Competence Level of Graduates on Procurement Strategies for Digital Supply Chains in Tanzania

Strategic procurement enables companies to develop and enhance their advantage over its competitors –both by cost advantage or differentiation advantage. Accordingly, modern and future procurement is highly strategic in comparison to traditional and e-procurement practices. However, the extent to which the graduates are prepared on procurement strategies for digital supply chains is scarcely known in Tanzania. In other words, very little is known on the competence level of graduates on digital supply chain management. Therefore, this study evaluated the competence level of graduates on procurement strategies for digital supply chains in Tanzania. It specifically determined the level of awareness of graduates on procurement strategies for digital supply chains; the extent to which the graduates are prepared on procurement strategies for digital supply chains while at educational institutions studying, and ranking of skills on digital supply chains acquired by the graduates in relation to hard and soft supply chain skills. This study used quantitative approach with descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The data were collected from 500 graduates of Procurement and Supply in Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Mbeya, Mwanza and Dodoma who were sampled using multi-stage sampling techniques. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings reveal that, majority of the graduates had low level of awareness on procurement strategies for digital supply chains. In addition, the majority of graduates were prepared on procurement strategies for digital supply chains to the very small extent. Moreover, skills on digital and soft supply chains were ranked thirdly/low in acquisition when at the education institutions compare to hard supply chain skills. The graduates acquired digital and soft supply chain skills in lower rate (rank) compare to hard supply chain skills acquired in moderate rate. It is generally concluded that, the graduates had low level of competence on procurement strategies for digital supply chains in Tanzania. This study advocates for serious engagement of both private and public stakeholders in collaborating with colleges/institutes in training on procurement strategies for digital supply chains in Tanzania in order to produce competent labour force for the digital world of work.