Tech
Citizen Developers: Employees Building Applications Without a Formal Coding Background
Image: Citizen Developers: Employees Building Applications Without a Formal Coding Background
Image: Ferenc Almasi/Unsplash
  • 41% of IT leaders believe that citizen developers will be responsible for more than 25% of business applications by 2024.
  • Citizen developers can build applications 10 times faster than professional developers.
  • Only 25% of organizations have formal training programs in place for citizen developers, leaving many to figure things out on their own.

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of citizen developers within large companies. These are employees who create applications and tools without formal coding backgrounds. According to a recent survey by Gartner, 41% of IT leaders believe that citizen developers will be responsible for more than 25% of business applications by 2024.

One of the main reasons for the rise of citizen developers is the shortage of professional developers. The same Gartner survey found that 68% of organizations have a developer shortage. This has led to companies turning to their non-technical employees to fill the gap and create solutions. Additionally, citizen developers can build applications 10 times faster than professional developers, according to a study by Forrester.

However, there are challenges that come with embracing citizen developers in the workplace. Security and compliance concerns are top of mind for IT leaders, with 53% stating that they are worried about the security risks associated with these DIY developers. In addition, only 25% of organizations have formal training programs in place for citizen developers, leaving many to figure things out on their own.

Despite these challenges, the benefits of utilizing citizen developers are clear. Not only can they help alleviate the developer shortage, but they also bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the table. Companies that embrace citizen developers are also able to innovate faster and stay ahead of the competition.

The role of citizen developers in large companies is only going to continue to grow in the coming years. By providing the necessary support and training, organizations can harness the potential of these DIY developers to drive innovation and success.

 
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