Grid computing adoptability model for collaborative research in universities

Abstract

Use of grid computing as a distributed computing paradigm for collaborative research in universities cannot be over emphasized. It is a technology which provides a platform on which computing resources from heterogeneous systems are brought together as needed by the users. Collaborating researchers who require huge computing resources can use this technology to do their work. A number of universities are in the process of adopting this technology however appropriate model to make the process easily achievable in developing countries’ context is lacking. This study focused on developing grid computing adoption model for collaborative research in Universities in developing countries. The study had four objectives; to find out how universities that participated in UNESCO-HP brain gain and HP Catalyst initiatives engaged in collaborative research, to determine the extent of grid adoption in the selected universities, to evaluate critical success factors for adoptability of grid computing, and, to develop grid adoptability model for collaborative research. The study based on positivist philosophy adopted mixed methodology and survey design. The population targeted was the universities and research institution mainly in developing countries. The researcher used East Africa as a cluster zone and identified four Universities that participated in UNESCO-HP initiatives as a sample; University of Nairobi (UoN) and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) in Kenya, Makerere University (MU) and Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Uganda. The instruments used were structured questionnaires and interview guides. In this paper, we present results of the first two objectives of the study.