The purpose of this study is to establish the relationship between ethics and procurement performance of humanitarian organizations in Kenya. The study draws on data from 70 humanitarian organizations and makes use of multiple regression models to deduce the relationship. Findings show that humanitarian organizations in Kenya follow procurement ethics code. Further work is needed to examine the relationship between ethics and procurement performance of humanitarian organizations in Africa as this would give a wide range of conclusions and recommendations. Future studies could relate the independent variables used in this study to cost reduction strategy instead of agility strategy addressed herein. The results indicate that ethics is shaping up today’s humanitarian picture by ensuring that donors and other interested parties have confidence in supporting the humanitarian cause. This is the first paper to systematically analyze relationship between ethics and procurement performance of humanitarian organizations in Kenya.
Van Wassenhove, L.N. (2006) Humanitarian Aid Logistics: Supply Chain Management in High Gear. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 57, 475-489. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.jors.2602125
Guha-Sapir, D., Vos, F., Below, R. and Ponserre, S. (2012) Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2011: The Numbers and Trends. Published by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), Brussels.
Nyamu, T. (2012) Impact of Supply Chain Management Challenges on Humanitarian Organizations in Kenya. Project Research presented to the University of Nairobi, School of Business, Nairobi.
Benita, M.B. and Burcu, B. (2008) Performance Measurement in Humanitarian Relief Chains. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 21, 4-25. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513550810846087
Heaslip, G. and Barber, E. (2014) Using the Military in Disaster Relief: Systemizing Challenges and Opportunities. Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management, 4, 60-81. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHLSCM-03-2013-0013
Rolando, T. and Wassenhove, L.V. (2009) Humanitarian Logistics. Macmillan Publishers Limited, Hampshire, Palgrave.
Van Weele, A.J. (2002) Purchasing and Supply Chain Management. Analysis, Planning and Practice. 3rd Edition, Thomson Learning, London.
Amaratunga, D. and Baldry, D. (2002) Moving from Performance Measurement to Performance Management. Facilities, 20, 217-223. https://doi.org/10.1108/02632770210426701
Adams, F.K. (2008) Construction Contract Risk Management. A Study of Practices in the United Kingdom. Cost Engineering, 50, 22-23.
Lysons, K. and Farrington, B. (2012) Purchasing and Supply Chain Management. Pearson Education Limited, England.
Pedersen, E.R. (2009) The Many and Few: Rounding up the SMEs that Manage CSR in the Supply Chain. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 2, 109-116. https://doi.org/10.1108/13598540910941975
Carter, C.R. (2005) Purchasing Social Responsibility and Firm Performance: The Key Mediating Roles of Organizational Learning and Supply Performance. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, 35, 177-194. https://doi.org/10.1108/09600030510594567
Wagner, S.M. (2003) Intensity and Managerial Scope of Supplier Integration. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 39, 4-13. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-493X.2003.tb00160.x
Eltantawy, R.A., Fox, G.L. and Guinipero, L. (2009) Supply Management Ethical Responsibility: Reputation and Performance Impacts. An International Journal, 14, 99-108.
Cooper, R.W., Frank, G.L. and Kemp, R.A. (1997) The Ethical Environment Facing the Profession of Purchasing and Materials Management. International Journal of Purchasing and Materials Management, 33, 2-13. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-493X.1997.tb00286.x
Flech, R.I. (1985) Standards of Conduct: The Key to Supplier Relations. Journal of Purchasing and Materials Management, 21, 16-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-493X.1985.tb00137.x
Carter, C.R. and Jennings, S.M. (2004) The Role of Purchasing in Corporate Social Responsibility: A Structural Equation Analysis. Journal of Business Logistics, 25, 145-188. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2158-1592.2004.tb00173.x
Giunipero, L. and Handfield, R.B. (2004) Purchasing Education and Training II. CAPS Research, Tempe.
Callaghan, P. (2009) Procurement Ethics. Journal of Purchasing, 28, 233-237.
McWilliams, A. and Siegel, D. (2000) Corporate Social Responsibility and Financial Performance. Strategic Management Journal, 21, 603-609. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(200005)21:5 3.0.CO;2-3
Onyango, J.P. (2012) Role of Ethics in Supply Chain Management of Oil Marketing Firms in Kenya. Project Research Presented to the University of Nairobi, School of Business, Nairobi.
Slack, N., Chambers, S. and Johnston, R. (2004) Operations Management. Pearson Education Limited, Harlow.
Wild, N. and Zhou, L. (2011) Ethical Procurement Strategies for International Aid Non-Government Organizations. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 16, 110-127. https://doi.org/10.1108/13598541111115365
Oloruntoba, R. and Gray, R. (2006) Humanitarian Aid: An Agile Supply Chain. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 1, 115-120. https://doi.org/10.1108/13598540610652492
Turner, G.B., Taylor, G.S. and Hartley, M.F. (1994) Ethics Policies and Gratuity Acceptance by Purchasers. International Journal of Purchasing and Materials Management, 30, 43-47. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-493X.1994.tb00196.x
Svensson, G. (2009) The Transparency of SCM Ethics: Conceptual Framework and Empirical Illustrations. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 4, 259-269. https://doi.org/10.1108/13598540910970090
Balcik, B. and Beamon, B.M. (2008) Facility Location in Humanitarian Relief. International Journal of Logistics-Research and Applications, 11, 101-121. https://doi.org/10.1080/13675560701561789
Taupiac, C. (2001) Humanitarian and Development Procurement: A Vast and Growing Market. International Trade Forum, 4, 7-10.
Jessica, S. and Tina, S. (2008) Disasters: Corruption in Emergency Procurement. Overseas Development Institute, 32, 516-536.
Leenders, M.R., Johnston, P.F., Flynn, A.E. and Fearon, H.E. (2010) Purchasing and Supply Chain Management: With 50 Supply Chain Cases. Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited, New Delhi.
Christian, P. (2011) Preventing Corruption in Humanitarian Operations. Transparency International: Norwegian Red Cross.
Steinbuch, P.A. (2001) Logistik. Neue Wirtschafts-Briefe, Berlin/Herne.
Handfield, R.B., Monczka, R.M., Giunipero, L.C. and Patterson, J.L. (2011) Sourcing and Supply Chain Management. Cengage Learning Products, New Delhi.
Micheli, P. and Kennerly, M. (2005) Performance Measurement Frameworks in Public and Non-Profit Sectors. Production Planning and Control, 16, 125-134. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537280512331333039
Poister, T.H. (2003) Measuring Performance in Public and Non-Profit Organizations. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.
Deephouse, D.L. (2000) Media Reputation as a Strategic Resource: An Integration of Mass Communication and Resource-Based Theories. Journal of Management, 26, 1091-1112. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920630002600602
Van Der Merwe, R., Pitt, L.F. and Berthon, P. (2003) Are Excellent Companies Ethical? Evidence from an Industrial Setting. Corporate Reputation Review, 5, 343-355. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.crr.1540183
Michael, B. and Rusell, A. (2007) Corporate Identity, Ethics and Reputation in Supplier-Buyer Relationships. Journal of Business Ethics, 76, 69-82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9273-4
Ndolo, J. and Njagi, E. (2014) Role of Ethics in Procurement Process Effectiveness in the Water Sector in Kenya: A Case Study of EWASCO, Embu County. Project Research Presented to Mount Kenya University, School of Business and Economics, Thika.
Mbae, L.N. (2014) Public Procurement Law and Procurement Performance of County Governments in Kenya: A Case of Machakos County Government. Project Research Presented to the University of Nairobi, School of Business, Nairobi.
Kleinberg-Levin, D.M. (2008) Before the Voice of Reason: Echoes of Responsibility in Merleau-Ponty’s Ecology and Levinas’s Ethics. SUNY Press, New York.
Carasco, E.F. and Singh, J.B. (2003) The Content and Focus of the Codes of Ethics of the World’s Largest Transnational Corporations. Business and Society Review, 108, 71-94. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8594.00007