Saiful Azam
Dennis Taylor
School of Accounting
RMIT University, Australia

 

A new technology based on the XBRL protocol that digitally links accounting information systems and financial/compliance reporting of businesses to regulatory and other government agencies went ‘live’ in Australia on 1 July 2010. Known as the standard business reporting (SBR) facility, it was initiated by the Australian Treasury with heavy promotion of technological benefits to business. However, to date, voluntary adoption (of SBR) by businesses has been slow. Why have businesses been reluctant to adopt this technological innovation? This study provides the result of a survey on CFOs, working for top 500 listed Australian companies, concerning the intention of their companies to adopt SBR. Drawing on notable adoption theories, this study focuses on factors of technological compatibility, complexity and perceived relative advantage affecting SBR adoption. The study finds that the technology attributes of SBR do not have a significant influence on CFOs in shaping their intention to adopt SBR. Implications of the results for the successful take up of this important government-driven financial and compliance reporting innovation are discussed.

Keywords: Adoption of innovation, technology compatibility, financial reporting, compliance, standard business reporting, XBRL