INFLUENCE OF TOP MANAGEMENT SUPPORT ON PROCUREMENT REGULATORY COMPLIANCE LEVEL IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA

Abstract

Purpose: This research focused on the influence of top management support on procurement regulatory compliance level in public universities in Kenya. Methodology: The study used Ex-post facto design, the research design was chosen because the study aimed at investigating the causal relationship on variables, which cannot be controlled by the researcher. The researcher applied the census sampling technique to select the sample size of 31 public universities and 333 respondents. The study was informed by the Principal-Agent Theory. Primary data was collected through the use of questionnaires issued to the procurement staffs in the sampled universities. This study undertook a census because the sample size was small. Data collected from the field was coded and cleaned to remove outliers or missing values and categorized manually according to the questionnaire items using frequency distribution tables and percentages. The researcher used both descriptive and inferential statistics with the help of statistical package of Social Science (SPSS) version 24 to analyze the data.Findings: Top management was found to be satisfactory significant in contribution as a factor to procurement regulatory compliance level. The p value 0.000 was less than the conventional probability of 0.05 at a testing at 95% level of significance. Motivation and rewards to staff can be used as a strategy to combat the personal interest that arise in preference to fulfill their duties and assignments. Management acts as the framework to the functionality of the procurement department and activities thereof. Top management making efforts on motivating the staff individually leads to an exemplary performance.Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: Deficient checking and assessment of the functioning in an organization is connected to the non-attendance to a controllable situation. The existing hindrances from the top management for the staffs to engage and enhance adoption and application of total quality management in procurement should be eradicated. Disciplinary steps should be taken on staff with unbecoming behaviors in effort to uphold ethical practice. There should be freedom of staff to discharge their duties as assigned to them by the top management