In the digital age, certain terms are often used without their exact meaning being clear. One of these terms is the “citizen developer”. In the following article, we want to shed some light on the subject and take a closer look at the citizen developer. What exactly is behind this term? What are the tasks of a Citizen Developer and why are they indispensable for companies?
The definition of Citizen Developer
A citizen developer is a person who has no formal training in software development but is able to create applications using no-code or low-code platforms. As so-called business users, citizen developers develop, integrate and improve model-based solutions that enable anyone to implement important business ideas. It is important to emphasize that Citizen Developers do not replace the IT department, but collaborate with it. Their goal is to relieve software developers of less demanding tasks so that they can focus on complex projects. In this way, Citizen Developers help companies to automate processes and deliver applications faster.
The importance of citizen development for companies
More and more companies are recognizing the value of Citizen Developers. According to recent statistics from Gartner, 61% of companies have already introduced Citizen Developer initiatives or are planning to do so in the future. Why is Citizen Development so important?
Digitization and the need for new applications pose major challenges for companies. IT departments are often overloaded and struggle to keep up with increasing demand. At the same time, there is a lack of qualified software developers. This leads to bottlenecks in the allocation of resources and the implementation of digitalization projects.
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The advantages of Citizen Development
However, Citizen Development can also pose challenges. There is a risk of loss of control if citizen developers make changes to existing applications without the necessary knowledge of security measures and data integrity. To address these challenges, clear governance is required, defined by the IT teams. This allows Citizen Developers to work within a defined framework and develop applications that meet the requirements of their departments.
Nevertheless, Citizen Development offers numerous advantages:
- Promoting collaboration: With the help of low-code platforms and agile development tools, IT teams and citizen developers can work together effectively and jointly develop new applications and functions. Collaboration between technically skilled developers and specialist departments leads to better solutions and faster implementation.
- Agility and speed: In a fast-moving digital world, agility is a key success factor. Citizen development enables companies to react quickly to new requirements from customers and employees. The direct involvement of specialist departments means that adjustments and enhancements can be implemented quickly.
- Increased productivity: By creating applications themselves, Citizen Developers relieve the IT department of less demanding tasks. This frees up time for the IT department to focus on complex projects and develop customized solutions. This leads to an increase in productivity and enables companies to reduce their IT backlog and cut costs.
- Combating the shortage of developers: The lack of qualified developers is a challenge for many companies. Citizen Development offers a solution to overcome bottlenecks in development. By integrating citizen developers, companies can easily relieve the burden on their IT departments.
Conclusion
Citizen development is a promising approach to overcoming the challenges of digitalization and increasing the efficiency of companies. By actively involving specialist departments in the development of applications, a win-win situation is created. The IT department can concentrate on complex projects, while the specialist departments can implement their requirements more quickly. For companies to benefit from Citizen Development, clear governance and collaboration between IT teams and Citizen Developers is essential.
