Integrating the Service Paradigm into Procurement Practices in Ghana

Mawuko Dza

doi:10.5539/par.v6n2p58

Abstract

This paper investigates how an integration of the concept of service into public procurement practices in universities in Ghana could lead to performance improvement. With samples drawn from procurement practitioners of public universities in Ghana, the study adopts a qualitative approach based on the constant comparative analysis of interview data; deriving categories from composite concepts. At the end of the analysis process three ‘categories’ emerged - procurement practice, resource integration and networking, and information support systems for procurement practitioners. A careful evaluation of these ‘categories’ show that whereas an integration of the concept of service dominant logic into procurement practices could improve procurement performance in public universities in Ghana, bottlenecks such as minimal resource integration and networking; inadequate information support systems; and prohibitions on customer-supplier relationship building affect performance improvement. These findings are significant because they contribute to the body of knowledge in a study area known for its paucity of empirical information.

Highlights

Researchers in services and service science suggest that to properly understand the term “service”, require a new way of thinking (Spohrer, et al; 2008)
This paper investigates how an integration of the concept of service into public procurement practices in universities in Ghana could lead to performance improvement
For instance whilst a section of practitioners indicate that they use the register as a database to invite prospective suppliers to bid for contracts, others explain that the supplier register is compiled in order to meet the requirements of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA)

Summary

Introduction

Researchers in services and service science suggest that to properly understand the term “service”, require a new way of thinking (Spohrer, et al; 2008). Value creation involves a network of interactions by people, institutions and technology to co-produce service offerings; exchange service offerings; and co-create value (Lusch, Vargo, & Tanniru, 2010). SD logic’s service-for-service and resource-integration perspective represents a shift in thinking away from the dyadic notions of production and consumption towards the co-creation of value through complex, interactive, resource-integrating networks (Vargo and Lusch, 2010). The logic places emphasis on intangible, dynamic resources as inputs for co-created value (Gummesson, et al, 2010) This viewpoint is in stark contrast with the dominant view, in which the supplier is seen as operant resource acting on the passive consumer who is considered as an operand resource (Lusch & Vargo, 2012)

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Conclusion