The rise of low-code/no-code software has resulted in a wave of citizen developers building applications and automation tools on an unprecedented scale. In fact, Gartner estimates that by the end of the year, the number of citizen developers at large enterprises will outnumber professional developers by four times. Moreover, Power Platform and other simplified coding solutions will be used for 65% of application development.
The work of creating new applications can be opened up to employees from every department, as citizen developers do not need the same deep skillset as professional developers. Previously, companies would be forced to use highly skilled programmers with years of experience.
Some citizen developers may be fully trained developers who are simply working from a non-technical department, while others only have experience working with low code, no code, analytics or data management.
The potential upsides to the citizen development movement are numerous. Citizen developers can roll out new applications quicker than ever because they do not need to code from the ground up. Because citizen developers take less time, they also save the company money. The result means companies large and small are able to keep up with the rapidly evolving, innovative technologies that were always keeping the biggest companies one step ahead.
Simon Foote, Head of Software Development at Resonate, said: “It is hard to understate the value of citizen development. It has helped SMEs to bridge the divide with big businesses.
“Before, only the behemoths could afford to regularly spend on applications and automation solutions, which gave them a massive edge. The smaller companies would be stuck working through tasks that were now automated at large.”
“No code/low code can do absolute wonders for a company, but if your citizen developers are not properly managed, you may end up creating more problems than solutions.”
The Dos of Citizen Development
To effectively implement citizen development within your company, you need to provide your team with clear guidelines, open communication, and the necessary tools.
Clear guidelines are essential, as it provides clear boundaries within which your team can work. Without approved policies, it can stifle worker creativity as they will be continually second-guessing themselves. The rules should explain what you are looking for in new apps and automation. You should clarify which development platforms they can use for their creations
Communication is essential in all aspects of business, and citizen development is no exception. Managers should foster an open and receptive attitude to their employees’ projects to ensure they can effectively monitor new additions to their workflows. They will also be able to take appropriate action if any problems arise, such as passing complex programming requirements onto professionals.
Providing the team with the right tools to experiment with and create new applications is crucial. Microsoft Power Platform, for example, has templates and other tools to make it easy for first-time developers to get started. You can also discuss with your staff which other more advanced tools might be useful to add.
Gartner Expert and Distinguished VP Analyst, Jason Wong, advises that business leaders should respect and support their citizen development teams. By taking the team seriously, they will be more likely to become a serious team.
As well as providing the team with a range of tools, they should also get business technologists and citizen developers working together under the same guidelines. Ideas should be able to be freely exchanged between developers and the entire company to understand the precise needs of the company and the applications and features that would be the most useful.
A survey by TechRepublic found that 91% of IT decision-makers believe it is dangerous to create applications without evaluating the possible issues. This refers to “Shadow IT” practices, in which companies build out unofficial apps that may leave them vulnerable to security vulnerabilities, as well as performance issues. Microsoft’s Power Platform provides a workaround to this potential pitfall by providing official, rigorously checked low code/no code solutions.
It may be tempting for business leaders to push citizen development on their employees, but this is rarely the most effective way forward. Instead of forcing those employees who are not naturally adept with technology into low-level programming roles, keep the quality of your citizen development team high by keeping it optional.
Don’t expect your employees to automatically understand how to programme, and don’t leave it to them to work it out for themselves. Create training programmes and incorporate testing and peer reviews to help your staff improve their applications and their abilities.
Simon Foote at Resonate, said: “The thing about citizen development is it is easy to get it right, and it is easy to get it wrong.
“To get it wrong, you just need to be missing one key ingredient like communication, policies and direction for your citizen developer team or perhaps you have got the wrong or insufficient tools. Maybe your team just does not have a broader understanding of your company’s needs to be making effective apps. As I say, it is easy to get it wrong.”
“With proper management and decent tools, you can easily transform your business from the inside out. We make the process even easier for our clients by offering a bespoke development service using Microsoft Power Platform. Plus, as Microsoft and industry experts, we can advise you to ensure you get the best out of the citizen development revolution.”
For more expert advice on deploying citizen developers, watch Resonate’s recent Centre of Excellence webinar.
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