Title: An empirical study of potentials of adoption of grid computing as a vehicle for tertiary institutions collaboration

Authors: Faith-Michael E. Uzoka; B.A. Akinnuwesi; S.O. Olabiyisi; Alabi Demilade

Addresses: Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, Mount Royal University, Calgary, Alberta, T3E 6K6, Canada. ' Department of Information Technology, Bells University of Technology, PMB 1015, Ota, Nigeria. ' Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, PMB 4000, Ogbomosho, Nigeria. ' Department of Information Technology, Bells University of Technology, PMB 1015, Ota, Nigeria

Abstract: Grid computing is emerging as the foundation upon which virtual collaborations can be built among large organisations with the aim of integrating and sharing computer resources, and thus offering performance and resource availability, which is unattainable by any single institutional technology resources. With the level of increase in the number of tertiary institutions in Africa, and the attendant shortage of basic information technology resources, the use of grid computing for collaboration purposes would contribute to the enhancement of research, course delivery, course management, and other aspects of institutional development. This paper carries out an empirical study of the possibility of adoption of grid computing as a vehicle for collaboration among tertiary institutions in Nigeria from the perspective of the potential adopters (users) of the systems. This study also proposes a design and implementation framework for adoption of this technology by the tertiary institutions. The key challenges that significantly affect the adoption of grid computing in tertiary institutions are mainly attitudinal (perceived need and perceived benefits). Infrastructural issues (facilitating conditions) also impose limitations on the ability of universities to implement grid computing.

Keywords: grid computing; adoption; perceived needs; perceived benefits; university collaboration; higher education; virtual collaboration; Africa; institutional development; Nigeria; infrastructure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2012.047530

International Journal of Business Information Systems, 2012 Vol.10 No.3, pp.245 - 263

Published online: 16 Aug 2014 *

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