THE ROLE OF AN INTEGRATED INFORMATION SYSTEMS ON SUPPLY CHAINS IN ENHANCING TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT: A STUDY OF SOME SELECTED EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN GHANA

Abstract

The purpose: The purpose of this study is to look at the role of an integrated information system on the procurement or supply chain management in enhancing total quality management in some selected institutions or outfits in the education service sector in Ghana. The research intended to answer questions on the importance of integrated information system; its roles or benefits on enhancing effective and efficient business processes and/or performances; total quality management of the organization’s scarce resources and the weaknesses of an un-
integrated information environment.
The Design/Methodology: The research adopted a quantitative research method approach to gather and collect the data. Two hundred and fifty (250) questionnaires were administered to collect the quantitative data from the selected Senior High Schools and educational offices in the Bolgatanga Municipal, Bawku Municipal and Bongo District; all in the Upper East Region.
The findings: The study found that an integrated information system has a positive impact on business processes and performances and hence enhances the total quality management of the organizations. The study also revealed the weaknesses of an unintegrated information environment such as the silo effects which affects the smooth and effective execution of the organization’s processes and performances. The study revealed that an integrated information system plays a crucial role in the materials planning process of the supply chain management unit of the organization and hence it’s important. The study recommended that organizations particularly the Ghana Education Service (GES) should try as much as possible to integrate its Information Systems. The government should consider making these educational institutions well-equip with a common information sharing network so as to enable them share common information among themselves; and the procurement unit of the educational organizations should be linked with all the various suppliers in order to share with them the pertinent information needed by both parties.

The Research limitation: the study is limited in scope in terms of data collection and level of analysis. The study is limited to only the institutions in the educational sector in Ghana.

The practical limitation: the research is limited to researchers, librarians, practitioners, academicians, and
administrators who have to do with the supply chain management in their respective firms.

The social limitation: the people who are affected by this research are the procurement officers; suppliers; library
staff; and all those in the supply chain management in every organization.
The originality/value: this recent empirical study makes an original contribution to the existing literature by adding knowledge of the role of Integrated Information System in enhancing Total Quality Management and the performance of the educational organizations in Ghana; where the quality of goods procured is compromised.
Keywords: Role, Integrated Information System, Supply Chain Management, G.E.S, Ghana.