The organizational, technological, and cultural factors accounting for the diffusion of DOBIS/LIBIS in Saudi Arabian academic libraries

This study examined factors accounting for the diffusion of DOBIS/LIBIS using the framework provided by diffusion of innovation theory. Primarily, this study attempted to examine how three categories of independent variables—organizational, technological, and cultural—predict the dependent variables of DOBIS/LIBIS diffusion. The diffusion of DOBIS/LIBIS was studied in two dimensions: the breadth of DOBIS/LIBIS diffusion, and the depth of DOBIS/LIBIS diffusion. Library staff from nine academic libraries in Saudi Arabia were asked to answer a survey questionnaire about the diffusion of DOBIS/LIBIS in their library. Later, follow up interviews were conducted to collect more comprehensive information. The results of the Pearson Correlation tests for the organizational, technological, and cultural variables with breadth and depth of DOBIS/LIBIS indicated a positive correlation. All nine hypothesis were supported and were consistent with previous research. Overall, the research enhances our understanding of the current state of nine academic libraries in Saudi Arabia in terms of DOBIS/LIBIS diffusion.