In the rapidly evolving business landscape, organizations are constantly seeking ways to innovate and stay ahead of the competition. One of the most effective strategies to foster innovation is through citizen development. This approach empowers non-technical employees to create applications and solutions that address their specific needs, driving efficiency and creativity within the organization. In this article, we will explore the concept of citizen development, its benefits, challenges, and how organizations can successfully implement it to unleash innovation.

What is Citizen Development?

Citizen development refers to the practice of enabling non-technical employees, often referred to as “citizen developers,” to create applications and solutions using low code or no code development platforms. These platforms provide user-friendly interfaces and pre-built templates, allowing individuals without formal programming skills to build functional applications that meet their specific business needs.

According to a report by Gartner, by 2023, 41% of employees in organizations will be using low code development tools, significantly increasing the number of citizen developers.

Benefits of Citizen Development

Accelerated Innovation: Citizen development allows organizations to tap into the creativity and insights of employees who are closest to the problems. This leads to innovative solutions that may not have been identified by traditional IT teams.

Increased Agility: With citizen developers creating applications, organizations can respond more quickly to changing business needs. This agility is crucial in today’s fast-paced environment, where market demands can shift rapidly.

Cost Savings: By empowering employees to develop their own solutions, organizations can reduce reliance on IT departments for every small change or request. This not only saves time but also reduces development costs.

Read more : Unleash organizational innovation with citizen development