Title: Buyer-supplier integration and logistics performance in healthcare facilities in Tanzania: the moderating effect of centralised decision control

Authors: Gladness Salema; Arnt Buvik

Addresses: Business School, The University of Dar Es Salaam, P.O. Box 35091, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania ' Department of Logistics, Molde University College, Service Box 2110, 6402 Molde, Norway

Abstract: This research concerns logistics performance in public purchasing relationships. It examines the effect of buyer-supplier integration on supplier logistics performance. Particularly focuses on purchasing centralisation in healthcare facilities, and examine whether centralisation of decision control exercised by the health authorities influence the effect of buyer-supplier integration on supplier logistics performance. A survey data of 164 informants from public health facilities in Tanzania was used for analysis. It reveals that buyer-supplier integration improves supplier logistics performance significantly and stronger purchasing centralisation reduces the effect of buyer-supplier integration on supplier logistics performance. It provides a broad and interesting focus on significant antecedents to supplier logistics performance. In the future, the government should focus more on supporting the individual public health facilities in developing and adapting proper governance mechanisms for supporting buyer-supplier integration. Further research in other empirical and cultural settings is desirable to test the external validity of these findings.

Keywords: supplier logistics performance; purchasing centralisation; supplier integration; Tanzania.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2018.090031

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2018 Vol.11 No.2, pp.250 - 265

Received: 31 May 2016
Accepted: 13 Jan 2017
Published online: 27 Feb 2018 *

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