TITLE:
The Impact of Integrated Financial Management Information Systems on Procurement Process in Public Sector in Developing Countries—A Case of Zambia
AUTHORS:
Timothy Muwema, Jackson Phiri
KEYWORDS:
Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (IFMIS), Procurement Process, Public Sector
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.8 No.2,
March
31,
2020
ABSTRACT: Progressive governments around the world aim at having efficient Public
Finance Management in order to efficiently manage resources and maximize
opportunity costs associated with Public Procurement. The Government of Zambia
has introduced Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (IFMIS) to
monitor how ministries, departments and other state agencies spend funds on a
real-time basis in order to improve budget implementation. The objectives of
IFMIS are to attain transparency, reduce financial leakages and accountability
in the way Government resources are being spent. Data were collected from seventy-five (75) respondents from the Ministry of
Finance, Ministry of Works and Supply and the Anti-Corruption Commission. Data
were analysed using Social Package and Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and
Microsoft Excel. The study revealed that there is a significant negative relationship
between IFMIS and transparency, reduced financial leakages and efficiency and
speed. The study thus concluded that IFMIS has not enhanced transparency,
reduced financial leakages, enhanced efficiency and speed. The study
recommended that vendors and citizens should have access to the system to
enhance transparency. Furthermore, the study recommended for code restructuring
of the system to make it more proactive rather than reactive in order to
improve budget adherence, reduce misappropriation and misapplication of funds.
In conclusion, the study further recommended procurement processes be carried
on the system only and eliminate the duplication of work on paper.