What is citizen development?
Citizen development is an approach that empowers line-of-business users (non-IT employees) to build applications using low-code application platforms (LCAPs). These platforms reduce the reliance on IT teams for everyday software solutions.
It helps users be more efficient and innovative, helping organizations attain their goals quickly. Gartner previously predicted that "by 2026, developers outside formal IT departments will account for at least 80% of the user base for low-code development tools, up from 60% in 2021."
How does citizen development work?
Citizen development is made possible by intuitive visual development platforms that minimize the need for traditional coding skills. These platforms allow line-of-business users to build, test, and deploy applications that address specific business needs.
In this approach, IT teams typically set governance models, provide support, and oversee integrations and security, while citizen developers focus on creating solutions for their departments.
Who is a citizen developer?
A citizen developer is a person who develops software applications without extensive technical training or expertise to fulfill their own or their organization's requirements.
With the growing demand for building apps to solve problems within an organization, IT teams find it difficult to meet every demand on time. That's where citizen developers play a role. They help business users and IT teams build apps for custom needs. This reduces the burden on IT teams by allowing them to focus on solving complex problems.
Examples of real-life citizen developer personas are employees working in HR, marketing, or supply chain departments whose area of expertise lies outside application development.
Professional developer vs. citizen developer
Professional developer
A professional developer possesses in-depth expertise in programming languages, software engineering principles, and complex systems architecture. Their role involves crafting intricate software solutions that are scalable, secure, and high-performance. They serve as the technical foundation for an organization's digital initiatives.
Citizen developer
A citizen developer is a business user with limited to no formal coding experience who can create applications using LCAPs. They focus on solving business problems through technology, often in collaboration with IT departments. While their technical depth may be less extensive than a professional developer, they bring valuable domain knowledge and agility to the development process.
How to become a citizen developer?
Becoming a citizen developer starts with a strong understanding of the organization's processes and a willingness to explore digital solutions. You don’t need formal programming skills, but familiarity with basic programming logic (conditions and sequences) and workflows helps.
Start by identifying recurring tasks or inefficiencies in your department. Then, get hands-on expertise with a LCAP—most offer guided tutorials or templates to help you begin.
Organizations often support this journey through internal training programs, hands-on practice opportunities, and mentorship from IT teams. The key is to experiment, collaborate, and stay aligned with governance policies to build effective, secure applications.
Why is citizen development important for an organization?
Citizen developers play a vital role in organizations. It widens the scope and gives enormous opportunities to employees. Here are a few benefits.
Enhanced IT-business alignment
Citizen development breaks down barriers between IT and business teams by allowing them to communicate directly. This improves collaboration and helps in attaining organizational goals more smoothly.
Higher productivity
Citizen development lets business users automate non-core business workflows with the help of their knowledge in business processes and LCAPs This frees up IT teams and traditional developers to focus on solving complex, high-level problems. It thereby improves the overall productivity of an organization.
Cost-effective
Software developers are in high demand and are expensive for organizations to hire. In this scenario, if in-house talent is encouraged to build applications using the citizen development approach, it can help organizations by reducing the cost allocated for hiring professional developers. This helps an organization use minimal resources.
Cuts down shadow IT
Shadow IT refers to employees' use of software that isn't explicitly approved by the IT team. This occurs when business users are stuck with outdated software and are kept waiting by the IT department to solve their issues. With citizen development, employees are provided the liberty to use tools that meet the organization's privacy and security standards.
Benefits of citizen development
Citizen development offers tangible advantages for both employees and organizations:
Faster problem-solving
Employees can develop solutions independently, reducing delays caused by IT backlogs.
Improved agility
Quick prototyping and iteration help organizations respond to changing needs faster.
Better resource utilization
Eases the burden on IT teams, allowing them to focus on strategic and complex challenges.
Increased employee engagement
Empowers individuals to contribute directly to digital transformation.
Stronger IT alignment
Enhances collaboration between departments, ensuring solutions match organizational objectives.
Best practices to be followed for successful citizen development
There are a few best practices in creating an efficient citizen development framework:
Identify and train citizen developers
Select employees with strong business acumen and a desire to learn. Provide comprehensive training on LCAP.
Establish clear guidelines
Define the scope of citizen development, data security protocols, and application standards.
Implement a governance model
Create a framework for reviewing, approving, and managing citizen-developed applications.
Foster collaboration
Encourage teamwork between IT and citizen developers to ensure alignment with business objectives.
Recognize and reward success
Celebrate achievements to promote a culture of innovation and encourage participation.
Why low-code platforms for citizen development?
Citizen development benefits most organizations, and LCAPs are the tools that best fit this approach. These platforms help both technical and non-technical users easily work together since it caters to both audiences and provides a best-of-both-worlds experience. Business users benefit from meeting their unique requirements without the need to master complex programming languages, while professional developers benefit from improved productivity by being able to build apps faster.
The drag-and-drop visual interface makes app building effortless even for beginners who have no experience with the backend process of developing apps. As organizations look to reduce the burden on IT and become more efficient, they should soon start purchasing and utilizing appropriate low-code platforms for their suitable functions of trade.
Use cases of citizen development
Human resources (HR)
HR professionals can automate repetitive tasks like employee onboarding, leave management, and payroll workflows. For example, an HR team can create a self-service portal to track applications and approvals—reducing delays and improving employee experience.
Customer service
In customer-facing roles, citizen developers can build chatbots, help desk dashboards, or mobile apps to handle service requests and FAQs—leading to faster resolution and better customer satisfaction.
Finance and accounting
Citizen developers can create tools to automate invoicing, expense approvals, and budget tracking. These apps reduce reliance on spreadsheets and improve accuracy through validation workflows.
Supply chain and operations
Citizen developers in operations can digitize manual inventory tracking, automate procurement approvals, or develop real-time dashboards to monitor delivery timelines and vendor performance.
Sales and marketing
Sales teams can build custom CRM extensions, lead capture forms, or campaign tracking tools tailored to their workflows. Marketers can automate feedback collection or segment audiences with minimal IT support.
Production and innovation teams
Citizen developers can quickly prototype and test new product ideas without waiting for IT bandwidth—accelerating innovation cycles and reducing time-to-market.
Citizen development with AppCreator
ManageEngine AppCreator is a low-code platform designed to empower citizen developers and reduce IT dependency within organizations. With its intuitive visual interface and robust automation capabilities, AppCreator enables employees to quickly build, deploy, and manage custom applications—without writing extensive code.
Citizen developers can create workflows, automate repetitive tasks, schedule actions, and receive real-time notifications to stay ahead of business needs. By streamlining internal processes, AppCreator not only boosts productivity but also prevents shadow IT by offering a secure, IT-approved development environment.
With AppCreator, your organization can:
- Be more productive
- Avoid shadow IT and
- Solve business problems quickly
Don't wait any further. Become a citizen developer right away!
TRY APPCREATORFrequently Asked Questions
1. How does citizen development reduce IT bottlenecks and accelerate digital transformation?
Citizen development reduces IT bottlenecks and accelerates digital transformation by empowering line-of-business employees to create applications using low-code/no-code platforms. This decentralizes application development, allowing business units to address their specific needs directly. It alleviates the IT department's workload. Consequently, IT teams can focus on strategic initiatives, leading to faster solution deployment and fostering a culture of innovation across the organization.
2. What types of applications can non-technical employees build using citizen development?
Non-technical employees can develop a variety of applications, including:
- Customer service chatbots
- Data tracking dashboards
- Internal approval systems
- Prototypes for larger IT projects
3. How do IT teams govern and control applications built by citizen developers?
IT teams govern and control applications built by citizen developers through a structured governance framework that ensures security, compliance, and alignment with organizational standards. AppCreator can simplify this process by offering built-in governance tools—such as role-based access controls, audit logs, and centralized oversight—helping IT teams monitor and manage apps effectively without heavy intervention.
4. What is the difference between shadow IT and citizen development?
Shadow IT refers to the use of unauthorized software or tools by employees without the IT team's knowledge or approval, often leading to security and compliance risks.
Citizen development, on the other hand, is a sanctioned approach where non-IT employees build applications using approved low-code/no-code platforms, under IT's governance and control.
5. Is no-code useful for citizen development?
Similar to low-code, no-code is a software development approach that uses visual tools to develop apps, which is why some development platforms are grouped together as low-code/no-code (LCNC). While no-code is similar to low-code in some aspects, it does not involve any coding at all and is primarily targeted at business users who have no prior coding knowledge. Some no-code application platforms might be suitable for citizen development tasks that don't require extensive customizability or specialist skills. Learn more about the differences, similarities, and use cases between low-code and no-code.