Is There Really Any Such Thing As A Citizen Developer?

The podcast discusses the concept of citizen developers and whether they truly exist. Helen Wall, a guest from Houston, joins the conversation. The term "citizen developer" suggests that individuals without formal development training can create applications using low code tools like Power Apps. While this can bridge the gap between business and IT, it often leads to issues like unorganized apps and security risks without proper governance.

The speakers highlight that citizen developers may lack the time and depth of understanding that professional developers have, leading to poorly designed solutions. Proper project management, clear goals, and governance are essential to making citizen development work effectively. They also touch on the marketing aspect, suggesting that the term may be used to sell more software licenses. However, tools like Power BI can still be valuable for individuals to develop useful solutions that save time.

Looking to the future, the focus should be on helping individuals use these tools to improve their work while ensuring good planning and governance. Organizations need to mature their platforms, understand their capabilities better, and develop a healthy cynicism about marketing claims. The discussion ends with a hint at future topics, such as the democratization of data and Excel pie charts.

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Transcript

Andy:
Today, we have a special guest, Helen Wall from Houston. Helen, can you introduce yourself?

Helen:
Hello, thanks for having me. Andy and I run the Power BI user group in Houston. We meet at the Microsoft offices, and the next meeting is on the 22nd.

Andy:
Today's topic is citizen developers. Do they really exist? Helen, what does the term mean to you?

Helen:
You don't need a computer science degree to do development work. People can learn coding on their own and create things, but that doesn't always translate to professional development. There's a big difference between learning to code and developing something publishable.

Andy:
The term citizen developer was coined by Gartner. It relates to low code tools. Shailan, can you talk about how low code tools relate to citizen developers?

Shailan:
Low code tools like Power Apps allow business users to create applications without deep coding knowledge. It bridges the gap between IT and business units. However, without proper training and governance, it can lead to issues like unorganized apps and security risks.

Andy:
Tom, from a formal software development perspective, what problems do citizen developers pose?

Tom:
Citizen developers often lack the time and depth of understanding that professional developers have. This can lead to poorly designed solutions and gaps between what users want and need. Proper governance and business analysis are crucial.

Andy:
Helen, as an educator, how do you make citizen development work in organizations?

Helen:
It's about helping individuals use tools to make their own work easier without overstepping into full-scale development. Proper project management and clear goals are essential to avoid chaos.

Andy:
Is the term citizen developer just a marketing strategy to sell more software licenses?

Helen:
There's some truth to that. Companies might use it to push more licenses, but tools like Power BI allow individuals to develop useful solutions that can save time, even if they aren’t scaled organization-wide.

Shailan:
Marketing does play a role, but with proper governance, citizen development can bridge the gap between business needs and IT solutions.

Tom:
Governance is key. Without it, these tools can create chaos. But with the right controls, they can be valuable.

Andy:
What’s the future of citizen development?

Helen:
It should focus on how individuals can use these tools to improve their work. Successful projects need good planning.

Shailan:
There needs to be a balance. Business users can develop prototypes and proof of concepts, but IT should oversee and guide the process.

Tom:
The future involves maturing platforms and better understanding their capabilities. Organizations need to develop a healthy cynicism about marketing claims and focus on practical governance.

Andy:
Thanks, everyone. Next week, we might talk about the democratization of data or even Excel pie charts. See you then!

All:
Thank you!