CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION

1.1.1 HARDWARE MAINTENANCE

Across any platform, be it a mainframe system, minicomputer or personal computer, the concept

and implementation of computer hardware maintenance is often viewed by IS (Information

System) management as a necessary evil. It is necessary since any piece of DP (Dynamic

Positioning) equipment, by the very nature of it being a mechanical or electrical device, has a mean

time to failure (MTF) rating associated with each of its component parts (Rood, 1996).

Preventative maintenance plays a role as well. Many medium and large companies rely on

computer maintenance to ensure that their equipment is able to cope with demand. (Steers, 2004).

Computer hardware maintenance involves taking care of the computer’s physical components,

such as its keyboard, hard drive and internal CD or DVD drives. Cleaning the computer, keeping

its fans free from dust, and defragmenting its hard drives regularly are all parts of a computer

hardware maintenance program. Maintaining hardware helps to extend the computer’s lifespan,

prevent wear and tear, and keeps the system functioning smoothly. Keeping computers away from

dust and dirt, keeping them clean and avoiding extreme temperature changes all help to maintain

hardware. Liquids should be kept away from the computer, and solvents, in addition to a soft cloth

can be used to clean the computer system regularly (Burns, 2015).

1.1.2 SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

Software development, on the other hand, involves creating a computer program, or set of

programs to perform tasks; from keeping track of inventory and billing customers, to maintaining

accounts, speeding up business processes and, in fact, even improving applications' effectiveness.

1
Unlike vanilla programming, software development involves higher levels of responsibility

(particularly for requirement capturing and testing).

The Software Development industry has seen a lot of changes in a relative short period of time.

From both sides of the fence – customers looking for software solutions, and the resource pool of

application development talent – there has been considerable upheaval over the last few years.

New architectures, myriad platform choices, increased functionality expectations, and

requirements to protect against constantly evolving security threats, are some of the challenges

faced by software development practitioners, or developers. In today’s global marketplace, where

outsourcing of application development is commonplace, the software developer needs to prove

far more than his ability at programming. His ability to collaborate, his awareness of need for

integration with other enterprise components, his familiarity with compliance issues and various

other factors contribute towards his ability to land contracts. (Application Development (AppDev)

Defined and Explained, 2007).

1.2 DEFINITION OF KEY CONCEPTS

1.2.1 COMPUTER
A computer is any device or working system which collects or receives data through its input

components, stores that data in its storage units, processes that data into information using its

processor - through the use of instructions already stored in the system’s memory, and gives out

the processed information to the external environment or computer user through its output units.

1.2.2 HARDWARE
Hardware is the physical and invariable component of the computer system through which the

system interacts with its external environment/computer user, receiving data from it or giving out

2
processed information to it. It is invariable because it is fixed and its values do not change while

the computer system is running.

1.2.3 SOFTWARE
Software is the variable part of the computer system containing the data and the instructions with

which the computer system functions and processes that data. It is referred to as ‘variable’ because

the instructions sometimes changes with reference to the data.

1.2.4 COMPUTER USERS

Computer users are the people/individuals who use, interpret and interact with the computer

system. These individuals range from the veteran computer professionals: system analysts,

software developers, and system administrators etc. who perform advanced operations on the

computer to the basic novices who use the computer for everyday functioning.

1.2.5 PROGRAM
A program is a set of instructions which perform a specific task. They are usually written in codes

from computer programming languages and translated into machine language, which the computer

understands and executes.

1.2.6 PROGRAMMING
Programming is the process of writing codes into programs through the use of computer

programming languages.

1.2.7 CLONING
Cloning is the process of building a system to imitate another functioning system. This is usually

carried out by joining different parts, builds and components manufactured by different computer

3
manufacturing companies. Cloning is usually applied in desktop computers, mainly because their

parts are usually distinguishable and separately connected through cables; unlike laptop computers

and notebooks which only have an onboard connection.

1.2.8 HARDWARE MAINTENANCE

Computer hardware maintenance deals with repairing and replacing broken and failing computer

hardware. (Steers, 2004).

1.2.9 SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

Software development, also referred to as software process or application development is the

process of computer programming, documenting, testing, and bug fixing involved in creating and

maintaining applications and frameworks resulting in a software product usually in a planned and

structured process, from the conception of the desired software through to the final manifestation

of the software. (Application Development (AppDev) Defined and Explained, 2007).

1.2.10 COMPUTER-AIDED SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

Computer-aided software engineering (CASE), in the field of software engineering, is the

scientific application of a set of software tools and methods to the development of software which

results in high-quality, defect-free, and maintainable software products. (Kuhn, 1989).

1.2.11 MAINTENANCE
Maintenance is associated with both the hardware and software components of the computer

system. Maintenance is the process of keeping an item/device in an actively functioning state,

usually to achieve optimum results from the item/device.

4
1.2.12 SERVICING
Servicing, mainly associated with computer hardware, includes check-ups, repairs, and updating

of all physical components of the computer system to optimal levels i.e. the state it is supposed to

function at its best.

1.2.13 TROUBLESHOOTING
Troubleshooting can be defined as the process of detecting and removing faults in computer

hardware or bugs in computer software. Once problems are detected in the computer system, they

are sorted out immediately. There are two types of troubleshooting, namely:

a. Hardware troubleshooting, and

b. Software troubleshooting

1.3 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF HARDWARE

MAINTENANCE AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF HARDWARE MAINTENANCE

It can be said that hardware maintenance started at the same time that computer hardware itself

were being manufactured and produced. Computer hardware, like every other mechanical or

electrical device developed faults; and service companies began to spring up and rise to the

challenge. The service companies in charge of hardware maintenance and repair in turn produced

support services for hardware, including periodic maintenance, fault repair – for when hardware

faults do come up, etc.

5
Several tools were produced to address the problems encountered by computer hardware, tools

which usually were used for other mechanical/electrical devices. The tools were upgraded and up-

fitted to properly tackle the issues affecting computer hardware.

Two main types of companies operated in the computer maintenance and repair industry: Third-

Party Maintenance (TPM) companies, which performed service contracts on equipment from

various manufacturers; and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), which both manufactured

and serviced computers and peripheral equipment. This distinction was less pronounced in reality,

however, because OEMs often subcontracted their service agreements to either affiliated or

unaffiliated Third-Party Maintenance firms.

The computer maintenance and repair industry grew dramatically in the 1980s and 1990s as

computer sales skyrocketed. From total shipments of less than 2,000 units and $600 million in

1960, the computer industry topped 900,000 units and $16 billion by 1980, and reached 7 million

units and $44 billion by 1990. By 2003, this number was expected to double to more than 15

million units annually. This rapid growth, along with a shift from mainframes to PCs, introduced

opportunities for small, independent TPM companies to compete against the large OEMs.

Nonetheless, in the late 1990s, Original Equipment Manufacturers companies were reported to

hold as much as 80 percent of the maintenance and repair market in some categories, such as high-

end system and mainframe services.

Leading OEM firms included many of the United States’ best-known technology companies, such

as IBM Corp., Sun Microsystems, Compaq, Electronic Data Systems, and AT&T Corp. While the

majority of Third-Party Maintenance firms were smaller local and regional providers, several

service firms operated on the national level, including the Cerplex Group, ENTEX Information

Services Inc., and Inacom Corp.

6
The U.S. Census Bureau estimated revenues specific to this industry at $15.4 billion by the late

1990s, up more than 50 percent from $7 billion in 1990. The total U.S. market for services

performed by this industry was estimated at much more—$62 billion for 1998. Less than one-

quarter of this market, however, was served by firms primarily engaged in computer maintenance

and repair. Instead, the bulk of maintenance and repair revenues were generated by larger,

diversified companies like IBM and AT&T that had a presence in many industries. The New York

Times reported that the lucrative PC segment of the computer repair market was worth $28 billion

alone in 1995, based on a Dataquest study, and was expected to grow at 14 percent annually in the

late 1990s. Within the PC segment, the home PC repair market was considered an emerging—but

largely untapped, according to Dataquest—customer base for this traditionally business-focused

service industry.

As demand for computer maintenance and repair surged in the 1980s and 1990s, Third-Party

Maintenance companies developed new strategies to address the lower cost and increased

reliability of computer hardware. First, TPM firms reduced repair time by replacing components

instead of repairing them. Next, they developed remote diagnostic software to minimize the need

for costly on-site service. Finally, they expanded their services to include installation and software

maintenance, including virus protection, Internet connectivity, and site-authoring services by the

late 1990s.

OEMs also changed their strategies as computers became increasingly similar. They began to

differentiate their products by enhancing their maintenance services. Many even started supporting

competitors' equipment. As the industry entered the late 1990s, several discount or "clone"

manufacturers reduced their support and forced customers to handle their own maintenance. This

provided a new opportunity for TPM firms, which offered disaster-recovery services and started

7
supporting software and multimedia to satisfy more demanding customers. At the same time,

corporate emphasis on outsourcing—the practice of hiring external firms to perform specialized

functions formerly done in-house—translated into new business for TPM providers. Cerplex, for

example, actively branded itself as an outsourcing solution.

"The increasing complexity of software and interactive multimedia made hardware

troubleshooting a more complex task that required a different kind of TPM," said David Glascock,

president of the North American Computer Service Association (NACSA). As computer and

communication technologies merged in the late 1990s, Glascock believed that TPM companies

would expand their services to include supporting high-definition computer displays and wireless

communication devices.

Growth in the industry is often dependent upon external trends and events, such as new software

releases and technological change. The release of Microsoft's Windows 95 operating system, for

example, led to increased demand for system maintenance—particularly upgrades—as home and

corporate users coped with new demands on memory and other system resources. Similarly, one-

time events, such as converting older systems to process calendar dates past the year 1999, created

new business for the short term.

Employees in the computer service industry generally possessed a high school degree and technical

training in computer science, electronics, and circuitry. Training programs were offered by

computer manufacturers, TPM companies, and vocational/technical schools. Some study programs

took 3-6 months, but formal programs required 1-2 years. Continuous education was required to

keep up with fast-paced technology improvements.

8
Job prospects for computer equipment servicers were excellent. According to the Bureau of Labor

Statistics, in the late 1990s there were more than 80,000 workers in this industry. This number

represented an increase of 67 percent since 1995 and was projected to increase steadily. Overall,

the number of data-processing machine repairers was anticipated to rise another 36 percent by

2006. In the late 1990s, the median annual earnings for computer repairers was just over $32,000.

The highest earners made $50,000 or more a year.

In the opening years of the new millennium, the mostly small firms in the computer repair business

may be facing competition from a brand new quarter. Wal-Mart Stores, which has given mom-

and-pop retailers around the country a real run for their money, in the fall of 1999, launched a test

to see whether it could interest its customers in getting their computers repaired at the same place

they shop for clothing and toiletries. The company contracted with Computer Doctor to open

computer repair shops inside ten of the giant retailer's Midwest Supercenters. Computer Doctor,

headquartered in Aberdeen, South Dakota, opened its first Wal-Mart repair shop on Sept. 15, 1999,

in Ankeny, Iowa. If the experiment proves successful, Wal-Mart is likely to expand the service to

all of its Supercenters, which numbered more than 600 in late 1999.

Another novel experiment in computer repair was launched in the Cincinnati area in USA in the

latter half of the 1990s. Entrepreneur Steve Pollak's mobile computer repair service, PC-On-Call,

started with a single service van but by early 1999 had expanded to 16 vehicles and 30 employees.

PC-On-Call had also set up shop in Columbus, Ohio, and had its sights on Dayton as well.

According to Paul Cashen, the company's chief executive, PC-On-Call was planning to expand

into up to 10 new markets by the end of 2000 and hoped eventually to serve 40 cities nationwide.

Cashen said the company usually responds within 24 hours to service calls, of which it receives

between 100 and 150 daily. (Advameg, Inc., 2005).

9
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
Software development has come a long way since it was first conceived. In fact, it could be argued

that the entire world has transformed since the first days of computing. The software development

companies and software development services of today would be nowhere without the early

pioneers. Learning how this intangible yet vital element of computers can help you understand

how the industry operates in the present. Of course, once you understand the history of software

development, you realize it’s anyone’s guess as to where it’s going in the future. (Adworkz, Inc,

2016).

The earliest practical form of programming was probably done by Jacquard (1804, France). He

designed a loom that performed predefined tasks through feeding punched cards into a reading

contraption. This new technology allowed carpets and tissues to be manufactured with lower skills

and even with fewer people. The little kid sitting under the loom changing rods and other things

vanished. One single person could now handle a loom.

Fig. 1.1 Jacquard’s loom in the process of reading punched cards

The technology of punched cards will later be adapted by (IBM's) Recording and Tabulating

Company to process data.

10
The situation was still a one on one game: a problem needed to be solved thus a machine was built.

(Pascal, Babbage, Scheultz & Sons) And when some sort of instruction was needed a sequence

was designed or written and transferred to either cards or mechanical aids such as wires, gears,

shafts actuators etc. (Robat, 2014).

As a concept, credit goes to Charles Babbage for inventing software in the mid-1800s. His

analytical engine was the world’s first computer, but it was completely mechanical. It was

comprised of hundreds of wheels, gears, rods and axles. Punch cards delivered the software for

computations. (Adworkz, Inc, 2016).

First there was Ada Lovelace, writing a rudimentary program (1843) for the Analytical Machine,

designed by Charles Babbage in 1827, but the machine never came into operation.

Then there was George Boole (1815-1864), a British mathematician, who proved the relation

between mathematics and logic with his algebra of logic (Boolean algebra or binary logic) in 1847.

(Robat, 2014).

Electronic Computing Is Born:

The Electronic Numerator, Integrator, Analyzer and Computer (ENIAC) became the first

electronic computer in 1945. This computer was built out of 17,000 vacuum tubes working

together as a processor. It weighed more than 30 tons. This computer was immediately put to use

by government programmers to help in the development of the first hydrogen bombs.

In the 1950s, punch-card software continued to be standard for new computers. The code was in

one of only a few programming languages that had already emerged. One was Formula Translation

(FORTRAN) and another, Common Business Oriented Language (COBOL). Soon, programmers

began to include cards that acted as compilers and assemblers. They did this so that groups of

11
punch cards could be inserted into the computers multiple times. These became the first

subroutines.

The Rise of the Minicomputer:

In A Brief History of Software Engineering, author Niklaus Wirth describes how computer

technology had made important steps by the close of the 1950s. Big steps included the advent of

transistors and magnetic memory. It was also during this time that the term software was coined

by John Tukey, a statistician who had acquired some fame working for AT&T Bell Laboratories

and Princeton University.

Computing capacity continued to grow through the 1960s. Software engineers, then referred to

simply as computer programmers, grew in demand. At the same time, more complex code became

required to take full advantage of these systems. One of the new languages developed by IBM in

the early 1960s was PL/1. It was lauded for being more natural and easier to code than previous

languages. However, most computers at this time were still mainframe monstrosities, and it was

difficult for software developers to gain access to them until MIT started a timeshare system that

was quickly copied by other institutions.

As computers evolved to become increasingly portable, powerful and affordable, new problems

were presented to programmers, but the discipline benefited from a degree of standardization and

its new regard as a legitimate science rather than an art.

Computers Arrive in the Home:

Intel began developing smaller and faster microprocessors, releasing the 8008 in 1972 and the

8080 in 1974. The 8080 was the basis of the Mark 8, the first personal minicomputer. Soon

afterwards, Paul Allen and Bill Gates wrote a BASIC interpreter for another early minicomputer

12
called the MITS Altair. The interpreter and compiler worked very well, and they formed a

company named Micro-Soft.

Around the time Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak released the Apple I, an entire host of other

microcomputers had burst into the market. But it was the Apple II, released in 1977, that had the

greatest impact on software development services. Operating systems were conceived and put into

place at this time, and because these programs had to perform a multitude of tasks and calculations,

they were difficult and time consuming to write.

Software Becomes an Industry:

As microcomputers become increasingly prevalent in schools, businesses and homes around the

world, the demand for new software skyrocketed until it could be considered a distinct industry all

its own. By the mid-1980s, spreadsheets, word processors, games and many other types of software

were all being run on Apple and IBM computers.

Apple introduced the graphical user interface (GUI) with its Macintosh computer in 1984, and

Microsoft released its first operating system to include a GUI, Windows 3.11, in 1992. This created

a need for the development of GUIs for most new software.

The next major milestone for software occurred in 1989 when the Tim Berners-Lee wrote a paper

describing how distant computers could be networked. He described how documents could be

linked through hypertext, which was the foundation of the World Wide Web. When the first

Internet browser was developed in the mid-1990s, an entirely new type of software professional

arose: the Web developer.

13
It was also in the 1990s when a push for open-source software gained momentum as an alternative

to the proprietary code sold by Microsoft, Apple and nearly all other large software development

companies.

Mobile Applications Dominate the Market:

Today, we are in the era of mobile computing. Smartphones and tablet computers are nearly

ubiquitous in the U.S. Websites, mobile-friendly websites and mobile apps are viewed as

indispensable for businesses of all types. In addition, software has made a transition from a product

that is paid for entirely upfront to a service that is supported by monthly fees. (Adworkz, Inc,

2016).

14
 CHAPTER TWO
PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF HARDWARE
MAINTENANCE AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

2.1 PROSPECTS OF HARDWARE MAINTENANCE AND SOFTWARE

DEVELOPMENT
There are two main factors that make a computer repair technician career a desirable one. Firstly

is the fact that with the increasing application of computers system in new areas, the demand for

people to maintain and repair them will continue to grow. Secondly, even in time of recession,

when other jobs may be on the line, the computer repair technician will always be in demand

because with no money to buy new systems, the older systems will continue to be used and will

need even more care and repair. Even today many employers complain about the difficulty in

finding qualified computer repair technicians.

At the start a person has to decide if their computer repair technician career is going to be

specialized to hardware, in which case he or she becomes a computer hardware repair technician,

or software. Either way deciding on a computer repair technician career is a good choice.

When you join a company, the employer will provide you with training on the computer system

you will be maintaining and repairing. You may even be sponsored for external training programs.

In the beginning of a computer repair technician’s career he or she will probably work of simple

PCs or peripherals and as the experience and expertise grows, progression to more advanced

computer systems will occur.

With the constant application of new technologies and the development of new software and

applications, the computer repair technician career is one of continual learning. This will involve

15
attending external training workshops and refresher programs. This up to date knowledge will

ensure that the technician’s services are always in demand.

Again, being a computer repair technician is not a single-person’s job description. Usually, the

amount of clients waiting on a technician, all wanting quick and immediate attention, requires that

the technician also has with him/her other highly skilled technicians to help out in the work.

Everyone works as a team to achieve a given objective, giving complete satisfaction to everyone

involved.

A computer repair technician’s career need not be limited to computer repair. Because of their

knowledge of the systems and the hands on experience they acquire, many technicians move over

to sales and marketing positions, either at the supervisory level or even as managers. And many

choose to use their experience to become self-employed. Many set up their own businesses or

become consultants. (Gary, 2014).

This recent data simply states that the technician’s services are always in demand. A computer

repair technician’s career needn’t be restricted to computer repair. Due to their understanding of

the systems and the hands on experience they procure, many technicians move over to sales and

selling positions, either at the supervisory level or perhaps as bosses. And many opt to use their

experience to become self-employed. Many set up their own firms or become advisors. (Computer

Repair Ltd, 2012).

As software developers progress in their careers they tend to either move into specialist technical

roles or move into management, while at the same time, the need for more developers increases.

16
The demand for software developers is still increasing. It has done ever since the birth of computer

programming. With each innovation that has come along, and as programming languages and

development environments have improved, people thought the demand for developers would peak

and start to decrease, but that hasn't happened yet, nor does it seem to happen anytime soon, but

IT is now seen as lucrative career option and there are huge numbers of people around the world

doing computer science degrees.

Most of the recent growth has been in India and China. In those countries it is comparatively rare

to find older developers as the jobs were not there 20 years ago.

The massive explosion in outsourcing to India, China and other low cost regions has impacted

Western countries in different way. The rate of outsourcing is starting to peak now but millions of

jobs have gone. Many older developers have quit the industry in this time period.

The software industry has changed out of all recognition since about 35 years ago, and one would

never have predicted things would turn out the way they have. It is a dynamic environment and

it’s really not possible to look into more than 5 - 10 years ahead. If you enjoyed software

development then it is still a sensible choice, but you need to be adaptable and move with the

times. (Bradley-Carter, 2015).

In summary, the following are the basic prospects of starting a computer repair business:

a. Start-up costs are minimal.

b. You have a large target market -- individual computer users, small businesses and home-

based businesses.

c. Word of mouth referrals can grow your business rapidly.

d. You can provide ongoing maintenance service for clients.

17
 e. You can work part-time or full-time, during the hours you choose.

f. You can offer emergency support at a premium rate.

g. You can work alone or as part of a computer repair franchise.

h. As technology changes, you have many ways to expand your service offerings, such as

remote data access, cloud backup configuration and mobile device setup and maintenance.

2.2 CHALLENGES OF HARDWARE MAINTENANCE AND

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
In setting up a business setting, which centers on hardware maintenance and software

development, some challenges are usually met and have to be tackled, before proceeding with any

other activity. In some cases, these challenges can only be overcome by a workaround.

These challenges are:

a. Lack of Supporting Environment and Substructures:

The business setting in Nigeria lacks basic amenities and infrastructures that aid and help business

development and survival, making businesses and firms in the country suffer terribly.

For instance, if a computer repair technician intends to start up a business firm, he or she will find

out that they need to provide their building, water supply, power and other amenities they need for

their business to survive in continuity.

This, in the long run leads to more money being spent on the business and increase the time frame

needed to start.

b. Poor Power Supply:

This is a major problem facing even established business organizations in Nigeria. So far, the

government has not been able to find a lasting solution to the power situation in the country which

18
affects the big organizations, including the multinationals down to the one-man businesses such as

the barbers or tailors who depend on power to run their business.

Thus until the government identifies and provides a solution the country’s power problem, more

finances will have to be spent trying to generate power for the workshop/business organization,

usually swallowing most of the business’s capital, which should be invested in bringing in profits,

making things a deal more difficult.

The solution to this, on the part of the business firm/organization is to get solar plants or a

generator/inverter to generate power. The cost of such investiture involves a lot of money spent by

the business for power acquisition, even before any sale or production has been done. This not

only affects the business as money that could have been spent to improve the other areas of the

business are spent on generator and fuel, but also, the end-product of whatever the business

produces becomes more expensive to the final consumer as the business does what it can to make

sure they do not lose profits at the end of the venture.

c. Poor Transportation Network:

Most organizations and companies locate their businesses near their source of materials or market

to help save cost and time. But in cases where this is not possible, the problem of transportation

will come up. Nigeria does not have a good transport network, most roads are not in good shape

and the railways and waterways have not been fully established, thus making the problem of

transportation worse than it should seem. There have been incidents where products technicians

bought have been stuck on the roads for days because bad roads have either made it difficult for

the goods to get to their destination or damaged the carriers/vehicles transporting the goods.

19
This can lead to great losses to both the client and the business firm as damaged goods are affected

in such situations.

d. Poor Funding Support:

Finance and funding is a major aspect of starting or setting up a business. Money is needed to buy

materials, supplies, equipment, pay staff and lots more. In Nigeria, funding is a major problem

especially if an entrepreneur does not have enough money to kick start the business. The banks

and finance systems that should help investors are not willing to give new upcoming companies

or new business firms loans because they do not believe in them or feel they have no experience

and do not trust them.

Where such start-up companies or entrepreneur is fortunate to get a financial institution to assist

and support them, there is the issue of interest rate or collateral to contend with. Banks usually

place high interest rates on loans they want to give their customers. Another problem is that the

payback period is usually short which will make it difficult and almost impossible for the business

to pay back within the stipulated time.

e. Poor Governmental Support:

Often, people have complained of the government not doing enough, or doing nothing to help start-

up businesses or entrepreneurs in general. To start a business, you need to register the business

and provide all information regarding the business. People have often complained of the cost of

such registration and the administrative bottlenecks involved in registering the business, which

leads to the business being delayed, instead of starting on time.

There are also the problems of high taxes and duties placed on the business firm. These are some

of the problems one will encounter when trying to start a business in Nigeria. With proper planning

20
and patience one can overcome these problems and grow a successful business from a start-up to

a conglomerate.

f. Difficulties in Accounting:

Credible accounting is a serious problem among start-up business firms in Nigeria because of the

lack of accounting knowledge from most entrepreneurs. They lack skills in accounting and fail to

keep up with numbers in their early stage of business and it affects their business. In business,

numbers is very important from the very moment you start your business.

Ability to keep up with numbers and understand how these numbers work will shape the way one

manage money. This, however is a challenge to some upcoming entrepreneurs because when you

have no knowledge about such, you may not even know if the accountant you hired is doing the

right thing.

g. Poor Market Planning:

Market Planning is vital for any business firm. When you have an unmistakable thought regarding

your objective business sector and your opposition, you can allot a financial plan for publicising

and advancing your business firm and choose which medium to promote your business firm

through. Thus, you end up advertising the business firm to the outside world, gaining wide

recognition.

This is where most upcoming Nigerian start-up business firms don’t get it. They don’t understand

the objective and the target market of their marketing campaign and at most times, they go spend-

thrifty doing such. I think the best reasonable arrangement is to either employ a market agent who

can help them plan how to reach out to their target audience or find a staff that can help keep their

business firm accelerating at a distinct pace.

21
 h. Hiring the Right People:

This is a broad perspective as it can often be misunderstood by people. It is a way of hiring talented

people who can help your business achieve its objectives. Hiring the right people is a tough

challenge for start-up computer repair technicians because sometimes most talented people with

huge experience will demand high pay and a start-up business firm may not be suitable with such

a demand, nor might it be able to meet up with the challenge.

Getting the right people at the right place is a tough challenge that is facing start-up business firms

and they should look inward to hire the right people with the needed skills.

i. Poor Attitude towards Innovation:

Nigerian repair personnels are usually aligned to the work culture and they don’t conceive brand

new ideas. Most Nigerian repair technicians avoid change and oppose whatever progressions that

occur around them. They simply end up keeping to tradition and remaining stagnant in that level

of the business. The best thing to do is to be interested in advancement.

At the point when bringing in a change, you should guarantee that you are ready for that change

and it will boost your business firm. Many business firms follow one particular form of

repair/servicing pattern for years without any critical advancement into their product or service.

As a Nigerian entrepreneur entering into this kind of business, it is essential that you educate

yourself about the business you are going into, do a lot of market research and evaluate the industry

as well as the country’s technology, since you may lose a lot of money if you fail to do the right

things.

22
It is also important that you have ample knowledge about your competitors, your target market,

current trends, advertising, promoting and marketing techniques as well as financial know-how.

(Rob, 2015).

In overview, the following are basic challenges/potential issues in starting a computer hardware

maintenance and software development business firm:

a. You will need to purchase and maintain your own tools and testing equipment.

b. You need an exceptional knowledge of hardware, software and peripherals.

c. You will have to be able to explain technical processes in non-technical terms.

d. You may need training and will need to stay on top of changes in the industry.

e. Your location may require that you are licensed to perform repair services.

f. You may need insurance and be bonded since you may be entering your clients' homes.

g. In places where power outages are normal, you will have to purchase your own power.

h. To cover long distances in terms of transportation, you will need to cover the cost. If goods

are damaged, the losses are for you to bear too.

i. Where the government is not supportive, you will have to bear your own cross.

23
 CHAPTER THREE
BUSINESS PLAN/COST IMPLICATIONS OF HARDWARE
MAINTENANCE AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT FIRMS

3.1 BUSINESS PLAN FOR MY HARDWARE MAINTENANCE AND

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT FIRM
A business plan is an all-inclusive, written description of the business of an enterprise/initiative. It

is a thorough report on a company’s products or services, production techniques, market and

clients, marketing stratagem, human resources, organizational requirements in respect of

substructure and supplies, financing requirements, and sources and use of funds.

DENTLEY INCORPORATED

3.1.1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Dentley Incorporated is a Third-Party Maintenance (TPM) firm that performs servicing contracts

on various computing equipment from various Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM

companies) like: Hewlett Packard (HP), Dell, Toshiba, Gateway, Microsoft, Apple, Asus, Acer,

and other manufacturers producing similar products, like Samsung, Research-In-Motion, etc.

In this century, where computers rule the modern world, the need to repair their failing parts arises,

since they are electronic/mechanical devices, which are bound to fail one time or another. As this

continually happens, corporations and businesses using computers encounter hitches and problems

when working with computers.

24
Dentley Incorporated has seen this issue as a need to be addressed and specializes in the periodic

maintenance, servicing and repair of computer hardware, and also the troubleshooting and

installing of developed state-of-the-art software for corporate industries and businesses alike.

We focus on servicing and repairing – along with replacing – various computer hardware products

like Desktop Personal Computers and their components, Laptop PCs, phones, printers,

photocopying machines, etc. as well developing world-class software and mobile applications for

clients.

3.1.2 BUSINESS OBJECTIVES

The business firm’s objectives are:

a) To be a top Third-Party Maintenance (TPM) firm providing quality services to computing

industries in the regional market.

b) Company revenues to increase exponentially within the first two years of the firm’s

establishment.

c) To generate a comfortable net profit by the third year of the firm’s establishment.

d) Aim to have 70% of sales in the computer hardware repair/servicing market.

e) To have several branches and outposts nationwide, each leading it’s regional market.

3.1.3 VISION

Our vision is to provide top-class servicing/repairs for computer hardware components, supply the

best computer hardware parts available in the market to computing firms and businesses using

computer systems across Nigeria; and develop, install, and troubleshoot software for various

businesses with the leading innovation in world-class systems.

25
3.1.4 MISSION

Our mission is to deliver quality servicing without discrimination to computing industries and

businesses alike, leading the market and completing customer satisfaction.

3.1.5 COMPANY SUMMARY

Dentley Incorporated is an upcoming firm that will provide expert and quality services in the

repair, maintenance, and installation of computer hardware components and software products

while meeting the demanding needs of clients, computing firms, and businesses based on Internet

of Things (IoT), as well as other technologies.

Dentley Incorporated is located at No. 10, Downing Street, Gwarinpa Industrial Area, Abuja,

Nigeria. The company’s location is a 10 acres architectural site accommodating the company’s

workshop, warehouse, executive building, and development centre for software development,

along with ample space for parking clients’ vehicles. A highly visible neon sign will be placed on

the highest point of the site, increasing prominence and interest to foot and auto traffic.

Clients will by way of first entrance, enter a public room containing several computing

workstations, each actively at work in due process. Protocols will be set up, putting in place a ‘No

Smoking’ sign, a ‘Leave children with Responsible adults outside’ sign, etc. amongst other

provisions needed to necessitate customers’ satisfaction.

3.1.6 PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Dentley Incorporated is actively engaged in the sales, repair and maintenance of the following

computer hardware, in addition to the delivery of the following services:

Computer Hardware:

a) DVD RW Burners

26
 b) Random Access Memory

c) Network Interface Cards

d) Wireless Routers

e) Wireless USB Dongles

f) Cables

g) Internal/External Keyboards

h) Mice

i) Hard Disk Drives and Solid State Drives

j) Desktop Monitors

k) Laptop LCD Screens

l) Power Supplies

m) DVDs and CDs etc.

Services offered include but not limited to:

a) Software development

b) Software installation, troubleshooting and maintenance

c) Internet of Things (IoT)

d) Servers Installation

e) Network Installation

f) Web Development etc.

All our hardware, software, tools in use, and services offered will be up-to-date, state-of-the-art,

and world class, with no equal and second to none for miles around.

27
3.1.7 MARKET ANALYSIS

Gwarinpa Industrial area is an interesting and ideal location for setting up a computer hardware

maintenance and software development business firm. This is because several businesses and

companies located there are technologically and computer-driven, making the location of such a

business venture profitable and easier to generate maximum revenues.

3.1.8 BUSINESS PLAN FOR DENTLEY INCORPORATED

a. Getting Set Up Legally:

One of the first things I’ll do to set up my company is having an accountant set up the enterprise

legally because only from there can I then claim many of its other start-up expenses as a tax write

off for next year. During this time, I can decide what items I can claim as a business expense and

which way is best to keep things organized to make things easier at tax time. I’ll be able to do this

by enquiring from an accountant. Getting an accountant to set me up will cost around ₦36,000 –

₦108,000.

b. Rent and Utilities:

To start my business firm, I’ll first of all find a place/location to set up. This is one of the major

costs in business for most people renting a shop as they have to keep up with their rental payment.

It can be sometimes expensive depending on the area you sited your business. Renting a shop can

be quite expensive as some people even charge up to ₦300,000 - ₦400,000 and also refurbishing

the shop e.g. painting and fencing, which may cost ₦60,000.

28
 c. Acquiring Stock:

Stock is necessary to have in every enterprise as it is what is used as parts to repair or put together

faulty clients’ computer systems. It is usually an expensive start-up cost, but fortunately, it’s not

necessary to carry much stock. It is encouraged to have stock that don’t devalue quickly.

Accompanying stock which my business will have on standby includes:

i. RAM

ii. DVD-Burners

iii. Power Supplies

iv. Wireless Routers

v. Wireless USB Dongles

vi. Cables

vii. Cases

viii. Keyboards

ix. Mice

x. Operating System software

d. Tools:

I’ll also need tools for my business firm and the least tools I should have is a small toolkit for

computers, which would cost about ₦6,000, a USB drive (₦3,600 to ₦36,000 depending on its

size) and a CD wallet (about ₦700 to ₦3,600) loaded with free utilities for troubleshooting clients’

computers. However, it’s ideal to have a complete kit with a laptop, which would cost ₦180,000;

blank CDs, costing ₦200 each; thermal paste, which would cost ₦1,000; various cables and a

cable tester costing ₦500.

29
 e. Business Cards:

A business card is often what a client bases their first impression of a business firm on. It is also

one of the primary tools used to advertise and promote a business firm. My business card will

representative of my business firm and will be properly ordered, containing my firm’s name and

logo, address, contact details etc. My firm’s business cards will be made professionally.

Professionally printed business cards will cost around ₦5,000 – ₦10,000 depending on the amount

you want printed and this cost is often influenced by the print shop doing the design work for the

company.

f. Cost of Running the Business:

Running the business is another expensive part of a business as I will have to pay my employees

as the firm grows, maintaining the business to keep it going by providing the necessary equipment

to be used in my shop, buying fuel to run the business when there are power outages and also the

cost of advertising my business firm should the need arise. Providing for the satisfaction of one’s

employees and clients alike, for instance, a convenient resting place, is strongly encouraged.

g. Office Items:

To start off, I won’t need big wooden desks, special technician benches and new leather chairs,

nor is it even needed down the lane as the business firm pushes forward. It is best one buys office

items as they are needed, and not out-rightly. A computer, printer, mobile phone, answering

machine and some writing material is all one needs for a small business firm just starting up.

h. Website Hosting:

Having a website is optional, though it helps to boost customer interest in the business firm. On

having a website, I’ll be hosting it on a reliable host server using a paid subscription, as it is the

30
 best causeway to follow through. Hosting it on free host services is discouraged as the host servers

allow adverts and it would not go well if your competitor’s adverts also come up on your website.

i. Reserve Funds:

Having reserves is another aspect to running a business. This reserve is kept and saved away for

rainy days – unforeseen occurrences where I’ll need money to bridge it up and meet up with

running costs so it does not affect my daily activities. I will also need to provide for my feeding,

and this is done from the reserve funds, which is achieved usually from savings and profits.

3.2 COST IMPLICATIONS FOR MY HARDWARE MAINTENANCE AND

SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT FIRM
Before a hardware maintenance and software development firm can be considered a fully

operational firm, a workshop for carrying out repairs and maintenance must be on ground, on a

physical site, along with the needed tools and products for doing such repairs. Personnel to handle

to tools and repair work will also have to be paid. The above costs are summarized in the cost

implications of the business firm.

3.2.1 COST IMPLICATIONS FOR DENTLEY CORPORATION

S/N Assets/Professional Services Unit Price (₦) Total Price (₦)

1 Legal services for starting up (includes company 114,000 150,000
registration with C.A.C)
2 Desktop and laptop personal computers (ten 50,000 500,000
individual workstations)
3 Networked resource printer (three units) 20,000 60,000

4 Broadband internet connection (per annum) 80,000 80,000

5 Office furniture (for ten workstations) 10,000 100,000

31
6 Office space (per annum) 200,000 200,000

7 Telephone services (per annum) 20,000 20,000

8 Photocopying machine (two units) 30,000 60,000

9 Promotional materials (for advertising) 10,000 10,000

10 Operational officer allowance (monthly for five 40,000 2,400,000

employees per annum)
11 Customer service (monthly for an employee per 30,000 360,000
annum)
12 Professional Business cards (for at least ten 6,000 60,000
employees)
13 6,000 30,000
Toolkit for computers (five units)
14 5,000 50,000
USB Drives (10 units, each 64GB)
15 1,000 5,000
CD Wallet (5 units)
16 300 6,000
Blank CDs and DVDs (20 units)
17 1,000 10,000
Thermal Paste (10 units)
18 1,000 10,000
Cable and LAN Tester (5 units each)
19 2,000 20,000
Cable crimper (10 units)
20 ---- 400,000
Computer hardware components
TOTAL ---- 4,531,000

3.2.2 SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR BUSINESS COSTS

To handle the above costs of starting my business, I source my funds and capital from the

following:

32
 a. Bank Loans:

Meeting with a bank of my choice to collect bank loans to start my business, assuring them

of my commitment to the loan by giving them charge of my collateral or guarantee. Once

they are assured of my genuine stance, the procured bank loans can start up my business

firm.

b. Personal Savings:

By adding up my personal savings I’ve gathered over the years, including my deposited

funds, I can collect all together and in addition to the bank loan, continue to support the

business firm.

c. Savings from Selling Personal Property:

Through selling personal properties I’ve accumulated – including landed properties,

unrelated equipment I am not wont to use anymore, etc. – I can produce funds to aid the

business firm to function on a continual basis.

d. Gift Funds from Friends and Family:

Gifts given to me by family members, relatives, friends and well-wishers could be of great

assistance in handling the costs accumulated in running the business firms.

3.2.3 PROFIT ANALYSIS FOR DENTLEY CORPORATION

S/N Professional Services Amount (₦)

1. Web Development (for at least ten clients) 1,500,000

2. Internet of Things (IoT) (for at least two clients) 1,800,000

33
 3. Software installation (for at least ten clients) 500,000

4. Software development (for at least five clients) 2,000,000

5. Hardware maintenance (for at least three clients) 500,000

6. Network installation (for at least four clients) 700,000

7. Software troubleshooting and maintenance (for at 500,000

least ten clients)
8. Installation of servers (for at least three clients) 800,000

9. Hardware sales (for at least twenty clients) 1,000,000

TOTAL 9,300,000

3.2.4 PROFIT SUMMARY

Given that our estimated sales/revenue at the end of our first year of operation is about ₦9,300,000;

when our cost implication, which is ₦4,531,000, is deducted from this estimate, Dentley

Incorporated stands to make a net profit of ₦4,769,000.

This stands to show that computer hardware maintenance and software development is a profitable

and palatable business venture.

34
 CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 RELEVANCE OF HARDWARE MAINTENANCE AND SOFTWARE
DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEMPORARY NIGERIAN ECONOMY
Every day, Nigeria is growing into the computer generation and a lot of technologies are invented,

developed and imported in Nigeria and more also, a lot of computer technicians are required to fix

the rising issues in the technologies whenever such issues arise. Since Nigeria is growing is large

in commercial activities, a lot of businesses are now integrating these technologies into their

business to better serve their customers need and boost their businesses.

Below are some relevance of computer hardware maintenance and software development in

contemporary Nigerian economy.

1. Business Set-up and Continuation: Most businesses in Nigeria today are computer-

integrated. For instance, Jumia, Konga and other larger markets which require the use of

computer to run their business may most times run into issues with their computer system or

their server and require the expertise of computer technicians to repair it for them. And that’s

why they mostly hire a lot of skill computer technicians who will solve the kind of issue. Aside

from that, some of them also open up a computer repair shops for themselves which they attend

to customers who have issues with their computers.

2. Banking Systems: A bank is a financial institution whose primary objective is to act as a

payment agent for customers and to borrow and lend money. It is an institution for receiving,

keeping, and lending money in hopes of repayment. Computers are a backbone to the banking

industry nowadays because it’s able to perform mathematical calculations, process and store

data: primarily customers’ information and transactions; and also output the processed

35
 information anytime it is requested without fail. Due to the capability and capacity of

computers, banks are able to develop and fulfill customers’ needs.

3. Entertainment Industries: Entertainment is an activity designed to give people pleasure or

relaxation. An audience may participate in the entertainment passively as in watching opera or

a movie, or actively as in games. In a typical Nigerian student campus, Computers are used for

everything involving entertainment. Students use the computer for almost everything like

playing online and offline games, chatting, watching online broadcasts on the internet,

communicating to each other via a set-up Students Forum, getting educational content/videos

on YouTube, etc. Portable computers can also help reduce stress and boredom while travelling

because we can entertain ourselves by watching movies on our computers or play our favorite

computer games.

4. Research Projects: Research can be said to be any human activity based on intellectual

application in the investigation of a matter. The chief purpose of applied research is aimed at

discovering, interpreting, and developing methods and systems for the advancement of human

knowledge on a widespread range of scientific matters of our world and the universe at large.

Computers and their related technology has aided Nigerians in their research projects making

work easier than it has ever been before.

5. Defense Systems: Defense is the tactics and strategy of defending oneself against attack. A lot

of military warheads are now being imported in Nigeria to serve our defenses and counter

measures against terrorist. Computer technicians are able to program these warheads and make

necessary repairs to them if damaged. With enough competent know-how, Nigeria can begin

to manufacture their own weapons for their defenses instead of meeting other countries for

importation of these warheads.

36
4.2 RELEVANCE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO THE ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA
Entrepreneurship can be defined as the willingness and ability of an individual to seek out

investment opportunities in an environment and be able to establish and run an enterprise

successfully based on the identifiable opportunities. (Okpara, 2000).

In today’s world where the economy fortunes of nations are dependent on its production strength,

education is becoming redefined at both the national and international level.

Gone are the days where white collar jobs were a major priority, where people go to school with

the hope of graduating into the waiting arms of white collar jobs, both in the public or private

sector.

Nations are now more concerned with the quality of education that will provide opportunities for

employment and generate income to both the individual and the nation at large and not the type of

education that tends to produce ‘consumers’. In the present economic situation of Nigeria, we need

more entrepreneurs to be able to strengthen the nation. In countries like Brazil, Russia, India, China

– impressive growth has been driven by a veritable entrepreneurial revolution.

The role of entrepreneurship in economic development has been the focus of a two-year United

Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) project,

which resulted in the recent book ‘Entrepreneurship and Economic Development’. This book has

been described as “the single most informative work on the topic of entrepreneurship and

economic development in print”.

37
Entrepreneurship is relevant to the economic development of Nigeria in that:

1. Entrepreneurship creates job opportunities for others: When an entrepreneur starts a

business using his financial assets, he must hire people to work with him. Hence, as time

passes, there may be a reason for expansion, he starts a huge business, hence creating more

job opportunities for people.

2. Entrepreneurship influences economic growth: By creating job opportunities for people,

an entrepreneur provides wealth for the people. There is every tendency that they may also

separate off to start their own businesses with innovations like providing the best quality

product within the lowest prices so that people can save their money and get the best

product. This strengthens the economy of a country. For this purpose the government also

welcomes entrepreneurs to start their businesses.

3. Entrepreneurship provides strength to small businesses: Most of the time, entrepreneurs

prefer to invest their money in small businesses. Such activities of entrepreneurs provide

strength to the small business. So the niche markets flourish, providing strength to the

economy of the country.

So entrepreneurship can be categorized as investment and it is very important for a country to

flourish its economy. For this purpose, governments of many countries support entrepreneurs.

Thus, entrepreneurship may spur economic development if appropriately supported and taken as a

national issue. (Orode, 2016).

38
 CHAPTER FIVE

THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN HARDWARE

MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT
“Technology is an accelerator.” - Collins First, while Collins confirms that technology is indeed

an accelerator, he doesn’t qualify the statement in terms of exactly where or what technology is

accelerating. In other words, technology can accelerate both good and bad ideas, and it can

accelerate these ideas towards success or failure. Think of technology as some sort of widget that

sits in between ideas and the future. Whether entrepreneurs put good ideas (that is, ideas that are

strategic and aligned with their core principles) or bad ideas (random acts of improvement) into

the technological accelerator will determine whether or not you speed towards success or failure.

Below are the roles of technology in hardware maintenance and software development:

1. Communication: Good communication is necessary to allow efficient flow of information in a field.

Technology provides multiple channels to communicate both internally and externally. Whether it’s

setting up virtual workspaces where employees can interact and develop ideas, or connecting to

international technicians through the use of videoconferencing, technology can be used as an outlet

which allows this field to collect feedback from their colleague, which can used to solve or improve

a fault to suit the needs of the customers better.

2. Research and Development: This sector has enabled technicians to carry out research and come up

with a better way of solving computer issues through the use of technology. Technology,

continuously evolving and increasingly highly skilled and qualified research and development of

new solution represents an element of fundamental importance both for the implementation of new

solutions for managing existing infrastructure both for the preparation of new offerings that will

39
 improve and optimize IT service companies. The purpose of the research and Development to

provide customers with innovative hardware and software solutions. The activity is carried out in

close relationship with both the internal management, able to orient the sectors and areas on which

to implement new solutions, both with the research and development divisions of vendor hardware

and software group partner. Along with secondary research, businesses can use technology to

conduct primary research in addition to using online surveys and customer feedback.

3. Hardware equipment: Technology has created the appropriate tool for handling issues. Many tools

are needed to perform this job. A computer technician will typically need an anti-static wrist strap,

power supply tester, cable crimping tool, cable tester and a variety of screwdrivers. There are several

software-based troubleshooting tools offered in this field which may require a subscription for

professional use. Storage devices such as an external hard drive or large USB drives often prove

invaluable. Other tools may be required within specific positions, and they may be listed in the job

notice.

4. Transportation: Technology has made transportation easier as parts needed can be bought and

transported to their designated as at when needed. Transportation carries necessary supplies to where

it’s needed for the benefits of the business. This significantly increases aggregate productivity of the

business. In fact, transport is such a key as their products can be delivered to them after repairs are

made and helps in carrying customers products to the scattered places, narrows the gap between

technicians and facilitates to distribute goods to the consumers at minimum cost and time. (U.S.

Department of Labor, 2006).

40
 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Most of us might agree totally that with the advent of computers, our lives have changed.

Most of us like to sit on our PC's and laptops for extended hours for different individual reasons.

But what happens whenever your Computer or Laptop breaks down and is need of a repair?

Computer Repair can be a headache for some folks that are uncertain of whom to trust.

If you're positioned in such a case, there are many computer repair, laptop repair, PC preservation,

Wired and Wireless Networking solutions, and several other IT enabled services-offering

companies which will help you out, all of whom umbrella under Hardware Maintenance and

Software Development. Several firms have comprehensive experts employed and have been

providing their services. Computer Technicians provide services of computer repair, services at

affordable prices and, depending upon the fault diagnosed. There's also a facility of responding for

the requests produced by a consumer within a day. The experts employed have lots of experience

in diagnosing all varieties of computer problems. They are prepared to help in case your computer

has problems with upgrading, is running slowly or has ceased working completely.

41
 REFERENCES
Advameg, Inc. (2005). SIC 7378 Computer Maintenance and Repair - Description, Market
Prospects, Industry History forum. Retrieved from Reference for Business:
http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/industries/Service/Computer-Maintenance-
Repair.html
Adworkz, Inc. (2016, August 19). The History of Software Development. Retrieved from
Adworkz: https://www.adworkz.com/history-software-development/
Application Development (AppDev) Defined and Explained. (2007, August 13). Retrieved from
Best Price Computers: http://www.bestpricecomputers.co.uk/glossary/application-
development.htm
Bradley-Carter, N. (2015, June 22). What is the job outlook for a software developer? Retrieved
from Quora: https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-job-outlook-for-a-software-developer
Burns, E. (2015, March 31). What Is Computer Hardware Maintenance. Retrieved from
Techwalla.com: https://techwalla.com/articles/what-is-computer-hardware-maintenance
Computer Repair Ltd. (2012). Choosing Computer repair technician career. Retrieved from
Computer Repair: http://www.computerrepairltd.co.uk/a-computer-repair-technician-
career-has-bright-prospects/
Gary. (2014, April 10). A Computer Repair Technician Career Has Bright Prospects. Retrieved
from Monitoring Computers: http://monitoringcomputers.com.au/computer-repairs/a-
computer-repair-technician-career-has-bright-prospects/
Kuhn, D. L. (1989). Selecting and effectively using a computer aided software engineering tool.
Annual Westinghouse computer symposium. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: DOE Project.
Okpara. (2000). South-East, Nigeria.
Orode, A. (2016, April 21). Importance Of Entrepreneurship To Nigeria's Development.
Retrieved from Cashrange: http://cashrange.com/importance-of-entrepreneurship-to-
nigerias-development
Rob, I. (2015, November 28). Eleven Biggest Challenges Faced by Computer Repair
Technicians. Retrieved from Small Business Chonicles:
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/computer-repair-business-information-915.html
Robat, C. (2014, January 20). Introduction to Software History. Retrieved from History of
Computing: Software Index:
http://www.thocp.net/software/software_reference/introduction_to_software_history.htm
Rood, S. (1996). Computer Hardware Maintenance. New Jersey: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Steers, K. (2004, June 23). Hardware Tips: Complete PC Preventive Maintenance Guide.
Retrieved from PC World: https://www.pcworld.com/article/116583/article.html;

42
 www.3phw.com; reference.com/technology/computer-hardware-maintenance-
3775568c175ef1ae
U.S. Department of Labor. (2006). Computer Support Specialists and Systems Administrators. In
B. o. Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Department of Labor.

43