Implementing electronic tendering for public works procurement - a Tasmanian experience

Information and communication technology (ICT) applications, including electronic tendering (ET), have been introduced into public and private sector organisations business operations increasingly since the 1990’s. The uptake of ICT applications has extensively been based on the promise of streamlined business processes, increased competitiveness, and efficiencies in time and cost. As a Web based collaboration tool, electronic tendering processes have emerged in recent years as a procurement tool of great promise. The acclaimed benefits of ET are the ability to automate, streamline and enhance tendering processes, traditionally undertaken using paper-based methods. This paper reports findings from an exploratory study investigating the experiences of small public sector ‘client’ and ‘contractor’ organisations during the trial (pilot) implementation of electronic tendering in Tasmania. The study employed in-depth interviews as data collection technique. Findings indicate that, despite the promised benefits, some contractors and suppliers have not fully embrace the process and uptake has not been to the expectations. Some of the reported inhibitors and reasons for the slow uptake include technical, process and cultural barriers.