What is a Citizen Developer? How to Build a ‘Citizen Developer’ Workforce
The digital age is rife with new and complex software requirements, and it’s no secret that the demand for experienced developers continues to outpace their availability.
According to Forrester, the U.S. is projected to have a deficit of 500,000 developers by 2024. This looming shortage of IT professionals has created a new gap in software development needs that must be filled quickly.
Enter citizen developers–individuals who are able to use no-code platforms to rapidly create applications and solve problems without having an extensive technical background or coding skills. By leveraging citizen developers, organizations can leverage populations with untapped potential to bridge the skills gap and create powerful solutions quickly.
With no-code platforms, citizen developers do not need to spend time coding but instead can focus on other important tasks like designing applications and putting them into production fast enough to meet enterprise demand yet still provide a quality product. It’s clear that citizen developers are the answer many companies are looking for; they help keep their businesses running efficiently while also meeting customer demands faster than ever before.
What is a Citizen Developer?
A citizen developer is someone who can create business applications without having an extensive technical background. This type of person typically has some computer knowledge, including how to use various tools and software, but not necessarily coding expertise.
Citizen developers can effectively analyze problems and quickly come up with creative solutions by utilizing no-code platforms. With no-code platforms, citizen developers can rapidly prototype, build and deploy applications to help meet organizational goals. This type of development is particularly helpful for businesses that are unable to hire traditional software engineers due to a lack of funds or resources.
Citizen Developer vs. Professional Developer
There is a difference between a citizen developer and a professional software engineer. A professional software engineer has the technical know-how to code, build and maintain complex applications for businesses. They also have years of experience in coding languages such as JavaScript, HTML, CSS, etc., which allows them to create powerful applications that can scale with the business’s needs.
Citizen developers, on the other hand, can rapidly create applications without needing to have extensive coding skills. They can get projects up and running quickly using no-code platforms and do not need to spend time writing code. This makes them ideal for businesses that need short-term solutions or are unable to recruit traditional software engineers due to budget constraints.
By utilizing citizen developers, organizations can bridge the skills gap and quickly create powerful applications that meet their needs. This type of development is an invaluable asset for companies looking to stay competitive in today’s rapidly evolving digital world.
Who Can Be A Citizen Developer?
Citizen developers come from all walks of life and generally have a passion for problem-solving. Professionals in fields such as marketing, finance, operations, or even data analytics can utilize no-code platforms to create applications quickly and efficiently.
The most important thing to remember is that any individual who has the interest and the capacity to learn can become a citizen developer. All they need is access to the right platform and support from their organization.
10 Benefits of Citizen Development
There are many benefits of citizen development, including:
- Increased Productivity: Citizen developers can create applications much faster than traditional software engineers, allowing businesses to meet customer demands quickly and efficiently.
- Cost Savings: By leveraging citizen developers instead of hiring professional software engineers, organizations can save money while still meeting their needs in a timely manner.
- Higher Quality: Citizen developers are typically highly skilled and knowledgeable in the areas they are developing, which leads to a higher quality of applications developed.
- Increased Innovation: By utilizing no-code platforms, citizen developers can quickly come up with creative solutions that meet the needs of their organization.
- Improved Scalability: With the help of citizen development, organizations can quickly scale their applications and solutions as needed.
- Faster Time to Market: By allowing citizen developers to create applications quickly, businesses can get their products or services to market faster than ever before.
- Increased Flexibility: Citizen developers are able to pivot quickly in response to changes in the market, allowing organizations to remain competitive.
- Better User Experience: Citizen developers are able to design applications in a user-friendly way that caters to their customer base.
- Improved Collaboration: By utilizing no-code platforms, citizen developers can easily collaborate with other team members and stakeholders on projects without having to rely on outside technical help.
- Streamlined Processes: Citizen developers can create applications that streamline business processes and make them more efficient.
How to Build a ‘Citizen Developer’ Workforce?
Organizations can effectively build a citizen development workforce by taking the following steps:
- Establish a Culture of Learning: Organizations should create an environment that encourages learning and experimentation. It is important to recognize and reward innovative solutions created by citizen developers.
- Find the Right Platform: Finding the right no-code platform for your organization is essential for success. This should be done by researching different platforms, assessing the needs of the organization, and finding one that meets those needs.
- Invest in Training: Organizations should invest in training their citizen developers to ensure they have a comprehensive understanding of how to use the chosen no-code platform.
- Develop Guidelines: Establishing guidelines for citizen developers to follow can help ensure that applications are developed consistently and securely, while still allowing for creativity.
- Create a Support System: Putting a support system in place is important for giving citizen developers the assistance they need when developing applications. This can include easy access to technical help or resources.
Overall, citizen development is an effective and powerful way for organizations to create applications quickly and efficiently. By taking the right steps, businesses can leverage their existing talent pool and empower their employees to develop innovative solutions that meet their needs. With the help of citizen developers, companies can remain competitive in today’s ever-changing market.
