Assessment of the Effects of ICT on Supply Chain Management Practices in Public Institutions in Tanzania

Abstract

Supply Chain Management (SCM) has been noted as an increasingly important management field to help enterprises improve supply chain operations. In recent years, the development of the applications of ICT in SCM has been seen by many parties and it is observed that innovations enabled by ICT are creating new ways for firms to manage supply chain relationships. The use of ICT has received significant attention in the supply chain context, which involves the flows of material, information, and finance in a network consisting of customers, suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors. However, the relationship between the two notions in term of the roles of ICT in SCM remains still as an area that requires more researches. Therefore, this study assessed the effects of ICT on the SCM practices at the Company that was taken as a Case Study. A case study approach shows the intensity of how the variables provided by the adaptation of ICT bring an effect in the SCM practices. The sampling frame of the study consisted of 100 workers from the ICT and Procurement departments at the Company headquarters. The findings of the study show that ICT affects the SCM practices by increasing the financial performance of the Company. It was also found that there is also an increased customer service and satisfaction of the customer through the improvement of information availability and visibility. The increased effectiveness of operation was also highly rated effects of an integration of ICT into SCM practices of the Company.