The Role Of Information Communication Technology On Inventory Management Case Study Of Joint Medical Stores, Nsambya, Kampala

TABLE OF CONTENT

DECLARATION ............................................................................................. ii

APPROVAL .......................................................................................... iii

DEDICATION .................................................................................................. iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .......................................................................................... v

TABLE OF CONTENT ........................................................................................ vi

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................... vii

CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................. 1

INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1

1.1 Statement of the problem ................................................................................................... 2

1.2 Purpose of the study ......................................................................................... 2

1.3 Objectives ................................................................................................... 2

The study was guided by the following objectives .................................................................. 2

1.4 Research questions ............................................................................................ 2

1.5 Scope of the study .......................................................................................... 2

1.5.0 Area scope ................................................................................................... 3

1.5 .1 Subject scope ............................................................................................. 3

1.6 Significance of the study ................................................................................................... 3

CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................... 5

LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................... 5

2.1 The role ofICT on invent01y management ....................................................................... 5

2.2. ICT tools used in inventory management.. ....................................................................... 6

2.2.0 Bar coding systems ............................................................................................ 6

2.2.1 Radio Frequency identification ...................................................................................... 6

2.2.2 Mate1ial requirement planning ............................................................................ : .......... 7

2.2.3 Manufactu1ing Resource planning .................................................................................. 7

2.2.4 Radio data transmission .................................................................................................. 7

2.3 PROBLEMS FACED IN INVENTORY MANAGEMENT USING ICT, ....................... 7

VI

CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................ 9

METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 9

3.0 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 9

3. I Research design ............................................................................................... 9

3 .4 Sampling procedure ............................................................................................ 9

3 .3 Sample size ................................................................................................. 9

3.5 Sources of data ................................................................................................ 9

3.6 Research instruments .................................................................................. ,. ....... 10

3.6.1 Questionnaire .............................................................................................. 10

3.6.2 Interviews ............................................................................................... 10

3.6.3 Observation ................................................................................................. IO

3. 7 Problem expected in the study ......................................................................................... IO

CHAPTER FOUR ...... : .............................................................................. 13

4.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 11

CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................. 21

SUMMARY OF MAJOR FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 21

5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 21

5.2 Summaryoffinding ......................................................................................... 21

5 .3 Conclusion ................................................................................................. 22

5.4 Recommendations ........................................................................................... 22

5 .5 Areas for further research ................................................................................................ 23

REFERENCE ........................................................................................... 25

APPENDICES .......................................................................................... 27

APPENDIX A .............................................................................................. 27

RESEACH QUESTIONNAIRE TO STAFF OF JOINT MEDICAL STORES ................... 27

APPENDIX B: ........................................................................................... 30

TIME FRAME OF THE STUDY ......................................................................................... 30

ABSTRACT

This report is a result of an academic research entitled "the role of Information Communication Technology on inventory in Joint Medical Stores, Nsambya, Kampala". The main purpose of this study was aimed at examining a clear understanding on the role of ICT on inventory management. The study was guided by the three research questions :

i) What are the roles of ICT in inventory management?

ii) How can ICT Tools be used in inventory management?

iii) What are the problems faced by the inventory management while using ICT?

The study chose to take all the members in the study population to represent the sample size since the number in the study population was manageable. Participants were selected

through purposive sampling. Questiom1aires, interviews were used in collecting both primary and secondary data.

The findings showed that there was a strong agreement that easy inventory management is dependent on the technological tools. It was discovered that there are benefits ofICT tools

in invent01y management in Joint Medical Stores such as staff reduction, more efficient inventory controls systems, shorter cycles/faster delivery times, improved communication

between depaiiments through the internet and at a frequency of helps in cost saving for the organization. The study showed that technological integration is still a challenging factor which negatively affects the inventory management of Joint Medical Stores.The researcher concluded that the use of ICT has a profound effect on the organization performai1ce. It rec01mnends that Joint Medical Stores should establish better ways of mairnging information communication and technology structures ai1d enforce serious restrictions from casual users.