ELECTRONIC SUPPLY MANAGEMENT AND PRODUCT QUALITY OF OIL AND GAS FIRMS IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between electronic supply management (ESM) and product quality of oil and gas firms in Rivers State, Nigeria. ESM was operationalized through two key dimensions (e-sourcing and e-tendering) while product quality was assessed via product durability, product reliability, and product conformance. The study was grounded in Dynamic Capability Theory as the primary theoretical anchor. A correlational research design was adopted. The population comprised twenty (20) oil and gas firms in Rivers State, from which a census of 120 respondents was drawn. Valid responses totalled 110. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed with Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) at a 0.05 significance level. The findings revealed that e-sourcing has a very strong, positive, and statistically significant relationship with product quality (r = 0.844, p < 0.05). Similarly, e-tendering demonstrated a strong positive and significant relationship with product quality (r = 0.742, p < 0.05). The study concludes that electronic supply management practices significantly enhance product quality outcomes in oil and gas firms. It recommends that firms intensify investment in digital supplier identification platforms and transparent online bidding systems to sustain competitive quality standards.