Can small, medium and micro enterprises survive in public procurement?

Abstract

Purpose The paper aims to investigate challenges facing small-, medium- and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) in public procurement in Botswana from the view of a buyer. Design/methodology/approach The researchers conducted consultative workshops, succeeded by focus groups and follow-up telephone interviews, to collect and validate data. A total of 75 procurement officers from central government ministries and local governments participated in the study. Findings Results indicate that SMMEs find it difficult to deal with public procurement because of lack of capacity, unfair bias against SMMEs, inefficient government payment systems, unfair competition from their larger and established counterparts and centralized public procurement. The paper recommends a comprehensive integrated framework, improvement of SMME capacity and adopting policies to ensure greater public procurement market access.

Sustainability Certification and Green Public Procurement: Ideals and Outcomes in a New Jersey School District

“…Development 15:1 (2021): 122-145 Because of its newness, policies involving GPP continue to emerge and undergo transformations as policy makers seek to position GPP appropriately within organizations (Lundberg & Marklund, 2018;Rainville, 2017). Unfortunately, some policies fail to effectively and efficiently attain established criteria (Lundberg & Marklund, 2018;Mphela & Shunda, 2018;Yakovlev et al, 2018). If an organization is faced with competing priorities, for example, a lack of revenue to support existing programmes and green initiatives that may be seen as value-added rather than essential, then GPP programmes may be limited to establishment of criteria and intent to achieve enhancements.…”

“…If an organization is faced with competing priorities, for example, a lack of revenue to support existing programmes and green initiatives that may be seen as value-added rather than essential, then GPP programmes may be limited to establishment of criteria and intent to achieve enhancements. Some organizations may be less inclined to remain committed to the GPP cause (Eikelboom et al, 2018;Lundberg & Marklund, 2018;Mphela & Shunda, 2018). Research indicates that performing a cost analysis and carbon footprint analysis can help organizations see the financial implications of the GPP policies they are considering implementing (Cerutti et al, 2016).…”

“…The economic needs of an organization using GPP could best be managed by implementing economic instruments that help the organization establish the criteria for evaluating the goods the organization is considering acquiring (Majernik et al, 2017;Yakovlek et al, 2018). As organizations look to grow and flourish economically and environmentally, they need to achieve a balance between the benefit and cost objectives (Lundberg & Marklund, 2018;Mphela & Shunda, 2018). This balance can best be achieved by implementing and following policies that are designed to correct any market failures that may exist (Lundberg & Marklund, 2018).…”

“…However, if organizations are unaware or possess very little knowledge in the area, they may fail to even consider implementing GPP initiatives (Cerutti et al, 2016;Eikelboom et al, 2018;Testa et al, 2016). As a result, these organizations may never grow and develop, failing to realize their full potential (Cerutti et al, 2016;Mphela & Shunda, 2018;Testa et al, 2016).…”

Public Procurement, State Assets and Inclusive Tourism: South African Debates

“…Quinot & Arrowsmith, 2013;Williams-Elegbe, 2013;Leon de Mariz et al, 2014;Uromi, 2014;Williams-Elegbe, 2015;Ambaw & Telgan, 2017;Engelbert et al, 2016;Engelbert, 2017;African Procurement Law Unit, 2018;Hoekman & Sanfilippo, 2018). Beyond these studies, one must note Akenroye et al (2013) on the implementation of green public procurement in Nigeria, Mphela & Shunda (2018) on the challenges for SMMEs to engage with public procurement in Botswana, Israel & Gazungu (2019) on procurement and SMMEs in Tanzania, and, Amoah & Shakantu (2017) on public procurement preferences in Ghana in support of the local construction industry. African research which examines issues of public procurement and social inclusion include works by Bolton (2006Bolton ( , 2008a on South Africa and most recently by Basheka (2018) on Uganda.…”