This study focuses on Effectual collaborative research in Zimbabwean Universities through Grid Computing. This article seeks to propose a Grid computing architecture that will enable effective collaborative research among researchers in Zimbabwean universities. Zimbabwean universities employ different types of networks, from wired to wireless through the use of VSATs, and also rely extensively of optic fibre to support the huge demands placed on access to the internet by the institution users. Various brands of computers are connected to the network with different specifications. Grid computing environments can enable integration of instruments, displays, computational and information resources across many institutions that are geographically dispersed. Various organisations can share computing power, databases, and other tools securely across corporate, institutional and geographical boundaries without compromising local autonomy.

1. IJMBS Vol. 3, Issue 3, July - Sept 2013
w w w.ijmbs.com International Journal of Management & Business Studies 11
ISSN : 2230-9519 (Online) | ISSN : 2230-2463 (Print)
Effectual Collaborative Research in Zimbabwean
Universities Through Grid Computing
1
Maxmillan Giyane, 2
Tafadzwa Muchabaiwa, 3
Tinashe Gwendolyn Zhou, 4
Patrick Mamboko,
5
Felix Madzikanda, 6
Talent Musiiwa, 7
Amanda Nyasha Mutembedza,
8
Taurai George Rebanowako
1,3,4,5,6,7,8
Faculty of Science and Technology, Dept. of Computer Science and Information Systems,
Midlands State University, Zimbabwe
2
Faculty of Science and Technology, ICT and Electronics Dept., Chinhoyi University
of Technology, Zimbabwe
Abstract
This article seeks to propose a Grid computing architecture that
will enable effective collaborative research among researchers
in Zimbabwean universities. Zimbabwean universities employ
different types of networks, from wired to wireless through
the use of VSATs, and also rely extensively of optic fibre to
support the huge demands placed on access to the internet by
the institution users. Various brands of computers are connected
to the network with different specifications. Grid computing
environments can enable integration of instruments, displays,
computational and information resources across many institutions
that are geographically dispersed.Various organisations can share
computing power, databases, and other tools securely across
corporate, institutional and geographical boundaries without
compromising local autonomy.
Keywords
Grid Computing, Collaboration, Zimbabwean Universities, Grid
Architecture
I. Introduction
Collaborative research is a growing trend amongst researchers
globally and great strides have been made worldwide to achieve it
as well as to encourage the participation of the once marginalised
researchers in developing countries such as Zimbabwe [1]. There
existvariouscollaborationsoftwarepackageswhichhavechanged
the way documents, ideas, research results and rich media are
shared by researchers working together over geographic distances
by providing tools that aid communication, collaboration and
the process of problem solving [2]. Effective collaboration can
be achieved through Grid computing. According to [3], Grid
computing as a form of distributed computing whereby a super
virtualcomputeriscomposedofmanynetworkedlooselycoupled,
heterogeneous and geographically dispersed computers acting
in concert to perform very large tasks. This technology has been
applied to computationally intensive scientific, mathematical
and academic problems through volunteer computing. Grids are
usually used to solve scientific, technical or business problems
that require a great computer processing cycles and or need the
processing of large amounts of data.
According to [4], all grid types may be used for leveraging
research and educational activities, with either a computational
grid or a data grid being focused on the area of research, while a
network grid would better fit educational purposes. The virtual
interaction can be used for innovative research development,
to mentor students and to involve students and colleagues in
distributed projects [5]. Collaborative research in Zimbabwean
universities is primarily conducted by departmental teams who
share the same research field and university members tend to
collaborate amongst themselves as it is easier to collaborate face
to face than over longer distances [1]. Several African countries
have adopted the Grid technology, namely Senegal, SouthAfrica
and until recently, Zambia; as pointed out by [6], resulting in
improvedresearchoutputinseveraluniversitiesinthesecountries,
as well as improved exposure to current research trends around
the world.
II. Zimbabwe’s Current state
There currently exists no form of Grid computing in Zimbabwean
universities and this has in-turn affected the way in which
collaborative research is carried out among various Zimbabwean
universities, especially when research focuses on projects that
require relatively large computational resources, which are not
available in Zimbabwe mainly due to the huge costs attached to
acquiring such equipment as main frames or super computers [1].
[7] states that there exists’several research and collaboration tools
for students and researchers such as Zotero and Evernote. These
modern electronic research tools make the collection of research
dataandcollaborationanachievabletask.Theyhoweverrelyonthe
Cloudcomputingplatform,whichmeanstheyareexpensivetouse
especially for Zimbabwean researchers. Other collaborative tools
include voice and video conferencing services such as Google+
and Skype, which provide real time collaboration at lower cost
than most collaborative tools, but their functionality is however
limitedastheyarenoteffectiveinscientificresearchcollaborations
where computationally intensive researches are carried out. [1]
noted that Zimbabwean researchers currently collaborate mainly
through telephone and face to face interactions.
III. Collaborative research
There is no common definition for collaborative research but the
concept can be better understood by defining collaboration [8].
According to [9], collaboration is, “the ability to work jointly with
others or together especially in an intellectual endeavour”. [10]
state that collaboration is the ability for two or more self-directed
independententitiesworkingtogetherundernocontractinorderto
achieve a common goal that no entity could attain independently.
Researchersaroundtheworldhaveadoptedcollaborativeresearch
in coming up with solutions to problems and [11] allude that
the word collaboration has become synonymous with effective
scholarship and collegiality in the higher and tertiary education
sector.Hefurtherpointsoutthatproposalsforinstitutionalprojects
typically require interdepartmental collaboration. Researchers
in Zimbabwean universities are no exception to this worldwide
principle. In Zimbabwean universities researchers are using
traditional face-to-face discussions, e-mails, telephone calls,
social sites and exchange letters to collaborate. Technology has
continued to evolve, and allowing for newer and better ways of

2. IJMBS Vol. 3, Issue 3, July - Sept 2013 ISSN : 2230-9519 (Online) | ISSN : 2231-2463 (Print)
w w w.ijmbs.com12 International Journal of Management & Business Studies
collaborating between researchers across distances. [12] believes
thattheincreasingvolumeofdigitalinformationwhichhasbecome
part of the researcher’s work is making the task of capturing
that information, organizing it and eventually collaborating with
others more difficult. Today researchers’ around the world have
embracedtheconceptofcollaborationonvariousprojects,whether
scientific, social or statistical, by using the internet as their main
collaboration tool, through several products and services availed
to them on this collaboration enabling tool. The problems faced
by modern day researchers if unmanaged properly, will lead to
reduced productivity as the information will be too much and
unordered to make effective use of.
A. Effects of Collaborative Research
[13]pointsouttheaccesstoexpertiseasapotentialbenefitandalso
lists the possibility of access to resources, through collaboration
there is pooling of knowledge, experience and resources from
various experts in different areas of research. This enables the
exchange of ideas especially across various disciplines [13].With
collaborative research, [14] also alluded the possibility of pooling
expertise for complex problems, resulting in higher productivity
and access to funding. Due to collaborative research researchers
can focus on their own activities while learning new skills from
different individuals [15]. According to [2] collaboration does
not only come along with just positive effects but it comes along
with its problems. [15] argues that collaboration research can lead
the credit assignment problem to the participants, particularly
for scientific publications, thereby destroying researchers’moral.
Although collaboration encourages team-work and cooperation,
the size of the team, distance and scientific competition intensify
coordinationproblems[16].[17]discoveredargumentsemanating
from collaborating researchers with varying backgrounds
and viewpoints as a negative effect of collaborative research.
Familiarity among team members leads to low productivity in
the long run [18]. Most of these concerns can however be dealt
with if proper planning and coordination is done from the start
to the end of the project.
B. ICT and Collaborative Research
Collaboration amongst researchers is almost impossible in
developing countries such as Zimbabwe due to its high costs
and complexity [2]. The use of ICT enables collaboration among
researchers independent of time and location [19-20] advocate
for the use of Web 2.0 technologies for collaborative research.
Accordingto[21-22]scientificprojectcanuseWikonomics,Blogs
and Wikis in research groups. ICT is developing at a fast rate
but research collaboration is exposed to a number of barriers
[2], to start with, organizing researchers as well as the actual
research highly demand technology [18], some researchers are
quite resistant to change and believe in the traditional ways of
collaborating, [18] alludes that a new environment is created for
collaboration with regards to communication and researchers
need to adapt to this new setting, the same way new technology
is introduced, the new environment comes with trust, security
and confidentiality concerns [23] it may take some valuable time
before researchers gain a common ground.
A research collaboration tool that offers possible benefits for
effective collaboration research therefore is Grid computing.
IV. Grid Computing
[3] regarded as the fathers of Grid computing, define the grid as
a software infrastructure that enables flexible, secure coordinated
resource sharing among collections of individuals, institutions
and resources.This definition is comprehensive and encompasses
all possible uses of grids and sets the tone for the practical
collaboration benefits that can be achieved through the use of grid
computing. [24] contends that the use of Grid technology allows
researchers and industry experts to address problems too large to
efficiently study using conventional technology and enables new
applications and collaboration models. This view is supported by
[25], when he states that the current methodology of the grid field
is to leverage interconnected high – end systems to create virtual
systems capable of great performance scalability, high availability
and collaborative resource sharing. The issue of collaborative
resource sharing is greatly emphasized in Grid computing and
it is on this premise that this project basis its suggestion on as a
completetoolforachievingcollaborativeresearchinZimbabwean
universities.Thegridtechnologycanbebestusedbycollaborators
in Zimbabwean universities as it supports multiple disciplines
within tertiary education.
A. Proposed Architecture
There exists the linkage between the web portal and the Grids at
Zimbabwean universities. The proposed architecture depicted in
fig. 1, will enable collaboration between the institutions based on
the Grid computing technology. The Universities should have its
computers and peripherals linked by a local or wide area network.
The Grid computing environment is set up in which participating
computing elements have identities and their resources are pooled
together. The jobs can be submitted at any participating node
via the web portal, through the use of several web portal apps
resident on the grid web portal. The grid data will be maintained
by several databases. The Task Sequencer (TS) will coordinate
the communication of the grid computers and determines which
computers are responsible for what activity. There will also be
capability for users to track their history. National Grid computing
networks will however need to have some form of national high-
speed computer network backbone in the form of a fibre optic
cable. This network then allows any participating organisation to
connect its computing elements to other Grids on the network.
Fig. 1: Proposed Grid Computing Architecture

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ISSN : 2230-9519 (Online) | ISSN : 2230-2463 (Print)
Key
- Grid Router
G - Grid Switch
CR - Certificate Repository
C - Caching
PTH - Portal Task History
TS - Task Sequencer
CFT - Comprehensive File Transfer
GUSH - Grid User and State History
V. Conclusion
Technologyhasthepotentialtorevolutionisethewaycollaborative
research is conducted in Zimbabwe. Literature revealed that the
research depth of research in developing countries in general
and Zimbabwe in particular can be greatly improved through
Grid technology usage. There is great need to determining the
effectiveness of the proposed collaboration architecture provided
in this article.
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Maxmillan Giyane holds a Post
GraduateDiplomainTertiaryeducation
from Midlands State University, a
Bachelor of Science in Computer
Science Honours degree from the
MidlandsStateUniversityandaMaster
of Science degree in Information
Systems Management from Midlands
State University and is currently a
DoctoralStudentatUniversityofSouth
Africa (UNISA). He is a lecturer at
the Midlands State University, in the
Department of Computer Science and Information Systems.
TafadzwaMubaiwaholdsaBachelorof
Business Administration in Computer
and Management of Information
Systems from the Solusi University
and a Master Science degree in of
Information Systems Management
from Midlands State University. He
is a lecturer at the Chinhoyi State
University, in the ICT and Electronics
Department.
TinasheGwendolynZhouholdsaPost
GraduateDiplomainTertiaryeducation
from Midlands State University, a
Bachelor of Business Administration
in Computer and Management of
Information Systems from the Solusi
University and a Master of Science
degree in Information Systems
Management from Midlands State
University and is currently a Doctoral
Student at University of South Africa
(UNISA). She is a lecturer at the
MidlandsStateUniversity,intheDepartmentofComputerScience
and Information Systems.
Patrick Mamboko holds a Post
Graduate Diploma in Tertiary
education from Midlands State
University, a Bachelor of Commerce
in Accounting Honours degree from
the Midlands State University and a
Master of Commerce in Accounting
from Midlands State University. He
is a lecturer at the Midlands State
University, in the Department of
Computer Science and Information Systems.
FelexMadzikandaholdsaPostGraduate
Diploma in Tertiary education from
Midlands State University, a Bachelor
of Science in Information Systems
Honours degree from the Midlands
State University and a Master of
Science degree in Security and Forensic
ComputingfromDublinCityUniversity
and is currently a Doctoral Student at
University of South Africa (UNISA).
He is a lecturer at the Midlands State
University,intheDepartmentofComputerScienceandInformation
Systems.
Talent Musiiwa holds a Bachelor
of Science in Information Systems
Honours degree from the Midlands
State University and a Master of
Science degree in Information Systems
Management from Midlands State
University and is currently a Doctoral
Student at University of South Africa
(UNISA). He is a lecturer at the
Midlands State University, in the
Department of Computer Science and Information Systems.
Amanda Nyasha Mutembedza holds
a Post Graduate Diploma in Tertiary
education from Midlands State
University, a Bachelor of Science in
Information Systems Honours degree
from the Midlands State University
and a Master of Science degree in
Information Systems Management
from Midlands State University and
is currently a Doctoral Student at
University of South Africa (UNISA).
SheisalecturerattheMidlandsStateUniversity,intheDepartment
of Computer Science and Information Systems.
Taurai George Rebanowako holds
a Full Technological Certificate
(Telecommunications) from City
and Guilds of London Institute,
Certificate in Quality Assurance from
City and Guilds of London Institute,
a Bachelor of Science in Computer
Science Honours degree from the
MidlandsStateUniversityandaMaster
of Science degree in Information
Systems Management from Midlands
State University. He is a lecturer at the
MidlandsStateUniversity,intheDepartmentofComputerScience
and Information Systems.