E-Procurement for Prompt

Policy Execution
Author

Rashi Taggar 1

Abstract

The government agencies make policies for the benefit of society as they seek to increase
the comfort and uplift the standard of living of people. Procurement is an initial and most
vital function of projects for policy implementation. E-procurement is a solution to enhance
the efficiency and to curb the vices of the system. An attempt has been made in this paper
to discuss effectiveness of e-procurement as a governance mechanism. The brief discussion
of developing nations using this system throws light on the benefits ascertained followed by
challenges existing and certain suggestions to make this electronic solution of procurement
process wide spread.
Keywords: E-procurement, Government, Public

Introduction almost all available options. Thus, e-procurement plays a

The traditional nature of procurement has been
reengineered so as to switch over to e-procurement which
is a web based application. Procuring electronically has
become the necessity in business transactions so as to
ensure responsiveness, efficiency and transparency. The
way this process is managed in B2B transactions differ in
B2G dealings. Unlike procurement in the private sector,
procurement in public sector requires a bureaucratic
procedure to be followed (Henriksen and Anderson,
2003).
The government adopts e-procurement solutions
differently as public sector has different purpose of
implementing such a proficient process for purchasing.
It is also noted (Coulthard and Castleman, 2001) that
government agendas are more extensive and complicated
than those of private sectors. The government agencies
make policies for the benefit of society as they seek to uplift
the comfort and standard of the masses. Policies aimed at
meeting social objectives should be legal, transparent and
effective within government (Byatt, 2001). Information
technology can be utilized in procurement process to
achieve these objectives of no barrier entry and access to
vital role in ensuring the transparency and enhancing the
effectiveness of government policies.
E-Procurement lies within a broader range of
government initiatives in doing business electronically
such as the electronic delivery of services and the goal
of achieving seamless integration of transactions across
Government departments and public sector agencies
(Lenk and Traunmüller, 2002). This electronic process
of procurement connects the suppliers to government.
The suppliers present their products, receive, manage
and process purchase orders and receive payment from
government agencies via the internet. The supplier’s
product catalogue is converted into the form of an
electronic catalogue or e-Catalogue, which can be viewed
from any desktop with a web browser. The supplier is able
to submit quotations, obtain tender document and submit
tender bid through e-procurement (Aman and Kasimin,
2011). An electronic procurement system consists of the
following (World Bank, 2001):
1. Public procurement announcement system
2. Document distribution

1
Assistant Professor, College of Management, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Kakryal, J&K, Email: rashi.taggar@smvdu.ac.in

Pratibimba - Volume : 14, Issue :1, January - June 2014, Pages 31 -35