Supplier selection and assessment is at the core of the procurement process. This study investigates how procurement officers in Israel's universities select and assess their suppliers. The authors explore which information channels officers use to assess suppliers and find that incidental and informal information sources are the most frequently used followed by official sources. The authors examine the criteria used by officers to select suppliers and identify quality and price as significantly more important than most other criteria. Finally, the authors do not find strong evidence that officers categorize suppliers to key and non-key suppliers according to the university's goals.
The transition from printed to electronic sources of information has resulted in a profound change to the way procurement officers seek information. Furthermore, in the past decade there have been additional technological revolutions that are expected to further affect the procurement process. In this paper, we conduct a survey among forty nine university procurement officers in Israel to examine to what extent procurement officers have adapted to smartphones and tablets by testing how frequently officers use notebooks, smartphones, and tablets for work-related and leisure purposes. We find that while officers prefer electronic sources of information over printed sources of information, officers have not yet adapted to the later technological advances (i.e., smartphones and tablets). Notebooks are more frequently used than either smartphones or tablets for work-related and leisure purposes. One explanation behind this result is that officers are not skilled in using smartphone and tablets applications. This implies that training officers in the use of these devices may improve their performance.
The transition from printed to electronic sources of information has resulted in a profound change to the way procurement officers seek information. Furthermore, in the past decade there have been additional technological revolutions that are expected to further affect the procurement process. In this paper, we conduct a survey among forty nine university procurement officers in Israel to examine to what extent procurement officers have adapted to smartphones and tablets by testing how frequently officers use notebooks, smartphones, and tablets for work-related and leisure purposes. We find that while officers prefer electronic sources of information over printed sources of information, officers have not yet adapted to the later technological advances (i.e., smartphones and tablets). Notebooks are more frequently used than either smartphones or tablets for work-related and leisure purposes. One explanation behind this result is that officers are not skilled in using smartphone and tablets applications. This implies that training officers in the use of these devices may improve their performance.
Aim/PurposeTo develop and introduce a questionnaire that investigates the informing needs, information-seeking behavior, and supplier selection of procurement officers in Israel. The questionnaire's internal consistency reliability is given. Additionally, we describe the demographic description of the procurement officers in Israel. Background Procurement science is an important field that affects firms' profits in the private sector and is significant to growth, innovation, sustainability, and welfare in the public sector. There is little research about the informing needs of procurement officers in general and particularly in Israel. Methodology A quantitative questionnaire that is sent to all the procurement officers in Israel's purchasing and logistics managers association. ContributionThe questionnaire that is developed in this paper may be used by other researchers and practitioners to evaluate the informing needs of procurement officers. FindingsThe typical procurement officer is male, with a bachelor degree and is digitally proficient. Recommendations for PractitionersThe procuring side can use the questionnaire to develop better tools for obtaining information efficiently. The supplying side can use this knowledge to improve its exposure to potential customers and address its customer's needs better. Recommendation for ResearchersThe questionnaire can address theoretical questions such as how digital literacy affects the procurement process and provide empirical findings about active research areas such as supplier selection and information-seeking behavior. Impact on Society Improvement in the informing-related issues of the procurement process has the potential to reduce costs, drive growth, and discourage corruption.Information Needs: Procurement 150Future Research Future research will examine the relationship between the various variables and demographic features to understand why specific informing needs and information-seeking behaviors arise.
Aim/PurposeTo develop and introduce a questionnaire that investigates the informing needs, information-seeking behavior, and supplier selection of procurement officers in Israel. The questionnaire's internal consistency reliability is given. Additionally, we describe the demographic description of the procurement officers in Israel. Background Procurement science is an important field that affects firms' profits in the private sector and is significant to growth, innovation, sustainability, and welfare in the public sector. There is little research about the informing needs of procurement officers in general and particularly in Israel. Methodology A quantitative questionnaire that is sent to all the procurement officers in Israel's purchasing and logistics managers association. ContributionThe questionnaire that is developed in this paper may be used by other researchers and practitioners to evaluate the informing needs of procurement officers. FindingsThe typical procurement officer is male, with a bachelor degree and is digitally proficient. Recommendations for PractitionersThe procuring side can use the questionnaire to develop better tools for obtaining information efficiently. The supplying side can use this knowledge to improve its exposure to potential customers and address its customer's needs better. Recommendation for ResearchersThe questionnaire can address theoretical questions such as how digital literacy affects the procurement process and provide empirical findings about active research areas such as supplier selection and information-seeking behavior. Impact on Society Improvement in the informing-related issues of the procurement process has the potential to reduce costs, drive growth, and discourage corruption.Information Needs: Procurement 150Future Research Future research will examine the relationship between the various variables and demographic features to understand why specific informing needs and information-seeking behaviors arise.
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