Victor's Entrepreneurship Project.docx

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.

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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.

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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 upfitted to properly tackle the issues affecting computer hardware. Two main types of companies operated in the computer maintenance and repair industry: ThirdParty 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 highend 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 onequarter 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, onetime 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.

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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 momand-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.

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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

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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.

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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).

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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

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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.

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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 homebased 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 SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

MAINTENANCE

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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.

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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 startup 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

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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 spendthrifty 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

Unit Price (₦)

Assets/Professional Services

1

Legal services for starting up (includes company registration with C.A.C)

2

Total Price (₦)

114,000

150,000

Desktop and laptop personal computers (ten individual workstations)

50,000

500,000

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

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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 employees per annum)

40,000

2,400,000

11

Customer service (monthly for an employee per annum)

30,000

360,000

12

Professional Business cards (for at least ten employees)

6,000

60,000

6,000

30,000

5,000

50,000

1,000

5,000

300

6,000

1,000

10,000

1,000

10,000

2,000

20,000

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Toolkit for computers (five units) USB Drives (10 units, each 64GB) CD Wallet (5 units) Blank CDs and DVDs (20 units) Thermal Paste (10 units) Cable and LAN Tester (5 units each) Cable crimper (10 units) Computer hardware components TOTAL

----

400,000

----

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:

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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

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3.

Software installation (for at least ten clients)

4.

Software development (for at least five clients)

5.

Hardware maintenance (for at least three clients)

500,000

6.

Network installation (for at least four clients)

700,000

7.

500,000

8.

Software troubleshooting and maintenance (for at least ten clients) Installation of servers (for at least three clients)

9.

Hardware sales (for at least twenty clients) TOTAL

500,000 2,000,000

800,000 1,000,000 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.

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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 computerintegrated. 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

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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”.

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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).

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CHAPTER FIVE THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT

IN

HARDWARE

“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

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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).

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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.

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www.3phw.com; reference.com/technology/computer-hardware-maintenance3775568c175ef1ae U.S. Department of Labor. (2006). Computer Support Specialists and Systems Administrators. In B. o. Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Department of Labor.

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