Establishing a Low-Code/No-Code-Enabled Citizen Development Strategy
Björn Binzer, Edona Elshan, Daniel Fürstenau, Till J. Winkler
This study analyzes the low-code/no-code adoption journeys of 24 different companies to understand the challenges and best practices of citizen development. Drawing on these insights, the paper proposes a seven-step strategic framework designed to guide organizations in effectively implementing and managing these powerful tools. The framework helps structure critical design choices to empower employees with little or no IT background to create digital solutions.
Problem
There is a significant gap between the high demand for digital solutions and the limited availability of professional software developers, which constrains business innovation and problem-solving. While low-code/no-code platforms enable non-technical employees (citizen developers) to build applications, organizations often lack a coherent strategy for their adoption. This leads to inefficiencies, security risks, compliance issues, and wasted investments.
Outcome
- The study introduces a seven-step framework for creating a citizen development strategy: Coordinate Architecture, Launch a Development Hub, Establish Rules, Form the Workforce, Orchestrate Liaison Actions, Track Successes, and Iterate the Strategy. - Successful implementation requires a balance between centralized governance and individual developer autonomy, using 'guardrails' rather than rigid restrictions. - Key activities for scaling the strategy include the '5E Cycle': Evangelize, Enable, Educate, Encourage, and Embed citizen development within the organization's culture. - Recommendations include automating governance tasks, promoting business-led development initiatives, and encouraging the use of these tools by IT professionals to foster a collaborative relationship between business and IT units.
Host: Welcome to A.I.S. Insights — powered by Living Knowledge. I’m your host, Anna Ivy Summers. Host: Today, we’re diving into a fascinating new study titled "Establishing a Low-Code/No-Code-Enabled Citizen Development Strategy". Host: It explores how companies can strategically empower their own employees—even those with no IT background—to create digital solutions using low-code and no-code tools. Joining me to unpack this is our analyst, Alex Ian Sutherland. Alex, welcome. Expert: Great to be here, Anna. Host: So, let’s start with the big picture. Why is a study like this so necessary right now? What’s the core problem businesses are facing? Expert: The problem is a classic case of supply and demand. The demand for digital solutions, for workflow automations, for new apps, is skyrocketing. But the supply of professional software developers is extremely limited and expensive. This creates a huge bottleneck that slows down innovation. Host: And companies are turning to low-code platforms as a solution? Expert: Exactly. They hope to turn regular employees into “citizen developers.” The issue is, most companies just buy the software and hope for the best, a sort of "build it and they will come" approach. Expert: But without a real strategy, this can lead to chaos. We're talking security risks, compliance issues, duplicated efforts, and ultimately, wasted money. It's like giving everyone power tools without any blueprints or safety training. Host: That’s a powerful analogy. So how did the researchers in this study figure out what the right approach should be? Expert: They went straight to the source. They conducted in-depth interviews with leaders, managers, and citizen developers at 24 different companies that were already on this journey. They analyzed their successes, their failures, and the best practices that emerged. Host: A look inside the real-world lab. What were some of the key findings that came out of that? Expert: The study's main outcome is a seven-step strategic framework. It covers everything from coordinating the technology architecture to launching a central support hub and tracking successes. Host: Can you give us an example? Expert: One of the most critical findings was the need for balance between control and freedom. The study found that rigid, restrictive rules don't work. Instead, successful companies create ‘guardrails.’ Expert: One manager used a great analogy, saying, "if the guardrails are only 50 centimeters apart, I can only ride through with a bicycle, not a truck. Ultimately, we want to achieve that at least cars can drive through." It’s about enabling people safely, not restricting them. Host: I love that. So it's not just about rules, but about creating the right environment. Expert: Precisely. The study also identified what it calls the ‘5E Cycle’: Evangelize, Enable, Educate, Encourage, and Embed. This is a process for making citizen development part of the company’s DNA, to build a culture where people are excited and empowered to innovate. Host: This is where it gets really practical. Let's talk about why this matters for a business leader. What are the key takeaways they can act on? Expert: The first big takeaway is to promote business-led citizen development. This shouldn't be just another IT project. The study shows that the most successful initiatives are driven by the business units themselves, with 'digital leads' or champions who understand their department's specific needs. Host: So, ownership moves from the IT department to the business itself. What else? Expert: The second is to automate governance wherever possible. Instead of manual checks for every new app, companies can use automated tools—often built with low-code itself—to check for security issues or compliance. This frees up IT to focus on bigger problems and empowers citizen developers to move faster. Host: And the final key takeaway? Expert: It’s about fostering a new, symbiotic relationship between business and IT. For decades, IT has often been seen as the department of "no." This study shows how citizen development can be a bridge. One leader admitted that building trust was their biggest hurdle, but now IT is seen as a valuable partner that enables transformation. Host: It sounds like this is about much more than just technology; it’s a fundamental shift in how work gets done. Expert: Absolutely. It’s about democratizing digital innovation. Host: Fantastic insights, Alex. To sum it up for our listeners: the developer shortage is a major roadblock, but simply buying low-code tools isn't the answer. Host: This study highlights the need for a clear strategy, one that uses flexible guardrails, builds a supportive culture, and transforms the relationship between business and IT from a source of friction to a true partnership. Host: Alex Ian Sutherland, thank you so much for breaking that down for us. Expert: My pleasure, Anna. Host: And thank you to our listeners for tuning into A.I.S. Insights. Join us next time as we continue to explore the ideas shaping the future of business.
Citizen Development, Low-Code, No-Code, Digital Transformation, IT Strategy, Governance Framework, Upskilling
