From Libraries to Data‑Driven Institutions: A Process‑Based Model of Business Intelligence Adoption in Malaysian Academic Libraries

Abstract

This study develops a process-oriented conceptual model of Business Intelligence (BI) adoption in academic libraries by explaining how institutional readiness, behavioural intention, system usage, operational practices, and organisational outcomes are structurally connected. Existing research on BI adoption in libraries remains fragmented, often focusing on determinants without explaining how adoption is translated into organisational value. Drawing on the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), this study integrates these perspectives into a unified analytical structure that captures the progression of adoption from institutional conditions to behavioural enactment and operational impact. The study advances three contributions. First, it reframes BI adoption as a process of capability development rather than a discrete acceptance outcome. Second, it introduces an operationalisation stage that explains how system usage is translated into analytical practices such as data-driven decision-making, real-time monitoring, and user engagement. Third, it provides a context-specific conceptual foundation for understanding academic libraries as data-driven institutional actors. The model offers a structured basis for future empirical validation and strengthens theoretical explanations of technology adoption in knowledge-intensive environments.