INFLUENCE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND GOVERNMENT POLICY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUPPLY CHAIN PROCESS INTEGRATION CAPABILITIES AND SUPPLY CHAIN PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA

Abstract

The overall aim of the study was to assess the influence of Information Technology Infrastructure (ITI) and government policy on the relationship between supply chain process integration capabilities (SCPIC) and supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya. Specific objectives of the study were: to determine the influence of supply chain process integration capabilities on supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya; establish the influence of SCPIC on ITI of public universities in Kenya; assess the influence of ITI on supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya; establish the mediating effect of ITI on the relationship between supply chain process integration capabilities and supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya; determine the moderating effect of government policy in the relationship between supply chain process integration capabilities and supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya, and to establish the joint effect of SCPIC, ITI and government policy on supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya. The study was underpinned on four theories namely: Resource Based View, Collaborative Network Theory, Agency Theory and Resource Dependence Theory. This study was guided by null hypotheses: H01: SCPIC have no significant influence on SC performance of public universities in Kenya, H02: SCPIC have no significant influence on ITI in public universities in Kenya, H03: ITI has no significant influence on SC performance of public universities in Kenya, H04: ITI has no significant mediating effect on the relationship between SCPIC and SC performance of public universities in Kenya, H05: Government policy has no significant moderating influence on the relationship between SCPIC and performance of public universities in Kenya; H06:The joint effect of SCPIC, ITI and GP on supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya is not different from their individual effects. The study employed cross-sectional survey design. The unit of analysis for the study was public universities. The study was a census. Primary data was collected from 31 public universities using structured questionnaire administered to the heads of procurement and ICT departments. A pilot study was conducted. Validity and reliability tests were done using Cronbach Alpha coefficient. To describe profiles of the universities and research variables, means, standard deviations and coefficient of variations were used. Pearson‟s correlation was used to examine relationships between the variables. To test the hypotheses, linear regression, multiple regression and hierarchical regression were used. The findings of the study indicated that information technology infrastructure mediated the relationship. Government policy moderated the relationship between supply chain process integration capabilities and supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya. The results demonstrated that the joint effect of SCPIC, ITI and government policy on supply chain performance was greater than the effect of individual variables on supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya. By empirically examining the integrated model interconnecting variables, the study has contributed to building of scientific and professional knowledge to policy makers in Kenya and beyond. The study has provided scholars with new insights into the role of government policy as a moderating variable and information technology infrastructure as a mediating variable in the linkage between supply chain process integration and supply chain performance. The study concluded that SCPIC, ITI and government policy enhance supply chain performance of public universities. The research recommends replication of the study in different service sectors and national contexts to enhance understanding of the relationship between SCPIC and supply chain performances.