Investigating Big Data Analytics Readiness in Higher Education Using the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) Framework

This paper aims to conceptualise the big data analytics (BDA) readiness among staff in higher education institutions in Malaysia. BDA refers to the process of collecting, managing, processing, analysing and visualising huge amount of data. BDA readiness is important because skills and competencies in using big data for data-driven decision making is vital particularly in the era of 4IR. Based on a single case study approach, this paper investigates the BDA readiness of a national university in Malaysia. The study merges readiness theories and the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework constructs towards proposing a conceptual framework of how BDA readiness can be investigated in a higher education setting. Data from in-depth interviews with staff members of an institution of higher education is used to provide empirical evidence supporting the proposed conceptual framework.