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Open research questions in Public Procurement and Policy

33 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 607 Public Procurement and Policy papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • The study recommends that beverage manufacturing firms in Kenya should institutionalize ethical sourcing by establishing long-term, transparent partnerships with certified local suppliers who adhere to fair labor practices, environmental sustainability standards, and traceability requirements. In addition, the study recommends that beverage manufacturing firms in Kenya should adopt green purchasing practices by prioritizing suppliers who provide environmentally friendly raw materials, recyclable packaging, and energy-efficient inputs, while also integrating environmental criteria into supplier selection and evaluation processes. REFERENCES Al Shraah, A., bu-Rumman, A., Alqhaiwi, L., & AlSha'ar, H. (2022). The impact of ethical sourcing on organizational performance during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Jordanian pharmaceutical industries. Uncertain Supply Chain Management, 10(1), 1077– 1090. Babatunde, B. O., Ajayi, E. O., Animasaun, O. O., & Badiru, N. I. (2023). Green distribution management and environmental sustainability of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Applied Economics and Business, 7(1) 34-48. 115 International Journal of Supply Chain and Logistics ISSN 2520-3983 (Online) Vol. 10, Issue No. 5, pp 96 - 116, 2026 www.carijournals.org Ellibeş, Ö., & Akçadağ, M. (2023). Determining the Impact of Green Distribution Activities on Perceived Business Performance: Kocaeli Logistics Enterprises Application. Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 24(4), 519-526. Kabergey, M., & Richu, S. (2022). Effect of reverse logistics on operational performance of sisal processing firms in Nakuru County, Kenya. International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences, 3(5), 556-565. Kamanga, F. N., Ngugi, P. K., Osoro, A. (2022). Reverse logistics recycling practice and the performance of large manufacturing firms in Kenya. Journal of Procurement and Supply Chain, 2(1), 11-20 Mohammed, C. Z., Lagat, C., & Ngeno, V. (2024). Sustainable supply chain management practices and performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya. African Journal of Education, Science and Technology, 4(4), 106-118. Njuguna, E. K., & Kagiri, A. (2022). Effect of reverse logistics on operational performance of Bata Shoe Company. International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research, 5(2), 564-578. Norazlan,, A. N. I., Habidin, N. F., Roslan, M. H., & Zainudin, M. Z. (2020). The Development of Sustainable Supply Chain Management and Sustainable Performance in Malaysian Healthcare Industry. International Journal of Ethics in Engineering & Management Education, 1(2), 51-55. Onoriode, O. H., Olatunji, E. A., & Ibegbulem, A. B (2025).

    Sustainable Supply Chain Management Practices and Organizational Performance of Beverage Manufacturing Firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya · 2026 · DOI

  • The study found that procurement law enforcement had a positive and significant effect on the performance of Public Technical and Vocational Education Training institutions in North Rift Region, Kenya. The study recommends that institutions should strengthen the implementation of procurement law enforcement mechanisms by ensuring consistent application of legal sanctions and penalties to deter non-compliance. In addition, contract termination and cancellation procedures should be strictly enforced in cases of procurement irregularities to promote accountability and value for money. The study also recommends that institutions should enhance the use of judicial processes in addressing procurement violations to reinforce compliance and institutional discipline. Furthermore, procurement oversight units should be strengthened to ensure continuous monitoring and enforcement of procurement regulations. Similarly, institutions should promote strict adherence to procurement laws through regular audits and compliance checks to improve transparency and institutional performance. The study found that automation of procurement processes had a positive and significant effect on the performance of Public Technical and Vocational Education Training institutions in North Rift Region, Kenya. The study recommends that institutions should fully adopt and integrate technology platforms to enhance efficiency and accountability. In addition, the use of digital systems in procurement processes should be strengthened to improve transparency and reduce operational delays. The study also recommends that institutions should enhance automation in contract management to improve monitoring, compliance, and performance tracking. Furthermore, investment in modern procurement technologies should be prioritized to reduce errors and improve accuracy in procurement initiation processes in procurement 92 International Journal of Supply Chain and Logistics ISSN 2520-3983 (Online) Vol. 10, Issue No. 5, pp 69 - 95, 2026 www.carijournals.org operations. Similarly, institutions should continuously upgrade and maintain procurement systems to ensure reliability, efficiency, and improved institutional performance. REFERENCES Achieng, P. (2024). E-procurement adoption and operational performance in public training institutions in Uganda. East African Journal of Management and Policy Studies, 9(1), 72–88. Adeniyi, O., Kamau, P., & Musau, A. (2020). The impact of noncompliance on procurement performance in Africa. International Journal of Procurement Studies, 4(1), 22–38. Ali, M., & Mukhongo, A. (2021). Adoption of e-procurement systems in public institutions: Drivers and challenges in developing countries. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 10(2), 45–53. Bosio, E., Djankov, S., Glaeser, E., & Shleifer, A. (2022). Public procurement in law and practice. American Economic Review, 112(4), 1091-1117. Bryman, A. (2022). Social research methods (5th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chebet, E., & Chogo, C. K. (2022). Structuring Supply Chain Sustainability in the Selected Tertiary Institutions in Kenya amidst COVID 19 Disruptions. Africa Journal of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, 7(1), 95-110. Chia, Y., & Ong, K. (2024). Employee experience, training, and performance of TVET institutions in Malaysia. International Journal of Technical Education, 39(1), 22–40. Graycar, A. (2022). Corrupt procurement: rethinking the roles of principals and agents. Policy Design and Practice, 5(3), 276-293. Greene, J. C. & Dreyer, L. A. (2021). Designing & conducting mixed methods research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications. Hair, J.O., Page, M. & Brunsveld, N. (2020). Essentials of business research methods.

    Public Procurement Law Compliance and Performance of Technical and Vocational Education Training Institutions in North Rift Region, Kenya · 2026 · DOI

  • Further, the study recommends that the management of public water projects in Kenya should establish a robust supervision and compliance mechanism throughout the project lifecycle. Effective contract implementation requires continuous oversight to ensure that all contractual obligations such as timelines, resource utilization, quality standards, and safety measures are being met. The study also recommends that the management of public water projects in Kenya should adopt a digital project monitoring and reporting system. Utilizing technology to track project milestones, financial expenditures, contractor performance, and compliance with contract terms allows for real-time data collection and analysis. REFERENCES Abunyewah, M., Erdiaw-Kwasie, M. O., Arhin, P., Acheampong, M. Y., & Okyere, S. A. (2022). Rural water project planning and evaluation in Ghana: a new methodological perspective. Water Policy, 24(12), 1913-1929. Ahmed, I., & Ishtiaq, S. (2021). Reliability and Validity: Importance in medical research. Methods, 12(1), 2401-2406. Barati, O., Sadeghi, A., & Bahrami, M. A. (2019). The Effect of management contract implementation on public hospitals’ performance: A case study in Iran. Evidence Based Health Policy, Management and Economics. Braun, D., & Guston, D. H. (2003). Principal-agent theory and research policy: an introduction. Science and public policy, 30(5), 302-308. Briggs, I. T. F. (2022). Contract management and performance of infrastructural pro-jects in Rivers State. Diamond Bridge Economics and Business Journal, 2(2). 37 Journal of Entrepreneurship and Project Management ISSN: 2520-9116 (Online) Vol.11, Issue No.4, pp 23 – 39, 2026 www.carijournals.org Burdon, W. M., & Sorour, M. K. (2020). Institutional theory and evolution of ‘a legitimate’compliance culture: The case of the UK financial service sector. Journal of Business Ethics, 162, 47-80. Contrafatto, M. (2014). Stewardship theory: Approaches and perspectives. In Accountability and social accounting for social and non-profit organizations (pp. 177-196). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Cunha, N. C., & Dias, M. (2021). Contract Negotiation: When the Detail Saved the Day. GSJ, 9(12), 130-141. Dagba, J., & Dagba, G. (2019). Effects of Procurement Strategies and Contract Management Practices on the Performance of Road Construction Projects in Ghana. Available at SSRN 3431156. Daub, O., Cunningham, B. J., Bagatto, M. P., Johnson, A. M., Kwok, E. Y., Smyth, R. E., & Cardy, J. O. (2021). Adopting a conceptual validity framework for testing in speechlanguage pathology. American journal of speech-language pathology, 30(4), 1894-1908. de Dieu Dieu, G. G. J., & Nnamdi, M. (2024).

    Contract Management Practices and Performance of Public Water Projects in Nairobi City County, Kenya · 2026 · DOI

  • The study has several limitations: • It relies on published statistics and reports; more granular micro-data (e.g., full contract-level datasets, firm-level participation histories) were not systematically analyzed. • It does not incorporate interviews with procurement officials, judges, auditors or economic operators, which could reveal informal practices and pressures more directly. • The focus is national; local-level dynamics, where clientelism and political capture may be particularly strong, are only indirectly addressed through audit reports and case law. 87 JUS & JUSTICIA No. 20, ISSUE 1/ 2026 • The study does not systematically assess the extent to which State Supreme Audit (KLSH) findings are referred for criminal investigation or lead to final convictions, which limits conclusions on the full accountability chain. Future research could combine quantitative contract-level analysis with qualitative case studies of selected sectors (infrastructure, health, energy), and comparative work with other Western Balkan states to better situate Albania’s trajectory.

    Rule of Law or Rule of Deals - Public Procurement as a Measure of Democratic Consolidation in Albania · 2026 · DOI

  • This analysis is limited by the availability of public documents and the lack of original interview data at this time. Fragility constrains access, and numerous innovations are new, including quick payments in 2025, indicating that longitudinal proof of impact is currently unavailable (PaymentExpert, 2025). The audit and budget transparency frameworks are developing, however not entirely represented here due to the limitations of the data coverage. A selection bias exists favouring programs documented by overseas partners. Subsequent study ought to implement the suggested interview framework among federal and state actors, development partners, and civil society to authenticate and enhance obstacle identification, especially with procurement methods, audit experiences, and 339 Sylvester, International Journal of Research in Business & Social Science 15(3) (2026), 331-340 intergovernmental cooperation. It should also develop a longitudinal dataset of pilot and scale decisions across ministries to measure the correlation between authorising signals, organisational capacities, and dissemination. A more detailed investigation of data protection and identity governance as they evolve in Somalia is necessary to establish privacy by design inside definitive legal and operational frameworks.

    Barriers to innovation in the Somalia Public sector: A policy and organizational perspective · 2026 · DOI

  • Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are made to strengthen accounting disclosure quality and enhance sustainable public procurement practices in Nigeria: 1. Strengthening Accounting Disclosure Frameworks: Public sector institutions should reinforce adherence to accounting standards by ensuring that financial Copyright © 2026 by the authors 602 Journal of Contemporary Academic Research and Methodologies (JCARM) Volume 1 | Issue 4 | May 2026 reports are accurate, timely, complete, and comparable. Regulatory bodies should intensify monitoring to improve compliance with disclosure requirements. 2. Adoption of Integrated Digital Reporting Systems: Government agencies should fully adopt integrated financial management and e-reporting systems to improve the speed, accuracy, and accessibility of procurement-related financial information. This will reduce manual errors and enhance transparency. 3. Capacity Building for Accounting and Procurement Personnel: Continuous training programmes should be implemented to equip accountants, auditors, and procurement officers with modern skills in financial reporting, sustainability reporting, and digital accounting systems. 4. Enhancing Enforcement and Accountability Mechanisms: Relevant regulatory institutions should strengthen enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with disclosure standards. Sanctions should be applied where institutions fail to meet required reporting standards.

    The Role of Accounting Disclosure Quality in Advancing Sustainable Public Procurement Practices: Evidence from Nigeria · 2026 · DOI

  • Several limitations should be acknowledged. First, the study was confined to the Ministry of Health Headquarters in Lusaka, which limits generalizability to other government ministries, provincial and district health offices, or non-health contexts. Second, the moderate sample size (N=65) increases the risk of Type II errors, which likely explains why variables such as bulk purchasing and supplier coordination did not achieve conventional statistical significance in the multivariate model despite strong bivariate correlations. Third, the study relied on self-reported perceptions rather than independently verified financial data, which may be subject to social desirability bias and recall bias. Fourth, the cross-sectional design captures associations but cannot definitively establish causality; a longitudinal design tracking procurement practices and cost outcomes over multiple years would be required to conclusively demonstrate causal relationships.

    <b>The Effect of Procurement Planning and Implementation on Cost Reduction in the Health Sector</b> · 2026 · DOI

  • Research limitations/implications The research is based on a study of aviation or airline corporate organisation, which limits the possibility of holistic view to the FM industry as a whole but highlights the research gap of FM procurement which is scarce within the case study of airline companies.

    Procurement of facilities management services designated for office buildings of airline corporate organisations in Asia · 2022 · DOI

  • The paper ends with a suggestion for further research on how to approach GPP in a holistic and systematic way, addressing the often used statement that green procurement will be more costly.

    Green public procurement in practice — The case of Norway · 2011 · DOI

  • Nevertheless, while e-procurement has generated considerable hype the phenomenon is generally under-researched despite the fundamental impact that e-Procurement has on the nature of inter-organisational relationships This paper explores the effects that business-to-business relationships have on e-Procurement systems using a field study of 6 companies.

    From Tough Negotiation to Complex Integration · 2009 · DOI

  • Weak product traceability, limited information sharing, inconsistent compliance monitoring, and unclear supplier accountability had undermined transparency and service delivery in devolved units.

    Supply Chain Traceability and Performance of County Governments in Kenya · 2026 · DOI

  • In contrast, our data reveals that in protracted crises, this 'premium' can be mitigated through localized sourcing and durability—a distinction that adds a layer of 'operational realism' not fully explored in Behl’s broader model.

    Sustainable procurement practices for cost reduction in humanitarian operations · 2026 · DOI

  • This theoretical bias creates significant gaps in understanding how manufacturing firms in resource‐constrained African environments navigate sustainability imperatives.

    Beyond Resource Munificence: Rethinking Sustainable Procurement Strategy Through Frugal Innovation and Contingency Perspectives · 2026 · DOI

  • The literature on the pandemic effect on procurement activities in the African manufacturing setting is significantly lacking literature despite the extensive research on procurement in other industries.

    Post-COVID-19 implications on procurement efficiency and competitive advantage within selected food and beverage manufacturing firms · 2026 · DOI

  • for procurement improving practices. reports provided data on overall levels, common compliance non-compliance issues, and progress over time in areas like transparency and value for money.

    The Ascendancy of Administrative Review on Public Procurement Disputes in Tanzania: A Content Analysis of Local Government Authorities · 2026 · DOI

  • The study was limited to assessing the changes in the structure of the procedures used to award public contracts and the possible effects of a lack of dynamics in this respect.

    The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Changes in Competitiveness in the Public Procurement System · 2021 · DOI

  • Among the major factors of the low efficiency of public procurement were political intervention, the non-transparency of the procurement process, a lack of capacity to implement procurement legislation and manage contracts, corruption and insufficient knowledge about procurement.

    The Efficiency of Public Procurement in the Republic of Kosovo: an Econometric Approach · 2018 · DOI

  • Progress towards meeting SME procurement participation goals, however, remains elusive on both sides of the Atlantic.

    US and European Public Procurement Policies for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME): A Comparative Perspective · 2011 · DOI

  • To date, emphasis has been on contractual outcomes and the contracting process , which may benefit from improvements in developing countries, has been understudied.

    BUREAUCRATS AS PURCHASERS OF HEALTH SERVICES: LIMITATIONS OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR FOR CONTRACTING · 2011 · DOI

  • There is no consensus on an appropriate methodology for assessing the effectiveness of decentralization in general, and only a few studies have attempted to address decentralization of logistics systems.

    Is decentralization good for logistics systems? Evidence on essential medicine logistics in Ghana and Guatemala · 2007 · DOI

  • The paper demonstrates the achievement of a range of procurement goals and values and concludes by calling both for further research into the validity of the concept of public value and more extensive application of the framework.

    PUBLIC PROCUREMENT, PUBLIC VALUE AND THE NORTHERN IRELAND UNEMPLOYMENT PILOT PROJECT · 2007 · DOI

  • Previous research on supplier involvement in product development projects has produced contradictory results, with some studies showing a positive relationship, others no relationship, and still others a negative relationship between supplier involvement and project performance.

    Buyer-Supplier Collaboration in Product Development Projects · 2005 · DOI

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33 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 607 Public Procurement and Policy papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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