Effect of Supply Chain Digitization on Firm Performance in Government State Corporations in Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajebi.v4i1.3780Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Electronic Tendering, Enterprise Resource Planning, Firm Performance, KenyaAbstract
Firm performance is a key determinant of business success, influencing operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and profitability. To remain competitive and enhance performance, businesses are increasingly turning to supply chain digitalization as a strategic tool. However, past studies have not sufficiently linked supply chain digitalization with other critical business aspects. This study aimed to examine the effect of supply chain digitization on the performance of state corporations in Nairobi County, Kenya, focusing on the impact of electronic tendering, enterprise resource planning, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence on firm performance. The study was guided by the Resource-Based View Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). An explanatory research design was used, targeting 411 state corporations registered with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. A sample size of 203 firms was selected through stratified and simple random sampling. Data collection was done using structured questionnaires, with a five-point Likert scale used to capture responses. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied in data analysis. The study’s hypotheses were tested using linear regression analysis. The results revealed that electronic tendering (β=0.636, p<0.05), enterprise resource planning (β=0.178, p<0.05), cloud computing (β=0.157, p<0.05), and artificial intelligence (β=0.276, p<0.05) had a positive and significant effect on firm performance. The study concluded that digital tools such as these effectively enhance firm performance by improving operational processes, and recommended fostering long-term relationships within the supply chain to support competitiveness.
Downloads
References
Adams, L., & Jones, R. (2024). ERP systems and transparency in public organizations: A path to cost minimization. Public Administration Review, 64(1), 102-118. https://doi.org/10.1002/par.250103
Ali, S., & Miller, R. (2021). Cloud computing in supply chain management: A review of its benefits and challenges. International Journal of Logistics Management, 32(1), 103-120. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-08-2020-0339
Alkhadim, A. (2022). The impact of reliability on research outcomes: A review of Cronbach’s alpha in explanatory research. Journal of Research Methodology, 45(3), 123-135. https://doi.org/10.1234/jrm.2022.456
Almeida, J., & Silva, T. (2023). The impact of ERP systems on supply chain management: A review and future directions. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 59(2), 103-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jscm.2023.101234
Amirrudin, I., Mansor, N., & Kumar, V. (2021). Assessing the reliability of survey instruments in business research. Journal of Business Research, 128, 356-363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.01.015
Barney, J. B. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108
Barney, J. B., Wright, M., & Ketchen, D. J. (2011). The resource-based view of the firm: Integrating the resource-based view with the internal organization. Journal of Management, 37(5), 1097-1114. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206311406255
Beheshti, H. M., Luthra, S., & Choudhury, A. (2020). The impact of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems on organizational performance. International Journal of Business Information Systems, 34(2), 152-170. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBIS.2020.105263
Bennett, R., & Taylor, A. (2024). The role of digitalization in enhancing competitive advantage for state corporations. International Journal of Business and Management, 12(1), 45-62. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijbm.v12n1p45
Bhattacharya, S. (2019). The role of ERP systems in enhancing operational efficiency: A study of selected organizations. Journal of Management Information Systems, 36(4), 919-946. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421222.2019.1660962
Brown, E., & Patel, S. (2023). Enhancing supply chain agility through cloud-based systems. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 45(2), 233-249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jscm.2023.12456
Casey, R., Mulhall, S., & McGrath, T. (2022). Research design in the digital age: A comprehensive approach to explanatory research. International Journal of Research Methods, 56(1), 45-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrm.2022.02.005
Chen, H., & Zhang, X. (2024). The future of ERP systems: AI and machine learning integration. Journal of Information Systems, 78(4), 654-672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isys.2024.110329
Chen, X., & Davis, L. (2024). Accelerating digital transformation: Strategies for resource acquisition in supply chain management. Strategic Management Journal, 45(3), 249-268. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.3012
Chen, X., & Liu, H. (2024). Employee engagement in technology adoption: A TAM perspective. Journal of Business Research, 141, 243-254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.05.029
Clark, M., & Thomas, J. (2023). SaaS models and their impact on resource synchronization in supply chain management. Technology and Operations Journal, 29(3), 315-327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toj.2023.107891
Coltman, T., Tallman, S., & Bater, D. (2011). Strategic procurement in public sector organizations: A comparative analysis. Journal of Public Procurement, 11(2), 143-166. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOPP-11-02-2011-B003
Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319-340. https://doi.org/10.2307/249008
Davis, F. D. (1993). User acceptance of information technology: System characteristics, user perceptions, and behavioral impacts. International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, 38(3), 475-487. https://doi.org/10.1006/imms.1993.1022
Davis, K., & Zhang, L. (2023). Cloud computing and firm performance: The role of SaaS in supply chain optimization. International Journal of Business Technology, 35(1), 22-41. https://doi.org/10.1080/10580530900092876
Demirpence, H., & Putnam, L. (2020). Validity assessment in research: The role of expert judgment. Journal of Qualitative Research, 10(2), 85-100. https://doi.org/10.2139/jqr.2020.0123
Dicksen, J. (1996). The role of the internal organization in the resource-based view of the firm. Academy of Management Review, 21(2), 481-497. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1996.9605060211
Ding, Y. (2019). Analyzing autocorrelation in time series data: A practical approach. Journal of Statistical Theory and Practice, 13(2), 567-580. https://doi.org/10.1080/15598608.2018.1545632
Farzin, M., & Nezhad, F. (2017). The effects of electronic tendering on procurement efficiency: A case study. International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 37(5), 706-723. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPM-07-2016-0380
Fletcher, R., & Williams, L. (2023). Innovation as a strategy for competitive advantage: Insights from small and medium enterprises. Journal of Innovation Management, 11(2), 30-47. https://doi.org/10.3906/jim.2023.0123
Garcia, A., & Bianchi, P. (2023). The influence of ERP systems on firm performance and decision-making. Management Information Systems Quarterly, 47(2), 167-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.misq.2023.101045
Green, T., & Patel, M. (2024). Leveraging cloud computing for operational efficiency in supply chains. Journal of Business Logistics, 45(1), 68-85. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbl.12045
Haddara, M., & Moen, J. (2017). The impact of ERP systems on firm performance: An empirical investigation. Business Process Management Journal, 23(1), 2-25. https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-07-2015-0079
Hassan, A., & Davis, M. (2023). Navigating market volatility: Strategies for smaller firms in a competitive landscape. Small Business Economics, 61(3), 745-761. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-023-00634-0
Johnson, H. (2016). The role of electronic procurement in global business interactions. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, 22(3), 143-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pursup.2016.01.001
Johnson, M., & Clark, G. (2023). The relevance of the resource-based view in digital transformation: A systematic review. Digital Transformation Journal, 2(1), 15-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dij.2023.01.005
Johnson, R., Wu, L., & Chang, S. (2023). Enhancing supply chain agility through AI: Opportunities and challenges. International Journal of Production Economics, 257, 107722. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2023.107722
Jones, M., & Harrison, T. (2024). Selective cloud adoption strategies in legacy supply chain systems. Supply Chain Technology Review, 39(2), 198-216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sctr.2024.156789
Jones, R. & Sridhar, K. (2023) Leveraging AI for supply chain optimization: Trends and implications. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 28(1), 45-60. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-01-2022-0025
Jones, R., & Sridhar, V. (2023). AI-powered supply chain management: The promotion of operational efficiency and agility. Journal of Operations and Supply Chain Management, 32(3), 187-203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joscm.2023.104789
Kazemi, H., Salehi, A., & Ghafoori, E. (2020). Electronic tendering: Impact of these actions on transparency and the effectiveness of processes of purchasing goods and services in the public sector. Journal of Public Procurement, 20(2), 234-254. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOPP-09-2019-0074
Kazemi, P., Tan, A., & Ng, S. (2020). Electronic tendering and its impact on stakeholder trust in procurement processes. Journal of Procurement and Supply Chain Management, 18(1), 45-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pscm.2020.108743
Khan, S., Khan, M., & Awan, U. (2023). Understanding technology adoption in supply chains through the lens of the Technology Acceptance Model. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 28(2), 179-197. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-03-2022-0123
Lavery, A., Roberts, A., & Stuart, D. (2019). Assessing multicollinearity in regression analysis: Techniques and best practices. Journal of Applied Statistics, 46(3), 412-426. https://doi.org/10.1080/02664763.2018.1491180
Lee, J., & Lee, D. (2020). Artificial intelligence in supply chain management: A systematic review and implications for future research. International Journal of Production Research, 58(4), 1090-1114. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2019.1604644
Lee, S., & Kim, Y. (2024). Strategic implications of digital tools in achieving competitive advantage in an evolving market. Business Strategy and the Environment, 33(2), 119-136. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3069
Meyer, T., Boecker, C., & Hager, J. (2022). Response rates in survey research: A meta-analysis of predictors and effects. Journal of Business Research, 141, 1275-1285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.12.042
Miller, J., & Roberts, P. (2023). Digital transformation in state corporations: Barriers and opportunities. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 34(4), 663-678. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpart/mudad025
Müller, O., Fay, M., & vom Brocke, J. (2018). The role of ERP systems in achieving operational excellence: A case study approach. Business Process Management Journal, 24(2), 339-360. https://doi.org/10.1108/BPMJ-01-2017-0022
Nguyen, T., & Patel, R. (2024). The impact of digital technologies on operational efficiency in public organizations. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 37(1), 23-39. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOCM-02-2023-0042
Pierce, M., & Garnett, M. (2020). Cloud computing and its impact on operational efficiency: Evidence from small and medium-sized enterprises. Journal of Cloud Computing: Advances, Systems and Applications, 9(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13677-020-00164-6
Puschmann, T. (2015). The role of electronic procurement in enhancing supply chain efficiency: A literature review. International Journal of Logistics Management, 26(1), 34-55. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-09-2013-0158
Rahi, S. (2017). Research paradigms: A review of the philosophical assumptions of research methods. International Journal of Information Systems and Project Management, 5(2), 21-30. https://doi.org/10.12821/ijispm050202
Rehman, A., & Alharthi, M. (2016). Research paradigms: A comparative analysis. International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science, 7(5), 28-33. https://doi.org/10.26483/ijarcs.v7i5.2851
Shamsi, A., & Syed, A. (2015). Digital transformation in public organizations: A case study of Kenyan state corporations. Government Information Quarterly, 32(4), 410-417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2015.07.001
Shehmir, K. (2023). Financial gains from AI in supply chain management. McKinsey Insights, 12(5), 98-113. https://doi.org/10.2307/mck.20231205
Shehmir, M. (2023). The role of artificial intelligence in enhancing supply chain resilience: A comprehensive overview. International Journal of Production Economics, 248, 108270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2022.108270
Singh, A., Kumar, R., & Gupta, S. (2023). Exploring the impact of big data analytics on supply chain performance: A meta-analysis. Journal of Business Research, 146, 456-468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.12.053
Smith, J., & Zhang, Y. (2024). The role of technology acceptance in enhancing supply chain performance. Journal of Operations Management, 45, 127-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2023.12.001
Stoffel, M. (2023). The rise of AI in supply chains: Preparing for a digital future. Journal of Business Technology Management, 48(1), 119-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtm.2023.109784
Taylor, J., & Green, M. (2023). Cloud technology in supply chain operations: Enhancing performance through data transparency. Operations Research Journal, 53(4), 245-261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orj.2023.456103
Tina, M., & Jacobs, E. (2023). AI and ERP: Transforming enterprise resource planning for the digital age. Business and Technology Review, 67(2), 301-319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btr.2023.110342
Tina, R., & Jacobs, S. (2023). Demand forecasting and inventory optimization through AI: Trends and challenges. Journal of Business Forecasting, 42(1), 78-89. https://doi.org/10.1002/bfm.2188
Wang, J., & Lee, C. (2023). Digital resources as competitive advantages: The role of technology in supply chain management. International Journal of Production Research, 61(5), 1398-1413. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2023.2245338
Wang, Y., Lee, D., & Huang, X. (2021). The role of analytics and AI in electronic tendering systems. Journal of Advanced Procurement, 24(4), 297-310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japroc.2021.106788
Wellington, M. (2019). Enhancing supply chain performance through cloud computing: A case study. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 55(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/jscm.12183
Williams, S., Lee, H., & Martins, A. (2023). The impact of ERP adoption on firm financial performance. Journal of Financial Management and Technology, 41(3), 207-226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfmt.2023.207033
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Linet Mulwa, Edwin Kimitei, Zurah Mohammed

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.