This study explores the factors influencing the purchase decision in innovation adoption in the public sector. Qualitative data, using in-depth, semi-structured interviews were gathered from IT professionals at a post-secondary institution who regularly make purchase decisions. Participants were found to use a staged approach for purchase decisions in innovation adoption. Purchase op-tions that did not meet the minimum requirements set out by the non-compensatory factors (budget, redundancy, organizational strategy, life expectancy, time, compatibility, and reputable vendor) were immediately eliminated. The remaining options were evaluated by weighted adding factors (complexity, social pressure, IT support, price, and perceived innovation characteristics) to obtain an overall value for each option. The option with the highest overall value was then se-lected. These findings are consistent with the classic decision strategies in the consumer choice literature. The significant contribution of this research project is a more comprehensive under-standing of the different factors and their level of impact on purchase decisions in innovation adoption. Sales personnel can use these findings to explain adoption and non-adoption of an in-novation. Innovations and their corresponding marketing strategy can be developed accordingly to avoid non-adoption.