiegon Lowasikou - Master of Science Degree in Procurement and Logistics, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
Dr. Mike A. Iravo (PhD.) - Lecturer, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Supplier selection has become one of the elementary roles of supply chain managers since it virtually affects an organization’s competitiveness. Organizations today perform carry out evaluation, selection and continuous measurement of suppliers. Increasingly, firms are allocating more resources to their core competencies, and encouraging the outsourcing of non-core activities, which increases their reliance and dependence on suppliers. This increases the importance of effective supplier selection and assessment. In-spite of this little is known on supplier selection criteria and its relationship to service delivery in the public service. This study sought to find out what supplier selection practices are used by Public Institutions in West Pokot County in selection of their key suppliers, and the relationship between supplier selection practices and public service delivery. The target population for the study was 50 Public Servants working in West Pokot County Government composed of 10 executive officers, 10 directors and 30 employees and 100 suppliers. The study used purposive sampling technique where 120 respondents representing the target population filled in the questionnaire. The data collected will be analyzed using mean scores, factor analysis, regression analysis and multiple correlations. Data was collected from the field through use of questionnaires and then analyzed using SPSS version 20 and Excel and presented in tables and figures. The primary data was collected through use of questionnaires. A five Point Likert scale that measures the level of agreement or disagreement with selection practices was adopted. The study revealed that majority of the respondents were in agreement with the selection criteria adopted at West Pokot County. The study also revealed that among the numerous practices adopted, cost based selection criteria, quality and selection principles were the most important. Additionally, the findings also revealed that there was a significant relationship between supplier selection practices and service delivery as the independent variables: supplier selection methods, supplier selection criteria and principles of supplier selection were statistically significant at the 95% confidence i.e. p-value< 0.05.Based on the findings the study recommends that policy makers, need to pay closer attention to adoption of technology and consideration for the disadvantaged groups in its supplier selection processes which registered the lowest mean compared to other selection criteria. The role of technology in improvement of procurement performance helps in providing real time information and reducing lead time and enhanced service delivery.
