The Impact of digital transformation on public sector supply chain resilience during emergencies and crises: a case of Zimbabwe’s Public Hospitals during COVID-19

Author

Tizirai, Shephard

Title

The Impact of digital transformation on public sector supply chain resilience during
emergencies and crises: a case of Zimbabwe’s Public Hospitals during COVID-19

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of digital transformation on the resilience of public hospital supply chains in Zimbabwe during emergencies and crises. A quantitative approach was selected, and 384 public healthcare institutions in Zimbabwe were provided with the same questionnaire. The sample was chosen by stratified random sampling to make sure that all provinces and hospital levels were included. The instrument was developed using a thorough and rigorous method to ensure its validity and reliability. A pilot study was done to check the questions’ clarity and how well they match the construct, which resulted in changes that enhanced the questionnaire’s accuracy. The tool’s content validity was confirmed by expert reviews from digital health professionals and logistics specialists. To check reliability, Cronbach’s alpha was used, and all constructs were above 0.7, which means they are internally consistent. The study used descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression to analyses the data. Results from Objective 1 indicate that public hospitals in Zimbabwe are at a moderate point in their digital transformation. The findings for Objective 2 suggest that hospital supply chain resilience is moderate. Even though institutions have basic plans for emergencies, they are not very flexible and coordination between departments is weak, which makes it harder for them to recover from disruptions and maintain their work. Objective 3 multiple regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant and positive relationship between digital transformation and supply chain resilience. In conclusion, the research shows that digital transformation supports supply chain resilience. The study recommends creating a national digital health strategy, invest in digital tools, train staff in using them, and move logistics decisions to local levels. Collaboration and interoperability among public health departments are necessary for achieving both scalability and sustainability. Based on policy implications, the Ministry of Health should give priority to digital transformation and include digital indicators in their national health monitoring systems. This means public hospitals should form lasting relationships with digital companies and start using flexible and real-time logistics systems. Limitations of the study include the cross-sectional nature of data, which limits causal inference, and reliance on self-reported data, which may introduce response bias. The study’s results cannot be applied to private hospitals and rural clinics. Future studies should use designs that last over time or combine different methods, examine private healthcare institutions, and analyze other factors that help healthcare systems become resilient, such as the quality of governance, leadership, and culture.

Date

June 2025

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Digital transformation

Public sector

Supply chain resilience

COVID-19

Crisis

Supervisor

Dr. F Chari