Compliance mediating role within road construction regulatory framework

Abstract

Purpose The propose of this study is to focus on the mediating role of compliance with procurement regulatory frameworks in implementing public road construction projects. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional research design was adopted. Structured questionnaires were developed in a three-step process including generating items, purifying measurement items and validating measurement items. Variables were anchored on a five-point Likert scale because it is an efficient unidimensional scale that ensures all items measure the same thing and widely applicable in construction research. Findings The findings show that compliance with a public procurement regulatory framework significantly mediates the relationship between familiarity with a public procurement regulatory framework, monitoring activities, sanction on staff and contractors’ resistance to non-compliance and public road construction project success. However, compliance with a public procurement regulatory framework does not mediate the relationship between the professionalism of staff and perceived inefficiency with public road construction projects’ success. Research limitations/implications Limited mediation studies and examples in the public road construction subsector affected this study to comprehensively investigate and compare study findings. Furthermore, the study adopted a cross-sectional research design that limits responses to one point in time. Finally, the study missed out other participants in different organizations and departments that could have had relevant information. Social implications The study contributes to public procurement and construction management research fields by uncovering this strong mediating role of compliance with a public procurement regulatory framework that collectively would help the government to implement public road construction projects successfully. Because no single factor can reliably attain objectives, blending these factors through a hybrid governance system would enable the government to achieve value for money, increase the quality and quantity of paved roads and save funds that can be channeled to other priority sectors for economic development. Originality/value Despite scholarly efforts to establish project success factors, studies have been limited to factors directly impacting the project success without considering a mediating effect among the factors that affect the success of these projects.

Obtaining the best value for money through procurement planning: can procurement regulatory compliance intervene?

“…As a result, compliance with procurement laws and regulations enhances the reduction of procurement flaws and misconducts that affect the overall objective of the procurement function in the public sector. Furthermore, our study responds to the call for mediation effect of compliance in public procurement literature (Mwelu et al, 2020).…”

“…Most amendments made to this regulatory framework center on increasing compliance while reducing the time taken in the procurement process. A stream of the literature shows that regulatory compliance in procurement is necessary for various aspects (Chikwere et al, 2019;Mwelu et al, 2020). These aspects include ensuring effective service delivery, road infrastructure and procurement performance (Mwelu et al, 2018).…”

Procurement planning as a strategic tool for public procurement effectiveness: Experience from selected public procuring entities in Dodoma city, Tanzania

“…There are other areas of procurement that require regulatory compliance in general, but compliance of procurement laws and regulations is an area of interest. Studies centred on the compliance of procurement laws and regulations including but not limited to Eyaa and Oluka (2011), Mwelu et al (2018, 2020), Osei-Tutu et al (2011), Pastory (2019), Sarawa and Mas’ud (2020). This is because procurement regulatory compliance enhances the performance of procurement in procuring entities (Athumani and Minja, 2017).…”

Effectiveness of the Force Account Approach in Tanzanian Local Government Authorities: Do Management Support and Staff Competence Matter?

“…In line with the resource based-view, the availability of competent staff as vital resources in procurement undertakings including the implementation of a force account approach in a construction project may be an important aspect for the achievement of the effectiveness of force account in Tanzanian local government authorities. Lack of managerial competencies for instance can be the basis for the poor performance of construction projects and implementation of force account in public procurement (Mwelu et al, 2020;Stephen, 2021).…”