Current Research in Public Procurement: A Global Perspective

1. Current Research in Public Procurement: A Global Perspective Khi V. Thai, Ph.D., Professor School of Public Administration Florida Atlantic University

2. Trends in Public Procurement Research • This is a challenging issue: • It is very difficult to trace scientifically this trend, globally • But a clear trend we have seen since the late 1990s: An increasing research interest in the world

3. Toward a Framework for Public Procurement Research

4. Legislative and Regulatory Framework, and Policies • Research Issues: • Procurement laws and regulations, reforms or revisions to reflect the changing environment • Public procurement as a policy tools: SMEs, environmental sustainability, procurement of innovation (R&D)

5. Procurement Operations: Institutional Capacity, Processes and Methods • Research Issues: Current problems • Insufficient attention given to needs assessments and budget decision or the missing links in the procurement process • Incomplete process: assets management and disposals • Institutional arrangement in public procurement: centralization vs. decentralization, procurement structure, national and local arrangement Assets Management & Disposal Needs Assessments & Budget decisions Contract Formulation Contract Closeout Contract Implementation Feedback

6. Management Capacity, Human Capacity, and Knowledge • Research Issues: • Efficiency in procurement operations and practices • Existence of contract administration and dispute resolution provisions • Body of procurement knowledge • Level of procurement competence among government officials within the entity, or public procurement professionalization

7. Issue of Professionalism • “My colleague in MOF asked for information on comparative experience of professional qualification requirements for public procurement officers. I wonder whether you could provide some information on this or any links for further exploration”(Prof. Fuguo Cao, China, 02 Sept. 2012 e-mail).

8. Information, Integrity, and Transparency • Research Issues: • Effective control and audit systems • Enforcement and follow-up on findings and recommendations of the control framework • timely information on compliance to enable management action • How to prevent or reduce corruption

9. Political, Market and Cultural Environment • Research Issues: • Political system may have positive or negative impacts on public procurement practices • Different cultures have different levels of procurement integrity • Market: There are possible major systemic constraints (e.g. inadequate access to credit, contracting practices, etc.) inhibiting the private sector’s capacity to access the procurement market.

10. Implication of the question: Professionalizing public procurement Recent research efforts: • Developing a common body of procurement knowledge • Developing basic procurement principles • Developing a code of ethics • Certification program for professional qualification requirements

11. Gracias!Thank you!Khi V. ThaiFlorida Atlantic University777 Glades RoadBoca Raton, Floridathai@fau.edu