PROCUREMENT MANAGEMENT IN PROJECTS: BEST MBA PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES

This paper examines procurement management in project environments, exploring how frameworks taught in MBA programmes can be adapted to transition economies such as Uzbekistan. It combines literature review, institutional analysis, and an exploratory AI-assisted evaluation pilot. Findings demonstrate that procurement is central to project success, yet challenges persist in areas of capacity, ethics, and contract execution. The paper argues that AI-enabled oversight, combined with MBA-derived practices, offers a promising path toward greater transparency and accountability in procurement systems.