Predicting the Benefits, Barriers, and Bridges for USAF Expeditionary Combat Support System Implementation

The United States Air Force (USAF) is making a bold move to replace over 400 logistics information systems with one enterprise-wide information system. This study performs an early assessment of the USAF's Expeditionary Combat Support System's (ECSS) ability to meet USAF logistics needs by predicting the benefits, barriers, and bridges of the ECSS system implementation. The research questions were answered in the scope of aircraft scheduled maintenance, through a comprehensive literature review and the use of the Delphi technique. This study determines that the ECSS system will meet the needs of USAF logistics, and that the benefits of implementing the system will far outweigh the barriers to its successful implementation. Finally, the research concludes that in order for the ECSS system to succeed, the USAF must provide strong leadership support for the system implementation, be fully dedicated to change management strategies, allow no changes in requirements for the system during the implementation, and implement the system on a phased schedule.