The moderating role of staff competency on communication and the effectiveness of force account approach: an empirical study from Tanzania

Abstract

The study investigated the moderating effect of staff competency on the influence of communication on the effectiveness of force account approach (FAA) in construction projects in Tanzania. This study proposed three hypotheses, which were tested by using PROCESS macro from data obtained from 229 members of projects under FAA in local government authorities (LGAs) in Dodoma, Tanzania. The findings unveiled that communication and staff competency contribute in a meaningful manner in influencing the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects. Lastly, the study established a moderating effect of staff competency in the relationship between communication and the effectiveness of FAA. Based on the main findings, it was concluded that communication and staff competency are significant factors for the FAA effectiveness in construction projects in LGAs. Furthermore, the role of communication on the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects varies across different values of staff competency, with a stronger influence when staff competency is high compared to when it is low. Therefore, staff competency strengthens the influence of communication on the effectiveness of FAA. Despite its limitations, our study provides significant implications for practice and theory.

Keywords:

• Communication
• Staff competency
• Local government authorities
• Force account approach
• Construction projects
• Project performance
• Tanzania

REVIEWING EDITOR:

• Guangchao Charles Feng, School of Communication, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong

SUBJECTS:

• Business, Management and Accounting
• Strategic Management
• Organizational Communication

1. Introduction

The construction industry is one of the world’s largest and utmost significant. It is crucial in shaping the built environment, which includes structures such as buildings, roads, and bridges (Israel, 2023; Xia et al., 2022). The construction industry includes projects ranging from minor building renovations to large-scale infrastructure projects such as highway bridge construction. It is regarded as a significant industry because it directly employs a diverse range of people with unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled attributes, such as manual laborers, construction managers, procurement officers, architects, and engineers (Manoharan et al., 2023; Mchopa, 2020; Osei-Asibey et al., 2023). Countries can boost their socio-economic activities through the construction industry (Rondinel-Oviedo, 2023), as it has been articulated that the construction and improvement of road and communication infrastructure has increased participation in trade and business activities among societies within the country and across nations (Ly, 2020). This is why the industry has drawn on a diverse range of research in several countries (Hackman et al., 2021; Israel, 2023; Lode et al., 2023). The existence of these studies demonstrates that the construction industry contributes to evolution, which is linked to the need for new and improved infrastructure and housing for various purposes.

In Tanzania, the construction industry provides similar benefits to communities, particularly by improving socio-economic activities such as trade and business across regions (Israel, 2023). The Tanzanian government is currently focusing its efforts on the construction industry in order to boost economic activities and make it easier to provide services to the public. More than the allocated annual budget is directed toward the procurement of works in terms of construction projects, such as bridges, buildings (including government offices, secondary and primary schools, and health centers) through public procurement (Changalima, 2016; Changalima et al., 2022). Recently, most construction projects have been largely conducted through the FAA, which entails performing construction work with its internal staff and resources working in partnership with another public, semi-public, or private organization (Macharia et al., 2023; Matto, 2023). Although this approach is commonly used in construction projects with small budgets and limited time, it is also widely used in relatively large projects such as the construction of schools and health centers. The participation of local laborers within communities in force account projects has not only provided a foundation for considering local communities in public procurement activities but has also empowered small and medium-sized businesses to participate in public construction works (Ismail & Changalima, 2022; Mwandikile, 2020).

Considering the importance of the FAA in construction projects, its effectiveness is critical to ensuring that the desired outcomes are achieved. The proper implementation of the FAA in construction projects can ensure project success by improving and meeting project quality, time, and cost requirements and increasing satisfaction (Macharia et al., 2023). Despite this, the CAG audit report for 2020–2021 presented some LGAs with substandard projects carried out through the FAA. Some of the issues that have been reported are related to the procurement of substandard materials, delays in the release of funds, and poor supplier selection (NAOT, 2021). Thus, efforts in the procurement of quality materials, adequate budgets, and the timely allocation of budgeted funds are required for projects under FAA to be successful. Previous research on projects under FAA in Tanzania produced a diverse range of literature. Macharia et al. (2023) investigated the role of support from the top mansagement and staff competency in enhancing the effectiveness of FAA. Mchopa (2020) explained the FAA’s applicability in Tanzania and reported that a lack of standardized guidelines for the application of FAA results in poor performance. Also, Mwandikile (2020) opines that FAA in construction projects helps to improve project quality and timeliness.

These previous studies, upon closer examination, provide an important link between staff competency, regulatory compliance, and the effectiveness of FAA (Macharia et al., 2023; Matto, 2023; Mchopa, 2020). Unlike these studies, which were conducted in the same setting, our research focuses on the direct effects of communication and staff competency on the effectiveness of FAA, and the moderating effect of staff competency on the relationship between communication and the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects. Communication was considered in our study because it is important in improving the effective sharing of critical information about project activities among key project stakeholders. Despite the fact that communication is critical to project success (Gamil & Rahman, 2023; Lindhard & Larsen, 2016; Martin et al., 2014; Wu et al., 2017), there is little evidence of its influence on the effectiveness of FAA in Tanzanian construction projects. Also, learning from a resource-based view (RBV), intangible resources such as competencies may be vital in explaining variations in organizational performance (Barney, 1991; Ismail, 2023). As a result, our current study contributes to the work of Macharia et al. (2023), Mchopa (2020) and Mwandikile (2020) by using RBV to investigate the moderating effect of staff competency in the relationship between communication and the effectiveness of FAA in the construction industry. Based on this, the study tested the operational hypotheses listed below:

H₁: communication significantly influences the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects.

H₂: staff competency significantly influences the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects.

H₃: staff competency significantly moderates the relationship between communication and the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects.

By emphasizing the significance of communication and staff competency, our study is more likely to improve the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects. Furthermore, by investigating the interaction effect between staff competency and communication in enhancing the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects, this study adds to the theoretical framework of project success factors. It also has major practical contributions for personnel working in LGAs. This study has the potential to provide useful insights on how to optimize project success through improved communication tactics. The aforementioned implications have the potential to reduce project delays and improve construction coordination across projects under the FAA. Our research looked at the importance of staff competency in improving the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects. Th study may help practitioners allocate resources more effectively, implement better workforce development programs, and eventually improve the overall quality of construction projects under the FAA. The aforementioned contributions potentially accelerate the development of optimal techniques in the construction industry, notably in Tanzania, where project execution under FAA is common. This knowledge has the ability to improve decision-making procedures, optimize project planning and administration, and potentially result in good outcomes for undertakings in the construction industry.

2. Materials and methods

2.1. Research design and data collection

The current study used an analytical cross-sectional research design because its primary objective was to get a snapshot of the variables of interest to found the relationships between them rather than trace changes in the set of variables. As a result, we collected cross-sectional data at a specific point in time and analyzed it to determine the relationships between communication, staff competency, and the effectiveness of FAA in Tanzanian construction projects. Data was obtained specifically from members of project teams involved in construction projects under the FAA in selected LGAs in Dodoma, Tanzania. Dodoma was selected because the region represents the central zone area of Tanzania in the projects under FAA (Matto, 2023). This study obtained ethical clearance from the ethical committee of the University of Dodoma.

The project team members in sureved LGAs were purposefully selected so as to get relevant and accurate information about the effectiveness of FAA in the implementation of construction projects. Prior their involvement, the study obtained verbal consent from participants so as to abide with ethical considerations. Initially, the sample size was obtained by using an a priori calculator, which recommends a minimum sample size with given statistical power and anticipated effect size (Soper, 2020). Based on this calculator, a minimum of 119 observations was recommended for the study, and to avoid the risks associated with low responses, a total of 300 questionnaires were administered to force account projects’ team members, with 229 returned clean and accurate for final data analysis. The structured questionnaire was used in the study because it allows for the collection of data in a short time and is less expensive than other methods (Saunders et al., 2019), so it was deemed relevant in this case.

2.2. Measurements

In the current study, we employed multi-item measuring scales developed from earlier research (see Table 1). The independent variable, communication, was measured in five items (COMM1–COMM5) that were adopted from Lindhard and Larsen (2016). Staff competency was measured in four items (STCO1–STCO4) that were adopted from (Macharia et al., 2023). Lastly, four (4) items were employed to measure the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects (EFAA1-EFAA4), as adapted from Macharia et al. (2023) and Mwandikile (2020). It should be noted that the items were slightly modified to fit the current study’s context. Prior to conducting the inferential analysis for establishing relationships, EFA was performed to ensure that valid and reliable data were obtained. Table 1 shows that the value of KMO, 0.905, surpasses the suggested value of 0.6, and Barlett’s Test of Sphericity is significant at p < 0.001. In addition, three factors were created, and each item was loaded in the respective component with factor loadings greater than 0.4.

Table 1. Factor analysis.

KMO and Bartlett’s Test
Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy.		0.905
Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity	Approx. Chi-Square	1620.891
	df	78
	Sig.	0.000
Items		Component
		1	2	3
■ The extent of communication between internal force account project parties is often optimal (COMM1).		0.749
■ The extent of communication between external force account project parties is often optimal (COMM2).		0.848
■ Good communication is easy to practice (COMM3).		0.799
■ I rarely experience conflicts and disputes between force account project parties resulting from lack of communication (COMM4).		0.813
■ Communication inconsistencies and conflicts are rarely caused by errors or defects in the force account project documents (COMM5).		0.989
■ Staff members who are involved in force account projects are trained to perform the required operations (STCO1).			0.857
■ Staff members who are involved in force account projects are assigned tasks according to their professional qualifications (STCO2).			0.922
■ We have experienced staff to perform operations required in force account projects (STCO3).			0.660
■ Staff members who are involved in force account projects have key competencies to perform as required (STCO4).			0.749
■ The force account improves project completion within the allocated budget (EFAA1).				0.858
■ The force account improves project cost reductions (EFAA2).				0.819
■ Force account improves project quality and meets user expectations (EFAA3).				0.798
■ The use of force account improves the completion of projects on time (EFAA4).				0.797

2.3. Data analysis

Since the measurement items were obtained from a number of different previous studies, EFA was conducted to ensure that the obtained data were valid and reliable (Pallant, 2020). Similarly, the CFA was conducted to ensure that the measurement model results were favorable for examining the structural relationships (Hair et al., 2010). Therefore, CFA results provided a further basis for assessing the reliability and validity as presented in Tables 2 and 3. The moderation model was tested by using the PROCESS macro, which is more robust for establishing interaction effects for observed variables through the bootstrapping technique (Hayes, 2022). To be specific, model 1 was utilized as the study focused on testing the simple moderation model, which includes communication as an independent variable, staff competency as a moderator, and the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects as a dependent variable.

Table 2. Constructs’ measurements, reliability and validity.

Variables and measurements	Factor loadings	Cronbach’s alpha	CR	AVE
Communication (COMM)		0.904	0.905	0.655
■ COMM1	0.746
■ COMM2	0.797
■ COMM3	0.863
■ COMM4	0.829
■ COMM5	0.808
Staff competency (STCO)		0.838	0.842	0.573
■ STCO1	0.802
■ STCO2	0.638
■ STCO3	0.753
■ STCO4	0.821
Effectiveness of force account approach (EFAA)		0.825	0.829	0.549
■ EFAA1	0.803
■ EFAA2	0.776
■ EFAA3	0.717
■ EFAA4	0.659

Table 3. Fornell-Larcker criterion for discriminant validity.

Variable/Statistics	CR	AVE	MSV	COMM	STCO	EFAA
COMM	0.905	0.655	0.504	0.809
STCO	0.842	0.573	0.504	0.710	0.757
EFAA	0.829	0.549	0.275	0.513	0.525	0.741

The bolded values represent square root of the AVE. 

2.4. Non-response bias and common method bias (CMB)

Because the study did not attain the 100% response rate, which is normal for survey studies, a non-response bias may exist, resulting in biased results that do not correctly reflect the population’s interest. Also, the study obtained a response rate of above 0.75%, which is sufficient for generalizability (Burkell, 2003), but does not guarantee the non-existence of bias (Meterko et al., 2015; Ringo et al., 2023). To confirm that non-response bias did not exist in our study, we compared late and early replies on all of the study’s main variables. The results showed that no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups as the p-value exceeded 0.05, suggesting that non-response bias did not impact our study (Weiss & Heide, 1993). On the other hand, we checked for CMB because the data was obtained by using a self-administered and structured questionnaire. In addition, the items for measuring study variables were scored on the same 5-point Likert scale. All of these procedures may result in CMB, resulting in biased results. To confirm that concerns about CMB were not substantial in our study, we conducted Harman’s single-factor test, and the results indicated that approximately 37.03% of the analysis was attributed to a single factor. Meanwhile the obtained value was less than 50%, we concluded that CMB was not a concern in our data (Podsakoff et al., 2003).

3. Results

3.1. Measurement model assessment

The study also conducted a CFA to measure reliability and validity so as to guarantee that the reliability and validity are assued for the study’s findings. In this aspect, the results of the measurement model as Figure 1 unveils that all factor loadings are above 0.6 with r² above 0.4, which supports the fact that those specific items for each given variable adequately explain its parent variable. It should be noted that loadings, which are further presented in Table 2, are significant (p < 0.001). The measurement model fit indices are Chi-square value (X²) = 107.559, df = 62 at p 0.05, and X²/df = 1.735. These values are within the recommended threshold, as the acceptable range of X²/df should be between 1 and 3. Furthermore, the values of CFI = 0.971, GFI = 0.928, NFI = 0.935, RFI = 0.918, IFI = 0.971, and TLI = 0.964 Again, these values are within the required threshold for their acceptability, as all values are greater than 0.9. The value of SRMR is 0.044, which is less than the required value of 0.08; RMSEA is 0.057, which is less than 0.06; and PClose is 0.255, which is greater than 0.05. All these values are within the required thresholds (Hu & Bentler, 1999).

Figure 1. The CFA.

The measurement model results also provide the information for assessing the reliability and validity of the data, which are presented in Tables 2 and 3. The study assessed internal consistency reliability, in which all values of Cronbach’s alpha coefficients are above 0.7 and specifically greater than 0.8 for high reliability achievement. Similarly, the same threshold has been observed for all values of construct reliability (CR). Specifically, for communication, a value of 0.905 was observed, and 0.842 and 0.829 for staff competency and the effectiveness of FAA, respectively, signify the achievement of CR in our study. Moreover, the study assessed the convergent validity by using the values of AVE and CR simultaneously, in which all values of AVE are above the recommended threshold of 0.5 and are less than CR, which indicates that attainment of convergent validity was observed in our data. Also, discriminant validity was assessed by using the Fornell-Larcker criterion, under which the results presented in Table 3 show that the diagonal values (bolded numeric values) that present the values of the square root of AVE are within the recommended range as they are greater than the correlation between a given construct and any other construct. Also values of MSV as presented in Table 3 are less than AVE (Fornell & Larcker, 1981).

3.2. Assessing the structural model and hypotheses testing

In this study, we employed a PROCESS macro for examining the structural model so as to test the study’s hypotheses. Based on the results presented in Table 4, the independent variable, COMM, and the moderating variable, STCO, were regressed to the dependent variable, EFAA. The simple moderation model was done, and the results established three relationships: which are COMM→EFAA, STCO→EFAA and COMM*STCO→EFAA. The last relationship presents the effect of the interaction term (int_1) on the outcome variable, the results of which establish the existence of significant moderation effects. The model summary shows that the value of R² is 0.262, which represents the amount of variation in the outcome variable (EFAA) that is contributed by the predictor variables. This result implies that about 26.2% of the variance in EFAA is associated with COMM, STCO, and COMM*STCO as predictor variables. Specifically, the relationship between COMM and EFAA as presented in Table 4 is positive and significant (β = 0.283, t = 4.565 and p < 0.001), confirming H₁.

Table 4. Relationships presented in the structural model.

Variable/statistics	coeff	se	t	p	LLCI	ULCI
COMM	0.283	0.062	4.565	0.000	0.161	0.405
STCO	0.224	0.059	3.793	0.000	0.108	0.340
COMM*STCO	0.117	0.043	2.697	0.008	0.031	0.202
R^2	0.262			0.000
ΔR^2	0.024			0.008
Conditional effects of COMM at values of STCO
−0.826 (LOW)	0.186	0.066	2.833	0.005	0.057	0.316
0.000 (MEAN)	0.283	0.062	4.565	0.000	0.161	0.405
0.826 (HIGH)	0.380	0.077	4.932	0.000	0.228	0.531

The findings reveal that STCO positively and significantly influences EFAA (β = 0.224, t = 3.793 and p < 0.001), confirming H₂. Lastly, the int_1 (COMM*STCO) positively and significantly relates to EFAA (β = 0.117, t = 2.697, and p = 0.008), in line with the hypothesized relationship (H₃). The findings are further supported by the value of changes in R² (ΔR²) = 0.024 at p = 0.008, implying that about 2.4% of the variance in EFAA is significantly contributed by the moderation effect. Also, the results in Table 4 show that at a high level of STCO (standard deviation = 0.826), the effect of COMM on EFAA is stronger compared to when STCO is at a low level (standard deviation = -0.826). The results at all levels of STCO are presented with significant effects at p = 0.005 at the low level and p < 0.001 at the high level and non-zero values on the range of confidence intervals (LLCI and ULCI). Therefore, these findings signify that STCO strengthens the effect of COMM on EFAA, as STCO is a significant and positive moderator in the link between COMM and EFAA.

The findings presented in Figure 2 emphasize further the moderation effect of STCO on COMM→EFAA. The results are presented with conditional effects of COMM (a focal predictor) at values of STCO (the moderator). The results present three lines: the green, red, and blue lines. The green line represents the high level of STCO (standard deviation = 0.826 ≈ 0.83), the red line represents the mean level of STCO (standard deviation = 0), and the blue line represents the low level of STCO (standard deviation = –0.826 ≈ –0.83). The results show that the level of STCO changes the effects of COMM on EFAA with an increasing effect when STCO is increasing and vice versa. These findings imply that at the high level of STCO (the green line), the effect of COMM on EFAA is stronger than at the low level of STCO (the blue line).

Figure 2. The moderating effect of STCO.

4. Discussion

This study investigated the moderation effect of staff competency in the relationship between communication and the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects. In this course, the study first analyzed the influence of communication on the effectiveness of FAA, and the fiindings showed that communication is an important determinant (with positive effect) of the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects. The findings imply that communication facilitates an increase in the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects. These results corroborate those of Majeed et al. (2021) and Wu et al. (2017). Their studies highlight the vital role of communication in enhancing project performance and success. Despite the support from existing studies, our study provides unique evidence of the role of communication in determining the effectiveness of FAA in the Tanzanian LGAs’ context. Thus, this study proposes that smooth and healthier communication among internal and external project stakeholder enhances the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects.

The study establishes that staff competency is an important predictor of the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects. Based on the results in H₂, the study emphasizes the vital role of staff competency in attaining the effectiveness of FAA. The study’s findings imply that among the vital determinants of the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects is staff competency, which signifies the skills and experience of members of the project team who are involved in the management of construction projects under FAA. A study conducted by Macharia et al. (2023) supports the study’s findings. Even though the previous study lends support to our current study, their study was based on a small sample, and hence, to extend this, our current study used a larger sample size to enhance the achievement of the true characteristics of the population. Also, Eftekhari et al. (2022), Ghorbani (2023) and Kwofie et al. (2015) suggest that competencies in project management are necessary for enhancing project success and performance, and there are a range of competencies relating to project management that are needed by project teams. Therefore, these studies signify and lend support to our study that the competencies of staff involved in force account projects are necessary for enhancing the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects.

Our study found that the effect of communication on the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects varies across different values of staff competency. The results specifically reveal that the effect of communication on the effectiveness of FAA is strong when staff competency is high and vice versa. The competencies of personnel in procurement undertakings have been well articulated as important factors for achieving desired outcomes (Apiyo & Mburu, 2014; Changalima & Ismail, 2019; Changalima & Mdee, 2023). Our finding implies that when organizations have competent force account project team members, they are more likely to achieve the effectiveness of FAA in their construction projects compared to those with less competent members. Even though, Macharia et al. (2023) support this conclusion, the current study is the first to show that there is an interaction effect between staff competency and communication in realizing the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects. These findings support the available literature on examining several factors simultaneously in the construction industry. Based on the fact that RBV postulates that utilization of resources is the key to the achievement of performance for organizations (Barney, 1991), the study provides evidence from RBV that effective communication and staff competency are important resources that LGAs may utilize to enhance the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects.

5. Conclusions and study’s implications

Based on the information from the main findings of this study, it is possible to conclude hat enhancement of the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects needs effective communication and staff competencies. Strong communication among the main project members enables them to collaborate with less efforts, allocate resources (physical and human) efficiently, and overcome difficulties, which eventually results in successful project outcomes and long-term satisfaction for all parties included in the force account endeavors. On the other hand, competent staff members are equipped with the knowledge, abilities, and expertise needed to efficiently complete force account undertakings, which improves project outcomes. The study also finds that the relationship between communication and the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects is moderated by staff competency. The success of force account activities depends on effective communication; however, the degree to which communication affects the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects depends on staff competency strengths. In order to ensure that communication is clearly understood and acted upon, competent staff members must have the knowledge and abilities to precisely interpret and implement the communicated information. The effectiveness of communication channels within force account endeavors is increased by their capacity to comprehend instructions, share information, and engage in necessary discussions related to project activities. The study’s findings and conclusions have significant theoretical and managerial implications.

5.1. Theoretical implications

Based on the assumptions of RBV, the study tested the theoretical model on the moderation effect of staff competency on the relationship between communication and the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects in Tanzanian LGAs. It is clear that theoretical frameworks that investigate the dynamic relationships between communication processes, staff competency, and project results may contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms by which communication improves the effectiveness of FAA. Our findings highlight the need for a comprehensive framework in the construction industry that combines communication and staff competencies. Such a framework would define the precise communication and competencies required for successful projects under the FAA. It would provide a foundation for contributing to theoretical knowledge of communication and competencies in construction projects’ outcomes, which would be beneficial. Therefore, our research helps to advance the theoretical understanding of the interplay of communication, staff competency, and the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects. This paper contributes to the existing literature on the role of various factors in construction and project studies (Ingle & Mahesh, 2022; Lindhard & Larsen, 2016; Manoharan et al., 2023) by providing unique empirical evidence in explaining the effectiveness of FAA in for Tanzanian construction projects.

5.2. Managerial implications

The project team members must foster a culture of effective communication because it is crucial to achieving the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects within Tanzanian LGAs. As a result, all parties involved in the project, including LGA management, should encourage clear and efficient communication within their organizations. By actively sharing information about project success issues, the likelihood of achieving the effectiveness increases because shared information and communication are accurate and timely. The study emphasizes how crucial it is for local government stakeholders and development partners to exert more effort in order to guarantee that investments in training and development are made to give staff members the necessary skills and knowledge. Employees and members of the project team who are competent have a better chance of understanding and conveying information regarding enhancing the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects. This is due to the fact that our study’s findings suggest that staff competencies are necessary to guarantee project success by achieving the effectiveness of FAA and enhancing the influence of communication among project stakeholders

6. Limitations and suggestions for further research

Despite the fact that this study contributes to practice and theory, it has some limitations that should be noted. First, the study gathered cross-sectional data from 229 force account project team members in the context of LGAs in Dodoma region, Tanzania. As a result, generalizing the study based on this sample should be done with caution. Future researchers in this area may expand on this study by including a larger sample size, which may increase the likelihood of generalizability. Second, the study focused on construction projects that used the FAA, with the goal of contributing to knowledge by investigating the effectiveness of FAA in Tanzanian construction projects. In this case, a similar study could be conducted in the context of projects under the standard contracting system, which could pave the way for extending the moderation role of staff competency in the relationship between communication and project-related outcomes in various contexts and countries. Finally, the study is purely quantitative, with the theory on the relationship between communication, staff competency, and the effectiveness of FAA in construction projects being tested. Other studies could be conducted by incorporating qualitative opinions from members of force account project teams, which could supplement and extend the current quantitative study.

Authors’ contribution

The idea of this research was developed and advanced by Ismail Abdi Changalima after theoretical and empirical review. Ismail Abdi Changalima wrote the initial draft of this manuscript including empirical and theoretical part, data analysis and interpretation of findings. Leonada Raphael Mwagike contributed in data collection, wrote the initial draft and reviewed the final manuscript. All authors agreed on the final submitted manuscript.

Acknowledgements

Authors would like to acknowledge the support of some of academics at the department of business and administration in the University of Dodoma for their suggestions on ways to improve this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability

The data used in this study will be made available upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The authors did not receive any external funding for this research.

Notes on contributors

Ismail Abdi Changalima

Ismail Abdi Changalima is currently serving as a lecturer at the Department of Business Administration and Management in the University of Dodoma, Tanzania. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Dodoma, a Master of Science in Procurement and Supply Chain Management from Mzumbe University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Procurement and Logistics Management, also from Mzumbe University. Additionally, he is a Certified Procurement and Supplies Professional (CPSP). His research interests include various facets of this field, including procurement strategies, supplier management, sustainable procurement, supply chain management, and business management.

Leonada Raphael Mwagike

Leonada Raphael Mwagike holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Procurement and Supply Chain Management. She is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Procurement and Logistics Management at the Mzumbe University in the United Republic of Tanzania. She is an expert and consultant in public procurement, supplies audits and supply chain management. Her research interests include public procurement, contract management, inventory management, supply chain and value chain.