A step towards the adoption of data-exchange standards: a UK defence community case study

A review of the literature shows that there is very limited empirical research into the factors that impact the adoption ofISO 10303, the Standardfor the Exchange ofProduct Data (STEP). This means that academics and practitioners devoted to the ongoing development and use of STEP, still lack a significant body of evidence with regards to the factors that influence the adoption of STEP. This paper seeks to identify factors that have impacted the adoption of STEP within the UK defence community. The analysis in this paper is based on Diffusion ofInnovation (DOI) Theory and the theory surrounding the Economics of Standards. Using a case study approach the results indicate that several DOI and economic factors have impacted the adoption of STEP. These include complexity, relative advantage, compatibility, pricing of the standard, opinion leaders and change agents, network effects, switching costs, sponsorship and innovative contracting. It is envisioned that these results will make a contribution towards understanding the factors and barriers critical to the adoption of data-exchange standards like STEP.