Effectiveness of the Force Account Approach in Tanzanian Local Government Authorities: Do Management Support and Staff Competence Matter?

Abstract

In Tanzania, the force account approach has been used for years as a technique for procuring works in the form of construction projects. In this regard, it is necessary to investigate the effectiveness of the force account approach in construction projects. The objective of this research is to look into the influence of management support and staff competence on the effectiveness of the force account approach in Tanzanian local government construction projects. Cross-sectional data were collected from procurement practitioners involved in force account construction projects at Kongwa District Council using structured questionnaires. The findings revealed that management support and staff competence are important determinants of the effectiveness of the force account approach in Tanzanian local government authorities' construction projects. The findings also revealed that staff competence is the most important factor influencing the effectiveness of force account in local government authorities, with β = 0.558 and p < 0.001. Furthermore, management support and the effectiveness of the force account approach are related in a positive and significant way (β = 0.233 and p = 0.006). As a result, procurement practitioners in respective local government authorities should ensure that they are capable of implementing the force account approach. The study also suggests future research on other factors that may explain the variation in the effectiveness of the implementation of the force account approach. Furthermore, because the study focused on local government authorities, future studies can be conducted by soliciting input from central governments and other public procuring entities.