User involvement in procurement practices and procurement performance in local government authorities: evidence from Zanzibar

While prior research indicates that procurement performance is achieved through improved product quality, optimal order quantities and timely delivery, little is known about whether these outcomes hold when users are directly engaged in procurement practices, especially in under-researched contexts. This study examines the influence of user involvement in procurement practices on procurement performance within local government authorities in Zanzibar. Data were collected from 159 heads of user departments using a structured questionnaire, and partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed in data analysis. Also, the importance-performance map analysis was conducted to extend the PLS-SEM results and identify predecessors that have a relatively high importance for the target construct. The results reveal that user involvement in supplier selection was the most important practice, followed by user involvement in contract management, while user involvement in procurement planning ranked lowest in relative importance. The study contributes to the literature on the relevance of user involvement in procurement practices for enhancing public procurement performance. The study recommends enhancing user involvement in procurement by enforcing regulatory compliance and providing training and seminars on procurement practices, such as procurement planning, supplier selection and contract management.