A developed software agent-knowledge-assisted procurement management tool for retailing enterprise. A feasibility study

Pages54-75
Published date06 March 2019
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/VJIKMS-08-2018-0069
Date06 March 2019
AuthorBokolo Anthony Jnr
Subject MatterInformation & knowledge management,Knowledge management,Knowledge management systems
A developed software
agent-knowledge-assisted
procurement management tool
for retailing enterprise
A feasibility study
Bokolo Anthony Jnr
Faculty of Computer Systems and Software Engineering,
Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Kuantan, Malaysia
Abstract
Purpose This study aims to develop a software agent-knowledge procurement management tool to
address uncertaintiesfrom external and internal environments, such as record failure,slow logistics auditing
and distributiondelay toward improving procurement management in retailingenterprises.
Design/methodology/approach Quantitative methodology was used to collect data using a self-
administered survey fromrandomly selected procurement staffs, marketers and customers to measure their
perception regarding the feasibilityand acceptance of the implemented agent-knowledge-basedprocurement
managementtool.
Findings Results from empirical analysis reveal that the implemented tool facilitates collaborationand
interaction among buyers, sellers and procurement managers toward enhancing procurement managers
exibilityto handle unexpectedexceptions. In addition, results conrm the feasibilityof the implementedtool
in supporting procurement management toward handling inventory failure exception, which occurs in
traditional procurement approaches.Moreover, descriptive results from user acceptance test verify that the
tool was acceptedby the respondents.
Research limitations/implications The limitation of this study is that the implemented tool is
evaluated usingdata collected from respondents in Malaysia retailingenterprise only; thus, the results cannot
be generalized to other enterprisesand country. In addition, research implications from this study design a
methodological and comprehensivesoftware agent-knowledge-based model that support buyers, sellers and
procurementmanagers with information to facilitate buying and sellingoperations.
Practical implications Practically,the designed software agent-knowledge-basedmodel describes how
software agents collaboratewith each other to facilitate procurement tasks and also use the knowledge base
in the implemented toolto provide information sharing platform thatmanages the dynamics of procurement
operations.
Social implications This research integrates software agents which are autonomous programs that
carryout pre-dened task on behalf of end users. Socially, this study would be useful for procurement
managersin developing mechanisms for instilling insightsin retailing operations.
Originality/value This research is among the rsttoattempttodevelopasoftwareagent-
knowledge-based model to support procurement management in the retailing enterprise domain. It
contributes to promote e-procurement practices by implementing a software agent-knowledge-oriented
tool to address uncertainties experienced in retailing enterprise. It is envisaged that this study will
provide basis for future research into e-procurement practices for retailing businesses in Malaysia and
beyond.
Keywords Applied knowledge management, Knowledge base, Information systems,
Information management, Knowledge management, Knowledge management systems
Paper type Technical paper
VJIKMS
49,1
54
Received26 August 2018
Revised20 November 2018
Accepted16 December 2018
VINEJournal of Information and
KnowledgeManagement Systems
Vol.49 No. 1, 2019
pp. 54-75
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2059-5891
DOI 10.1108/VJIKMS-08-2018-0069
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2059-5891.htm
1. Introduction
Procurement operations have been an important part of retailing operations in facilitating
supply chain executives to manage product sales for competitive gain toward maintaining
enterprise resources (Alvarez-Rodríguez et al.,2014). Thus, procurement management
through the internet also known as e-procurement has become an imperative area for
businesses (Dzeng and Wang, 2017). Procurement management also involves operations
such as denition of product requirements,search and selection for products by buyers (Leu
et al.,2015). As such, enterprises utilize procurement management tools for reducing
administrative costs, decreasing order fulllment cycle time, managing inventory and
lowering price spent for goods (Westerski et al.,2015). In retailing enterprises, procurement
managers, sellers and buyers interaction forms the basis for a successful procurement
operation (Sun et al., 2012). However, the deployment of effective procurement in enterprise
encounters various issues such assharply increased demand, delivery delay and inventory
failure. Hence, there is need for a method that can handle exception in procurement
management in enterprises(Liu et al.,2011).
Moreover, the method should be able to support procurement managers, sellers and
buyers should in carrying out procurement related operations such as searching,
negotiating, supplier selection, contracting, monitoring, and exception handling (Leu
et al., 2015). Nonetheless, existing approaches provide inadequate support in managing
inventory operations for procurement managers, sellers and buyers to enhance the
exibility to handle unexpected exceptions, thus leading to unsuccessful procurement
management (Westerski et al., 2015). Although, existing procurement approaches have
demonstrated their ability to manage procurement operations in retailing enterprise,
there are fewer autonomous approaches that offer adequate support to provide
information accessible through the web (Dhaouadi et al., 2014). Similarly, current
approaches do not capture knowledge of retailing enterprise in enhancing business
operations in which an effective procurement initiative can be generated based on
usersneeds (Alvarez-Rodríguez et al., 2014).
Accordingly, over the years several techniques such as Analytical Hierarchy Process
(AHP) (Alvarez-Rodríguez et al.,2014), ontology (Dhaouadi et al.,2014;Sarkar and Kundu,
2007), case-based reasoning(Jahani et al., 2012), agents (Sun et al.,2012;Liu et al., 2011) have
been integrated to facilitate procurement operations. The concept of agenthas become
signicant in computerscience, where software agents are autonomous entities thatoperate
autonomously without the direct intervention of humans (Liu et al., 2011). These agents can
co-operate with other agents to achieve certain objectives (Anthony et al.,2017). Besides,
agents are reactivity they can perceive their environment and make a timely response to
changes that occur (Sun et al., 2012). However, only a few studies have integrated software
agent-based knowledge for supporting procurement operations in retailing enterprise
domain. Therefore,this study aims to address the following research questions:
RQ1. What are the similar existing studies carried out toward improving procurement
management in enterprises?
RQ2. How software agents can be developed to facilitate procurement management
operations in enterprises?
RQ3. How to evaluate the feasibility and acceptanceof the implemented software agent-
knowledge procurementtool?
Management
tool for
retailing
enterprise
55

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