Factors influencing the perceived timeline to adopt XBRL amongst public listed companies in Malaysia

Technology development has impacted the way businesses disseminate information to its stakeholders. eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) offers the ability to exchange business and financial information globally through a digitalized global standard language which is part of the global integrated reporting. There are limited studies on XBRL and enormous opportunities for further research globally, as well as in Malaysia. There have been studies on awareness and intention to adopt XBRLbased digital reporting, but no study has been conducted to understand the internal and external factors that would drive the perceived timeline to adopt XBRL amongst Public Listed Companies (PLC) in Malaysia. The goal of this study is in line with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia (SSM))’s intent to promote the voluntary adoption of XBRL in 2018 and upcoming mandates by other agencies. The proposed perceived timeline on XBRL adoption model was adapted from a previous study which represents an all-inclusive study at firm level as it combines the internal and external variables from the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) Model, Technology, Organization and Environment (TOE) Framework (1990) and Iacovou et al. (1995) Model. The model was tested with data collected from 256 executives and managers of PLCs in Peninsular Malaysia. The findings of the study demonstrates that internal factors such as management characteristics (Management Innovativeness and Management Knowledge) and organisational characteristic (Internet Knowledge) along with external environmental factor (External Pressure) would influence the perceived timeline for XBRL adoption amongst Malaysian PLCs. The results support the current body of knowledge on the internal and external determinants influencing the perceived timeline of XBRL adoption and enable sufficient measures to be taken by authorities to increase the XBRL Adoption readiness amongst PLCs in Malaysia. The findings will prepare PLCs for a successful XBRL implementation before it is mandated in Malaysi