Small Enterprises Behavioural Intention to Participate in Public Procurement in Tanzania: The Moderating Role of Attitude
Abstract
is study investigates the behavioural intentions of Small Enterprises (SEs) to participate in public procurement, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as the guiding framework. While TPB traditionally posits that attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control (PBC) directly predict behavioural intention, this study extends the model by including perceived benefits as an additional determinant and testing the moderating role of attitude. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, collecting data from 189 SEs owners and managers across Dar es Salaam and Dodoma. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was used to deduce the findings. Results showed that perceived benefits and PBC significantly predicted SEs’ intention to engage in procurement, while subjective norms and attitude exhibited weak direct relationships. A moderation analysis of these features showed that attitude, whereas moderating on the subjective norms side, also had the effect of negatively moderating the relationship between PBC and intention (hypothetical overconfidence where both variables are high). The effect of attitude on perceived benefits was insignificant, meaning that these practical evaluations drive intention independently. The study adds to TPB by integrating the perspective of a developing economy and demonstrates that SEs’ procurement participation was determined mainly by pragmatic assessments rather than attitudinal and normative aspects. The findings have practical implications in terms of developing capacities, financial access, transparent procurement processes, as well as promoting the availability of a supportive network to increase SEs involvement.
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