Electronic Procurement in Government: More Complicated than Just Good Business

Electronic procurement has been widely embraced by governments seeking the administrative efficiencies and cost reductions experienced in the private sector. The enthusiastic response has rarely been tempered by critical evaluation of current models for implementation of e-procurement programs. This paper examines the case of Australian government e-procurement where there has been significant progress toward its adoption. It discusses factors in the Australian approach to public management which may affect its success. Other factors besides the technical efficacy of an e-procurement system should be taken into account in designing, implementing and managing these programs. These factors could affect the quality and effectiveness of an integrated e-procurement system and its acceptance by various stakeholder groups.