What is a Citizen Developer?

The growing importance of citizen developers in modern organizations cannot be overstated. As businesses increasingly rely on technology to streamline operations and stay competitive, the demand for rapid application development and innovation has surged. Citizen developers, with their ability to quickly design and deploy solutions, have emerged as a vital resource. They empower organizations to adapt swiftly to changing market dynamics and customer demands. Moreover, the collaborative nature of citizen development fosters cross-functional communication, breaking down silos between IT departments and other business units. This results in more agile and responsive teams, capable of addressing challenges in real time. In an era of digital transformation, where agility and innovation are paramount, citizen developers have become essential contributors to an organization's success, driving efficiency, cost savings, and improved customer experiences.

“Citizen developers drive innovation, increase adaptability, and ultimately position the organization for success in an increasingly digitized world.”

Who is a Citizen Developer?

Citizen developers possess a unique set of characteristics and skills that distinguish them as valuable contributors to their organizations' technology initiatives.

Characteristics

• They understand organizational goals and align tech solutions with business needs.
• Proactive in identifying and developing solutions independently.
• Creative problem solvers who overcome project challenges.
• Quickly adapt to tech and business changes.
• Work effectively with cross-functional teams for project success.

Skills

• Proficiency in low-code/no-code platforms or basic coding skills to build and maintain applications.
• The ability to identify and analyze business problems, then design and implement solutions.
• Understanding of the specific industry or business domain they operate in, allowing them to create contextually relevant solutions.
• Skills in creating user-friendly interfaces and applications that align with end-users' needs.
• Effective communication to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders, ensuring clear project requirements and outcomes.
• Basic data analysis skills to make data-driven decisions and integrate data into applications when necessary.
• Capable of performing basic testing and quality assurance to ensure the functionality and reliability of their applications.
• Proficiency in basic project management skills to plan, execute, and track the progress of their development projects.

A fundamental distinction exists between citizen developers and professional developers, primarily in their background, role, and approach to software development.

Professional developers

• Role:Professional developers are individuals with formal education and training in software development and typically work in dedicated IT or software development roles.
• Background:They have a formal education in computer science or related fields and often have years of experience in software development.
• Skills:They possess advanced coding skills and expertise in various programming languages, databases, and software development methodologies.
• Focus:Their primary focus is on building complex and scalable software applications that serve broader organizational needs.
• Scope:Professional developers work on enterprise-level projects and may be responsible for the architecture, security, and performance of applications.
• Speed:While they may take more time to develop applications due to their complexity, they ensure a high level of quality, scalability, and maintainability.
• Collaboration:They collaborate with cross-functional teams, including IT professionals, business analysts, and project managers, to deliver comprehensive solutions.

Citizen developers

• Role:Citizen developers are typically individuals within an organization who have domain-specific knowledge but may not have formal training or a full-time role in software development.
• Background:They often come from non-technical backgrounds, such as marketing, operations, or finance, and may learn development skills on the job.
• Skills:They may have basic coding skills or proficiency in low-code/no-code platforms, allowing them to create simple to moderately complex applications.
• Focus:Their primary focus is on solving business problems and addressing specific operational needs within their organization.
• Scope:Citizen developers typically work on smaller-scale, departmental projects and solutions.
• Speed: They can rapidly develop and deploy applications, as their primary goal is to address immediate business needs.
• Collaboration:They collaborate closely with business users and may require assistance from professional developers for more complex technical aspects.

The distinction between these two roles is not one of superiority but rather specialization. Professional developers specialize in building complex and enterprise-grade software, while citizen developers specialize in addressing specific business requirements rapidly.

The 4Ps of Citizen Development

The 4Ps of citizen development refer to a framework that empowers non-technical individuals within an organization to participate in creating and customizing software solutions to meet their specific needs. These four Ps stand for People, Process, Platforms, and Policies, and they play a crucial role in the success and sustainability of citizen development initiatives.

• People:

  • Identify and nurture a community of citizen developers from diverse backgrounds.

  • Provide training and support for skill development and confidence.

• Process:

  • Establish a structured process covering ideation, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.

  • Ensure alignment with organizational goals, data security, and regulatory compliance.

• Platforms:

  • Offer user-friendly low-code/no-code platforms.

  • Enable integration with existing systems and databases for efficient solutions.

• Policies:

  • Implement clear governance policies for security, data privacy, and compliance.

  • Mitigate risks and protect intellectual property rights.

Why Do Citizen Developers Matter?

In the context of digital transformation, which often involves the adoption of new technologies and the overhaul of existing processes, citizen developers act as catalysts for change.

• Citizen developers identify digital transformation opportunities and create solutions, fostering innovation.
• They rapidly develop and deploy tools to streamline processes, expediting digital transformation.
• Citizen developers prioritize user-friendly tools aligned with end-users' needs. They bridge tech and non-tech teams, promoting vital collaboration.
• Citizen developers champion digital transformation, cultivating innovation and adaptability for long-term success.

Benefits of citizen developers for businesses

Citizen developers offer a multitude of benefits for businesses, making them a valuable asset in today's competitive landscape.

• Citizen developers reduce development time and costs, enabling quick responses to changing market demands.
• Leveraging in-house talent saves on external developer expenses, particularly beneficial for smaller businesses.
• Automation by citizen developers boosts overall productivity through tailored solutions.
• Their proximity to operations fuels innovative solutions for process improvement.
• Citizen developers ensure apps align with business goals, enhancing strategic relevance.

It breaks down silos between IT and other departments, promoting a culture of technology-driven problem-solving throughout the organization.

Empowering Citizen Developers in Your Organization

It's essential to create a supportive environment that encourages and celebrates citizen development. This can be achieved through the establishment of clear policies and guidelines that empower employees to engage in citizen development activities without fear of repercussions.

• Offer low-code/no-code platforms and training for skill development.
• Implement mentorship programs for skill acceleration and community building.
• Integrate citizen development into the overall digital strategy, ensuring alignment and communication with IT.
• Provide ongoing training, recognition, and incentives to motivate and retain talent.

Encouraging collaboration between citizen developers and IT departments

Promoting collaboration between citizen developers and IT departments is a strategic imperative in today's technology-driven landscape. This synergy can yield tremendous benefits for organizations, and several strategies can facilitate it.

• Promote open communication with regular meetings and shared spaces.
• Establish clear collaboration processes for citizen developers and IT.
• Implement cross-training to bridge knowledge gaps.
• Reward successful collaborations to motivate engagement.

It's a key strategy for unlocking the full potential of technology initiatives and ensuring alignment with broader business objectives.

Future Trends & Outlook

“Embracing citizen development can improve a company’s innovation score by 33%”

One of the notable trends is the continued growth and evolution of low-code and no-code platforms. The democratization of technology through these platforms is expected to accelerate, making it even more accessible to non-technical users.

• AI and ML are enhancing citizen development with smarter, data-driven tools.
• Increased collaboration and knowledge sharing promote innovation.
• Citizen development extends beyond IT to other business functions for efficiency and customer-focused solutions.

“41% of organizations are actively working with citizen developers and 20% of those that aren’t are either evaluating or planning to start doing so.”

How DrapCode can assist you with citizen development?

DrapCode plays a crucial role in enabling citizen development by providing individuals with limited coding experience the tools they need to create applications.

• Accessibility:DrapCode has a user-friendly interface, making app development easy for people from various backgrounds.
• Rapid Development: They speed up app creation, essential for adapting to changing needs.
• Reduced IT Dependency: Citizen developers handle smaller tasks, freeing IT for bigger projects.
• Customization:DrapCode offers templates for tailored solutions.
• Integration:They connect apps with existing systems.
• Compliance and Security: Built-in governance ensures adherence to policies.
• Scalability: DrapCode works for small to complex projects.

Sign up for a free trial today and begin your journey as a citizen developer with our user-friendly work platform. No extensive restructuring required, just straightforward tools designed for easy understanding, allowing you to build apps affordably and efficiently.