Management Information Systems: Grid Computing - Essay Example

With its help, organizations can utilize underused CPU capabilities within the network, avoid unbalanced capabilities, and virtually lift the constraints imposed by the capability of a particular CPU. Grid computing becomes an access gate to on-demand computing meaning the processing and storage capacity is used when it is needed. It allows processing large workloads more quickly without "stealing" the capacity from other viable tasks running simultaneously. Grid Computing Info Center compares the underlying idea of grid computing to an electric power network (grid) where power generators are distributed, but the users can access electric power without bothering about the source of energy and its location (Grid Computing Info Center n/p).

The major providers of grid computing software include IBM, Oracle, Intel, Infosys, SAS, and Sun Gridware. Several companies specializing in grid computing software offer their solutions to a wide range of corporations as well: Grid Infrastructure, Gridwise Tech, Gridwell, Grid systems, etc. (Grid Computing Info Center n/p). Often the software offers are adapted to suit the needs of a particular industry or company. For instance, IBM's Grid and Grow solutions offer organizations a wide variety of customized platforms.

The software is tailored to the individual needs of each of the nine key industries and five core business and technology areas to achieve higher customer satisfaction. Grid computing is extensively useful in computation-intensive areas: research and development, database management, and analytics, just to name a few. For example, hundreds of engineers at Pratt & Whitney use grid computing to perform complex computations that stimulate airflow through jet engines and test stress on materials, running their jobs on a computational "grid" consisting of 8,000 computer chips inside 5,000 workstations in three different cities (Ricadela cited in Laundon and Laundon).

Grid computing is subject to network externalities meaning that the larger the network gets, the more beneficial it is for the participants. Most computers in the grid have underused CPU capacity because, according to numerous researchers, most companies and individuals use less than 25 percent of the available processing capacity (Laundon and Laundon 192). Another example of the successful implementation of grid computing is the World Community Grid initiative launched by one of the leading providers of grid computing software, the IBM Corporation.

The voluntary-based grid allows scientific research institutions and expert groups to streamline complex computations aimed at resolution of the contemporary scientific challenges and benefiting the community. The undergoing endeavors include the FightAIDS@Home project, the Human Proteome project, and many more. The IBM grid has proven to be effective. For instance, in 2003, with grid computing, in less than three months scientists identified 44 potential treatments to fight the deadly smallpox disease.

Without the grid, the work would have taken more than one year to complete. (IBM World Community Grid n/p)