A case analysis of factors affecting the adoption of grid technology by universities

Grid computing is emerging as the foundation upon which virtual collaborations can be built among large organizations with the aim of integrating and sharing computer resources, and thus offering performance speed 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 lack 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 uncovers challenges to the adoption of grid 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.