WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT IN

COMMERCIAL SEMI-STATE BODIES IN IRELAND?

Joey Gormly

Procurement Executive in Dublin Bus

MSc in Strategic Procurement

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Extent of use of sustainable procurement (SP) Barriers to the use of sustainable procurement (SP)

Summary of Paper

• Background

• National Action Plan - 2012

• Little research conducted

• First study

Literature Review

Literature Review INTERNAL BARRIERS

1. Management

2. Cost

3. Time

4. Further Training

5. Conflict with E-Procurement

6. Ind. Vs. Org

7. The Individual

8. Organisational Culture

9. Reluctance to Change

Literature Review EXTERNAL BARRIERS

1. Legislation & Compliance

2. Policy Entrepreneurs/converts

3. Cultural Relativism

4. Obligation

5. Protectionism

6. Supplier Knowledge

Methodology

• Exploratory

• Literature review

• Non standardised semi-structured interviews

• Non-probability sampling technique

• 28 commercial semi-states

• Nine participants & two experts

• Analysis of data

Findings P = Participant P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9

Procurement

department

present

Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No

Procurement more

imp in org. in

recent years

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Procurement more

strategic in org. in

recent years

Yes Yes Yes Yes Not sure Yes Yes

Down the

path to-

wards it

Yes

Procurement

qualifications in

department/

organisation

Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No

Sustainability /

green policy in

place

Yes Yes State ment

only Yes Yes Yes Yes

Statement

only No

Sustainable

Procurement

policy in place

Yes No

Part of

Procu-

rement

Policy

Part of

Procureme

nt Policy

Part of

Procurement

Policy

Yes No

Part of

Procurement

Policy

No

Approx. tender

processes using SP

in last 3 years

100 Don't

know 24 100 80 Nearly all

Nearly

all

Unsure as

new to role None

Findings

• Knowledge of Europe 2020/NAP

• Understanding

• Value

• Usage

• Type used

• Social considerations

• Application in tenders

Findings - Internal Barriers

1. Management

2. Cost

3. Time

4. Further Training

5. Conflict with E-Procurement

6. Ind. Vs. Org

7. The Individual

8. Organisational Culture

9. Reluctance to Change

Findings - External Barriers

1. Legislation & Compliance

2. Policy Entrepreneurs/Converts

3. Cultural Relativism

4. Obligation

5. Protectionism

6. Supplier Knowledge

New Barriers Found

• The Right Tools

• Application

• Defining SP

Conclusions

• SP is being used by majority

• Importance of achieving value

• Economic and environmental

predominant

• New and existing barriers found

QUESTIONS???