ASSESSING STAKEHOLDERS’ PERCEPTIONS AND POLICY INTEGRATION IN E-PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS: A CASE OF THE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE ETHICS SECRETARIAT

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the current landscape of accelerated digital evolution, governmental bodies are progressively integrating electronic procurement (e-procurement) platforms to reinforce openness, responsibility, and operational effectiveness. The successful deployment of these platforms, however, relies not only on technological preparedness but also on the harmonization of stakeholder viewpoints and the unification of consistent organizational regulations. This investigation examines stakeholders' perspectives and the degree of regulatory unification in the implementation and efficacy of the National e-Procurement System of Tanzania (NeST) at the President’s Office Ethics Secretariat (POES). Framed by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the research employs a convergent mixed-methods strategy, incorporating quantitative questionnaires and qualitative conversations to evaluate stakeholders’ comprehension, experiences with platform usability and technical assistance, and alignment of e-procurement procedures with established regulations. A total of 109 participants, encompassing purchasing agents, IT specialists, and regulatory enforcers, were selected via purposeful and uncomplicated random sampling methodologies. Quantitative information was analyzed employing descriptive statistics and multiple linear regressions within SPSS, while qualitative data were scrutinized through thematic assessment to capture thorough insights from principal sources. The regression outcomes indicated that stakeholders’ comprehension of the NeST platform (β₁ = 0.42, p < 0.01), experience with assistance technologies (β₂ = 0.35, p < 0.05), and regulatory unification (β₄ = 0.39, p < 0.01) exerted a positive and significant influence on perceived platform effectiveness, jointly accounting for 62% of the variation (R² = 0.62, F = 28.43, p < 0.001). Qualitative discoveries validated these outcomes, emphasizing that thorough awareness, readily available technological assistance, and suitably aligned regulations are vital for prosperous platform adoption. The study concludes that the effectiveness of NeST is governed by a confluence of stakeholder comprehension, intuitive technological assistance, and integrated regulatory structures. These discoveries highlight the significance of ongoing education, improved technological assistance, and regulatory synchronization to maximize the adoption and operational efficiency of e-procurement platforms.