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This review provides a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the application of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) for novice researchers. This is a conceptual and literature-based review that focuses on best practices and PLS-SEM literature. It highlights the rationale for using PLS-SEM, sample size, software tools, and essential metrics in PLS-SEM analysis. Drawing on best practices and recent literature, the review offers a framework for conducting and reporting PLS-SEM analysis. The review presents essential such as outer loadings, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, average variance extracted (AVE), composite reliability, cross-loadings, Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio of correlations (HTMT), the Fornell-Larcker criterion, variance inflation factor (VIF), and redundancy analysis. Moreover, for more consistent results, the paper emphasizes on researchers to employ 10,000 bootstrap subsamples and Bias-corrected and accelerated (BCa) bootstrap in assessing the structural model. Insights regarding path coefficients, p-values, R-square (R2), f-square (f2), and Q-square (Q2),  are also presented. Furthermore, the review underscores the trade-off between predictive power and model fit when applying PLS-SEM. The presented practical insights alert novice researchers in avoiding common pitfalls and enhance the methodological rigor of empirical research that utilizes PLS-SEM. This step-by-step guide supports early-career researchers and contributes to the ongoing debates on improving methodological clarity and transparency.

This article aims to assess the direct and indirect influence of suppliers' and buyers' behavioral intention on the performance of public procurement in Tanzania. This is accomplished by analyzing their utilization of the e-procurement system, using an adapted rendition of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. The study used an explanatory cross-sectional survey research design and implemented a stratified sampling method to choose a sample of 312 participants, comprising of both customers and providers. The data collecting process included administering a questionnaire consisting of closed-ended questions and conducting a thorough examination of pertinent documents. The gathered data was then examined using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling, with the aid of SmartPLS 4 software. The findings indicate that behavioral intention has a favorable, direct, and indirect impact on the performance of public procurement. The research suggests that the effectiveness of public procurement is indirectly impacted by the behavioral inclination of both buyers and suppliers to use the e-procurement system. Moreover, the efficiency of the e-procurement system is significantly impacted by the use patterns of both purchasers and vendors. Therefore, it is recommended that developing countries, such as Tanzania, should take into account the behavioral intention and usage behavior of both buyers and suppliers before, during, and after the adoption of an e-procurement system.  

The existing body of literature on e-procurement adoption has not adequately predicted the direct and indirect impact of performance expectancy and effort expectancy on the usage behavior of e-procurement system through the attitude of users. This paper focuses on analyzing the direct and indirect effects of various factors that influence the usage behavior of e-procurement systems in Tanzania. The paper was guided by the Social Information Processing (SIP) theory, the Affect Infusion Model (AIM), and the modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The paper also used a deductive perspective and an explanatory cross-sectional survey research approach. A stratified sampling technique was used to identify 383 respondents (buyers and suppliers) that use the e-procurement system. Data gathering was conducted via the use of a documentary review and questionnaire. Inferential statistical analysis was conducted using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling, with the assistance of SmartPLS 4 software. The results indicate that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and attitude significantly influence positively the usage behavior of the e-procurement system (p value<0.05). The paper finds that the behavior of buyers and suppliers, after the adoption of an e-procurement system, is indirectly impacted by the system's performance expectancy and effort expectancy, via their positive attitudes. The results of this study confirm the usefulness of the proposed research model in directing management decision-making, particularly in determining the importance of investment considerations when implementing or improving an e-procurement system.

The adoption of e-procurement systems in developing countries is progressing slowly due to several challenges and barriers. Likewise, the adoption of e-procurement systems has been extensively studied, with research focusing on direct effects of factors like transparency and compatibility. This research aimed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of relative advantage and performance expectancy on the adoption of e-procurement systems by combining components from the Technology, Organization, and Environment model with a modified Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology. This was accomplished by analyzing the function of attitude as a mediator and the legal framework as a moderator in the suggested study model. This study used a cross-sectional survey research design, together with a stratified sampling technique, to acquire a sample size of 367 respondents. The data were acquired via the distribution of questionnaires and the examination of relevant documents. The collected data underwent descriptive analysis using IBM SPSS statistics version 26, and inferential analysis was performed using PLS-SEM with the assistance of SmartPLS 4 software. The study's results validate a significant statistical moderating impact of the legal framework on the relationship between performance expectancy and attitude towards adoption of e-procurement system. On the other hand, adoption of e-procurement system is impacted by performance expectancy and relative advantage, which have both direct and indirect significances. Attitudes have a direct impact on the adoption of e-procurement system. This study proposes that future research should include respondents from several countries to improve the applicability of the suggested model.