As anticipated this is an area of considerable activity. Seventy two percent of the responding institutions are currently planning some development to their RIM systems.

This was one of the most complex questions in the survey and asked the respondents to select those business factors that are driving the decision to invest for those systems that are being updated etc. The list of factors was:

• Anticipated implications of the REF
• Compliance with other funding body requirements
• Improved service delivery for end users
• Efficiency gains to increase capacity
• Efficiency gains to reduce costs
• Required technical upgrade
• Esteem or other external factors

There were twenty eight responses to this question and respondents were allowed to select all factors that they viewed as relevant. Consequently the results for this question are somewhat complex and can be viewed both vertically and horizontally.

A composite view of the data shows clearly that the main drivers for change are 'compliance with the REF' and 'Improving Service to end users' while the principal areas of activity are Publications databases, Institutional Repositories and Integrated single RIM systems.

There were twenty one responses to this category.

A large majority of respondents cited the REF and improved service delivery to users as factors in selecting this development. A significant number also cited other funding body requirements.

There were fourteen responses to this category.

Again improved service delivery was a significant factor with efficiency gains as the other major factor. A significant number also cited other funding body requirements.

Only seven institutions of the sample are planning any activity on funding alerts.

Perhaps unsurprisingly the same factors are common here as for Grant Management. The relatively low level of responses is probably an indication of a high level of confidence within institutions that relevant calls can be identified without systemic support.

Eleven institutions from the sample are planning activity for research staff management.

The requirements of the REF and other funding body requirements along with improved service delivery were the major drivers for this system development.

Nine institutions of the sample are planning activity for KT/IP/Patent Management

For this system there are no clear common drivers with all factors being cited.

Eighteen institutions (forty five percent of the total sample) are planning developments for their Publication DB.

One hundred percent of those institutions in the sample are planning to develop their Publications DB as a result of the REF. Another major factor is to improve service delivery.

Eighteen institutions (forty five percent of the total sample) are planning developments for their Institutional repository.

As for Publication DBs the REF and Improved service delivery are the major drivers for development with IRs.

To determine the major factors driving change each factor is totalled across the various applications.

Overall the major drivers for change are clearly the REF and improved service delivery which between them account for fifty three percent. Esteem, technical upgrades and cost reduction are all relatively minor drivers.