Effect of Sustainable Supplier Selection on Procurement Performance of Chartered Public Universities in Kenya

Abstract

Public universities have recognized the power they hold as influential entities within communities, and with this power comes the responsibility to select suppliers who share on their vision. By prioritizing sustainability in their procurement strategies, universities can lessen their environmental impact and serve as examples for other organizations. Embracing sustainability in supplier selection requires the acknowledgement of the interrelatedness between economic, social, and environmental factors. It mandates organizations to consider long-term consequences of traditional purchasing considerations, such as cost and quality, rather than short-term gains. However, the absence of clear guidelines and policies on sustainable supplier selection results in inefficiencies in decision-making within most universities. Consequently, their ability to prioritize partnerships with eco-friendly, socially responsible, and economically viable suppliers is hindered. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of sustainable supplier selection (SSS) on the procurement performance of public universities. A cross-sectional research design was employed, utilizing a population of 40 employees from the procurement department, selected from ten chartered public universities in Kenya. The findings revealed that public universities have embraced sustainable supplier selection, although to varying degrees. Moreover, the coefficient of determination was 0.472 implying that the sustainable supplier selection criteria used by the universities accounted for 47.2% of their procurement performance. The study constitutes a model utility for fostering sustainable procurement practices within the confines of public universities. It recommends the development of robust approaches to evaluating supplier environmental and social performance that could significantly heighten business sustainability levels.