Citizen development is a concept in which non-programmers are empowered to create applications that meet their own needs, without the need for professional development assistance. The idea of everyday business professional developing their own tools can be found going back as far as the late 1970s, when tools such as VisiCalc, dBase and Lotus 1-2-3 allowed non-professional programmers to create useful applications with comparatively little coding.

In the past few years, the concept of citizen development has gained significant traction, with a growing number of vendors offering products and services aimed at empowering non-technical users to build their own applications. While the term is sometimes used interchangeably with “low-code development,” there is a distinction between the two concepts: while low-code development platforms provide a drag-and-drop interface for creating applications, citizen development generally refers to the empowerment of non-technical users to create applications without the need for coding skills.

How are citizen developers different from professional developers?

The term “citizen developer” refers to someone who creates applications for their own use or for their organization at large, without the need for professional development assistance. Citizen developers are typically not professional programmers, and as such, they may not have the same level of coding skills as their professional counterparts. However, citizen developers are often able to create applications that are just as functional as those created by professional developers, thanks to the growing number of low-code development platforms that offer a drag-and-drop interface for creating applications.

Certain citizen development projects may require input from IT professionals in order to ensure that the applications meet the organization’s security and compliance needs. However, in many cases, citizen developers are able to create applications without any IT involvement.

What are some advantages of citizen development?

There are a number of advantages associated with citizen development, including the following:

1. Citizen developers are typically more in touch with the needs of end users, as they are building applications for their own use. This helps to ensure that the applications they create are more likely to meet the long-term needs of organization, as opposed to applications that are created by professional developers who may not have the same level of understanding of end user needs.

2. Citizen development can help to reduce the overall cost of application development, as citizen developers are typically not paid extra for their work.

3. Citizen development can help to improve the speed of application development, as citizen developers are often able to create applications much faster than professional developers as they are subject matter experts (SMEs) and do not need as much background information to start development.

4. Citizen development can help to increase the level of innovation in an organization, as citizen developers are often more open to trying new things and experimenting with new ideas.

How do I implement a citizen developer program in my organization?

If you’re interested in implementing a citizen developer program in your organization, there are a few things you’ll need to do:

1. Define what you want to achieve with your citizen developer program. What are your goals and objectives? What do you hope to accomplish?

2. Identify the business needs that your citizen developer program can address. What pain points do you hope to solve?

3. Select the right platform for your citizen developer program. There are a number of different low-code development platforms on the market, so it’s important to select one that will meet the specific needs of your organization.

4. Train your citizen developers. Once you’ve selected a platform, you’ll need to train your citizen developers on how to use it. This can be done through online tutorials, in-person training sessions, or a combination of both.

5. Support your citizen developers. It’s important to provide ongoing support to your citizen developers, so they can continue to build high-quality applications. This can be done through a combination of online resources and in-person support.

The Project Management Institute (PMI) has an excellent course on citizen development for non-technical, technical, and executive stakeholder teams.

Conclusion

Citizen development is not going anywhere anytime soon. It’s a concept that is here to stay, and one that can bring a number of benefits to your organization. If you’re interested in implementing a citizen developer program, there are a few things you’ll need to do, including selecting the right platform, training your citizen developers, and providing ongoing support.

Hartmann Industries offers small-business and enterprise consulting on citizen development programs, backed by PMI-certified project managers.