Public procurement procedures and project implementation for the digital age: a Sri Lankan perspective

Abstract

Procurement of information systems is a complex process as information systems include different systems ranging from off-the-shelf products to highly specialized systems for niche sectors. The inherent challenges of the procurement of information systems combined with the complex nature of public procurement make public procurement of information systems an area that should be further researched. This study is focused on identifying recommendations to overcome challenges faced in the public procurement of information systems. A literature survey was conducted to identify stakeholders' problems in the public procurement of information systems. The remainder of this research was done using the Modified Delphi method. The first round of Delphi was done using face-to-face interviews with a selected portion of an expert panel. Questions used in face-to-face interviews were formulated using the information gathered in the literature survey. Expert opinions on the solutions to the listed problems and problems they encountered in their careers were then formulated into a closeended questionnaire. It was distributed in the second Delphi round to the full panel of experts. The outcome of the second Delphi round is a set of recommendations that can be used to overcome challenges faced in the public procurement of information systems. The recommendations are categorized under the main categories tender specifications, bidevaluation criteria, government regulations, project management, collaboration among procurers and bidders, and competence of procurers. Further, the recommendations were ranked according to their level of importance. Furthermore, it was identified that there is no significant difference of opinion between the two stakeholder groups, procurers and bidders. The findings of this research can be adopted to improve the existing public procurement procedure and project implementation of information systems. There is a high efficacy to the generated recommendations as they were generated by the consensus of an expert panel of procurers and bidders.