The Citizen Development Canvas: Best Practices and Methodology

A citizen developer is a user who creates new business applications for consumption by others using development and runtime environments sanctioned by corporate IT. They build applications to facilitate the processes of business operations while following the standards and guidelines of the IT department. Unlike IT professionals and developers, they may not have formal training in programming and might not even be part of the IT function. Citizen developers are not typically professional developers; they may have some technical or development skills, but it isn’t their main job and they don’t necessarily work in IT.

To build a citizen developer workforce, it is important to involve IT in defining the types of use cases and workloads best suited for citizen developers. IT should be involved in the selection of low-code platforms and setting up the right governance structure. Because low-code and no-code tools use graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and abstract away much of the line-code, citizen developers can quickly create apps using modular code sets.

Creating a Center of Competence (CoE)

Creating a center of competence for citizen developers can help organizations build a workforce of citizen developers and enable them to create custom business applications using low-code or no-code tools. Here are some steps to create a center of competence for citizen developers:

1. Create governance policies: Organizations should start by creating rules or “guardrails” or governance policies around app development. The rules should cover both internal and external compliance requirements and ensure that citizen developers follow the standards and guidelines of the IT department.

2. Identify citizen developer skills: Four key citizen developer skills include identifying and defining a problem, designing a solution, building the solution, and deploying and maintaining the solution. Organizations should evaluate the current state of people resources, workforce skills, and define participants’ job roles and responsibilities after training.

3. Provide training: Organizations should provide structured learning programs designed to help individuals learn about the low-code or no-code tools such as the Microsoft Power Platform. The training should include technology training and define clear expectations and processes that define how citizen development employees will work with other teams.

4. Involve IT: IT should be involved in defining the types of use cases and workloads best suited for citizen developers. IT should also be involved in the selection of low-code platforms and setting up the right governance structure.?

5. Implement key policies: Trusting but #verifying your citizen developers is key. Without implementing key “Center of Excellence” policies – such as Data Loss Prevention (DLP) – you run the risk of critical errors by your citizen developers.?

By following these steps, organizations can create a center of competence for citizen developers and enable them to create custom business applications using low-code or no-code tools.

Best practices for Implementing the Program

Implementing a citizen development program requires careful planning and execution to ensure success. Here are some best practices for implementing a citizen development program:

1. Get buy-in from leadership: Leadership support is critical to the success of a citizen development program. Leaders should understand the benefits of citizen development and how it can help the organization achieve its goals.

2. Choose a low-code platform: Low-code platforms are essential for citizen development because they allow users to create applications without extensive coding knowledge. Organizations should choose a platform that is easy to use and provides the necessary features and functionality.

3. Define roles: Organizations should define the roles and responsibilities of citizen developers and IT staff. This will help ensure that everyone understands their role in the development process and can work together effectively.

4. Create goals: Organizations should define clear goals for their citizen development program. This will help ensure that the program is aligned with the organization's overall strategy and objectives.

5. Plan out use cases: Organizations should identify the use cases where citizen development can be most effective. This will help ensure that citizen developers are working on projects that are aligned with the organization's goals and objectives.

6. Establish citizen developer governance: Governance is critical to the success of a citizen development program. Organizations should establish policies and procedures to ensure that citizen developers follow best practices and comply with security and compliance requirements.

7. Provide training: Organizations should provide training to citizen developers to help them develop the necessary skills to create applications. Training should cover both technology and governance policies.

By following these best practices, organizations can implement a successful citizen development program and realize the benefits of low-code application development.

Establishing an effective governance

Establishing effective governance is critical to the success of a citizen development program. Here are some steps to establish effective governance for citizen development programs:

1. Create a centralized command center: A centralized command center within the IT department provides resources, structure, and accountability through monitoring. This center should be responsible for defining policies and procedures, providing guidance and resources, and monitoring citizen development activities.

2. Define policies and procedures: Governance policies and procedures should cover both internal and external compliance requirements and ensure that citizen developers follow the standards and guidelines of the IT department. Policies should include guidelines for data security, access control, and application lifecycle management.

3. Involve IT: IT should be involved in defining the types of use cases and workloads best suited for citizen developers. IT should also be involved in the selection of low-code platforms and setting up the right governance structure.

4. Define roles and responsibilities: Organizations should define the roles and responsibilities of citizen developers and IT staff. This will help ensure that everyone understands their role in the development process and can work together effectively.

5. Provide training: Organizations should provide training to citizen developers to help them develop the necessary skills to create applications. Training should cover both technology and governance policies.

6. Monitor and evaluate: Governance policies should include guidelines for monitoring and evaluating citizen development activities. This will help ensure that citizen developers follow best practices and comply with security and compliance requirements.

By following these steps, organizations can establish effective governance for citizen development programs and ensure that citizen developers follow best practices and comply with security and compliance requirements.

No shadow IT

To avoid creating a shadow IT, which refers to the use of unauthorized technology and systems within an organization, it is essential to establish a strong governance framework and involve IT in the citizen development process. Here are some steps to prevent the creation of shadow IT:

1. Involve IT from the beginning: Engage IT in the citizen development process, including the selection of low-code platforms, defining use cases, and setting up governance structures. This ensures that IT is aware of and supports the citizen development initiatives.

2. Establish clear governance policies: Develop and enforce governance policies that cover data security, access control, application lifecycle management, and compliance requirements. These policies should be communicated to all citizen developers and IT staff.

3. Define roles and responsibilities: Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of citizen developers, IT staff, and other stakeholders involved in the citizen development process. This helps ensure that everyone understands their role and can work together effectively.

4. Provide training and support: Offer training to citizen developers on both the technology and governance policies. This ensures that they understand the importance of adhering to the organization's policies and procedures.

5. Monitor and audit: Regularly monitor and audit citizen development activities to ensure compliance with governance policies and to identify any potential risks. This helps detect and address any unauthorized technology usage or security vulnerabilities.

6. Encourage open communication: Foster a culture of open communication between IT and citizen developers. Encourage citizen developers to share their ideas, challenges, and successes with IT, and vice versa. This helps build trust and collaboration between the two groups.

By following these steps, organizations can prevent the creation of shadow IT while still empowering citizen developers to create custom business applications using low-code or no-code tools.

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