Determinants of Supply Chain Management Ethical Practices Implementation in Government Ministries in Kenya

Abstract

The current procurement management system in Kenya ministries is deficient of SCM ethical practices inclination and there is need for ministries to employ ethical consideration to create a favorable environment for effective delivery of various public services (Anthony, 2009). The general objective of the study was to establish the determinants of supply chain management ethical practices implementation in government ministries in Kenya. The study specifically; determined the influence of supplier relationship management; assessed the influence of employees’ competency; established the influence of market pressure; determined the influence of health and safety measures and investigated the influence of regulatory framework on implementation of supply chain management ethical practices in government ministries in Kenya. The study employed a descriptive and correlational survey design. The study population comprised 42 ministries. The study applied a multistage sampling technique involving a combination of purposive and stratified random sampling technique to select the sample size of 21 ministries and 144 respondents. These included procurement manager, finance manager, and senior administrative staff from each ministry hence leading to a sample size of 144 respondents. Questionnaires were used as the main data collection instruments and a pilot study was undertaken to pretest the questionnaires for validity and reliability. Descriptive statistics were used aided by Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) to compute percentages of respondents’ answers. Inferential statistics using, multiple regression and correlation analysis were applied to aid examining the relationship between the research variables. Tables and charts were used to present the analyzed results. The study’s findings indicate that lack of supplier relationship management, low level of employees’ competency, market pressure, weak health and safety measures, and low level of compliance with supply chain management regulatory framework. The study recommended the need for implementation of effective supplier relationship management strategies, training of supply chain management staff, and avoidance of market influence during procurement process, implementation of high standards health and safety measures and increasing the level of compliance with the supply chain management regulations.