Factors Affecting Procurement Performance in the Milk Processing Firms In Kiambu County

Given the impact of procurement activities on the operation and effectiveness of procurement processes, it is essential that these activities be performed by qualified staff with high professional and ethical standards and using sound procedures anchored in appropriate policies and regulations. Procurement is one of the vital functions in an organization and it plays a vital role in acquiring the needed resources at the time required. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors affecting procurement Performance in the milk processing firms in Kiambu County. The study also sought to assess the effect of information technology, employees' incompetence, organizational culture and packaging policy on procurement performance in the milk processing firms in Kiambu County. The paper adopted a descriptive survey method. The target population included milk processing firms in Kiambu County. The sample was selected from managers working in various milk processing firms in Kiambu County. Purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample from the managers in various milk processing firms in the County. Self administered questionnaires were used to collect primary data from the field. Qualitative data from the open ended questions was analysed by use of content analysis and the findings were presented in a prose form Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used in this study to analyze quantitative data, which was obtained from the closed ended questions. Descriptive statistics used in this study include mean, standard deviation, percentages and frequencies. Further, multiple regression analysis was used to establish the relationship between the dependent and the independent variables. Quantitative data was presented in form of bar graphs, pie charts and frequency tables. This study established that organizational culture contributed most to the procurement process in the milk processing firms in Kiambu County followed by employees' competence then organizational culture while packaging policy contributed the least to the procurement process in the milk processing firms in Kiambu County. This study recommends that milk processing firms should also adopt information technology in all sectors and inter-link various departments within the organization. In addition, they should adopt information technology in the human resource management and in connecting various departments within the organization and linking the organization with other firms.