DIGITAL LEADERSHIP AS A STRATEGIC ENABLER OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT QUALITY: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW
TL;DR
The synthesis identifies five core governance mechanisms through which digital leadership improves procurement quality that are relevant for institutional actors such as the Procurement Working Unit, Selection Working Groups, and procurement officials operating within highly regulated digital systems.
Abstract
Digital transformation has reshaped public procurement through e-procurement platforms, electronic catalogs, and integrated digital workflows. However, procurement quality depends not only on technology but also on leadership capabilities to drive data-driven decisions, collaboration, risk management, and accountable governance. This study synthesizes the literature on the relationship between digital leadership and public procurement quality and develops a conceptual framework that explains the governance mechanisms by which digital leadership enhances procurement outcomes. A Systematic Literature Review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Peer-reviewed journal articles and selected conference proceedings published between 2015 and 2025 were retrieved from Scopus, ScienceDirect, Emerald Insight, and Google Scholar. After rigorous screening, 43 studies were included for thematic synthesis. The synthesis identifies five core governance mechanisms through which digital leadership improves procurement quality: (1) strengthening digital literacy and strategic direction, (2) enabling data-driven procurement decisions, (3) enhancing transparency and auditability, (4) fostering collaborative coordination among procurement actors, and (5) supporting value for money risk governance. These mechanisms are relevant for institutional actors such as the Procurement Working Unit, Selection Working Groups, and procurement officials operating within highly regulated digital systems. The novelty lies in integrating digital leadership in the public sector and public procurement quality governance into a unified conceptual framework. Practically, the findings highlight the need to institutionalize digital leadership development, data-driven training, and accountable digital documentation. Theoretically, the framework provides a foundation for future empirical testing and leadership capacity-building beyond technological competence.