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The objective of this study was to assess the influence of adopting computerized
inventory management systems, mainly the ERP (Enterprise resource planning) on
performance of supermarkets. The study was conducted at five different supermarkets
being A to Z supermarket, Food lover’s supermarket, Game, Target and Village
supermarket all located in Dar es Salaam region. The specific objectives were to
determine the technological, organizational and environmental factors which influence
the adoption of computerized inventory management systems. Also, another specific
objective was to determine how the three factors of adoption influence performance.
The researcher used survey research design to collect data from the five supermarkets.
The methods of data collection were questionnaire and interviews. A sample size of
48 respondents was recruited through the use of questionnaires. Validity of the
study was tested through KMO while reliability was tested through Cronbach
Alpha.
The collected data was organized and analyzed through descriptive analysis by
mean and standard deviation and inferential analysis by multiple regression. From
the dissertation, it was observed that main technological factors for adoption were
technological complexity, compatibility, infrastructures and the overall level of
technology. The organizational factors were firm size, available resources, expertise
of management and perceived benefits. The environmental factors were competition,
power from suppliers and customers and government support. It was also found out
that the main influence of these factors to performance was profit maximization,
customer satisfaction, accurate forecast and better inventory management.
It is recommended that firms are to employ professionals who can assist with the day
to day system functioning, taking a deep study on the factors for adoption to the
supermarkets or firms which haven’t adopted yet and lastly, to other business, try as
much to run with the technological pace in the daily operations so as to influence
performance. |
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