This research project was concerned with developing a realistic model for e-procurement adoption by organisations and groups observing Rules of Islamic Sharia (RIS), with this model to be based on behavioural control,... [ view full abstract ]
This research project was concerned with developing a realistic model for e-procurement adoption by organisations and groups observing Rules of Islamic Sharia (RIS), with this model to be based on behavioural control, subjective norms, and the recognition of the benefits and risks of e-procurement adoption. The model developed, the “E-Procurement Adoption Model”, combines and extends two existing models previously used for e-procurement adoption. Central to the design of the E-Procurement Adoption Model is the principle that a realistic model should take into account all relevant psychological, social, cultural, demographic and religious (if any) factors. The mediating components “mediators” that determine the final model are thus determined by the specific psychological, social, cultural, demographic and religious factors pertaining to the development of an e-procurement approach in the context of the Rules of Islamic Sharia. Therefore, in the design of the research model, factors including perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, organisational facilitators, organisational leadership, critical success factors, challenges, barriers and benefits were taken into account. These factors gave rise in turn to the two mediating components of ‘Attitude’ and ‘Rules of Islamic Sharia’. A number of hypotheses were made in order to establish links between the contributing factors, the mediators and the adoption of e-procurement as the final dependent variable output of the model.
An online questionnaire survey was conducted with participants from groups already experienced in e-procurement procedures as well as with potential target groups for e-procurement adoption. The survey data was processed using a structural equation model in order to validate the hypotheses. The descriptive analysis of the survey data provided demographic details of the questionnaire participants and their employers while a number of statistical analysis methods were used to correlate the contributing factors and mediators. The analysis of the survey data confirmed the existence of positive relationships between Benefits and Rules of Islamic Sharia, Organisational Facilitators and the Adoption of e-procurement, Organisational Facilitators and Organisational Leadership, Rules of Islamic Sharia and the Adoption of e-procurement. It was observed that Perceived Usefulness and Organisational Leadership do not influence the adoption of e-procurement. Furthermore, the analysis suggested that Rules of Islamic Sharia was not influenced by Critical Success Factors.
