How to Hire a Citizen Developer?

Original text: https://cli.im/article/detail/2070

Note: The English term for "全民开发" is Citizen Development, a concept proposed by the consulting firm Gartner in 2010. It refers to non-professional developers using low-code or no-code platforms to create applications without the support of the IT department, aiming to improve productivity and reduce development costs.
In China, Citizen Development is commonly translated as "公民开发." However, CaoLiao QR Code believes that Citizen Development is not merely a technology but a work model and standard. It should be translated as "全民开发," meaning that anyone who understands business processes can become a developer.

The following is a bylined article by Howard M. Cohen on ADTmag, compiled by CaoLiao QR Code.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen numerous articles in industry publications about the demand for citizen developer positions. Moreover, there is a wealth of related job postings on various company websites and recruitment platforms, as if every enterprise or organization is eager to hire a citizen developer.

This leaves me puzzled.

To be honest, I have many questions when discussing new hires taking on the role of citizen developers within a company. What specific skills are required for this position? What capabilities should a qualified candidate possess? Does this role require a four-year undergraduate education, or can it be mastered through a six-month training program?

I know that a citizen developer refers to someone who understands business processes and can leverage tools to solve problems. Regardless of the department, a citizen developer should have a deep understanding of the team’s internal processes. This is the core value of citizen developers: they know how processes should look and how they operate.

So, how can one hire someone with specialized knowledge and experience from outside the organization? Citizen developers should be cultivated and nurtured within the company, not recruited externally.

Logically, citizen developers always emerge from within the organization. External candidates cannot have an in-depth understanding of how the company operates. Therefore, the first challenge for managers is to identify potential citizen developers—specifically, those who are familiar with processes and enthusiastic about using tools to improve them.

If some employees are content with meeting daily work requirements and then heading home without any interest in deeper involvement, they often lack imagination and inspiration. These individuals are not suitable candidates for citizen development. The right candidates will be eager to contribute, constantly suggesting ways to optimize processes. When asked if they are interested in using no-code platforms to build applications based on their ideas, they will enthusiastically respond in the affirmative.

Citizen Developers "Cannot Be Poached"

Over time, you will find the ideal citizen developer within your organization.

If we were discussing network engineers or programmers, we would be concerned about information leaks, as we fear competitors might try to poach these high-value employees. However, citizen developers cannot be poached. Unless another company is identical to yours, the applications they develop will not be applicable elsewhere. You can cultivate citizen developers with greater peace of mind, continuously enhancing their capabilities through training.

How Should We Cultivate Citizen Developers?

Once candidates are identified, there are multiple ways to nurture them.

The first area is "systems analysis" or "business process optimization." This involves understanding the fundamental operational processes within the organization, how these processes can be optimized, and the relationships between inputs, processing, and outputs. In simple terms, it’s about understanding the business or processes and being able to design and implement them.

Next, you need to find a suitable no-code platform (there are many low-code and no-code platforms in China, such as Tencent Weita, Mingdao Cloud, and CaoLiao QR Code). This may not be the responsibility of the citizen developer but rather a decision for IT managers to make wisely.

The next step is to provide training for your chosen citizen developer on the platform. Since many no-code platforms use graphical interfaces that require no coding and allow applications to be built through simple drag-and-drop actions, citizen developers can focus on the business itself without undue pressure.

My final recommendation is time. You need to spend time discussing business requirements with citizen developers and listening carefully to their opinions. When they begin implementing business needs, you will quickly see returns in the form of reduced development time and other benefits—returns that will continue to accrue for years to come.

About the Author

Howard M. Cohen is an IT technology expert, content creator, and senior "results-driven" professional with over 40 years of experience in the information systems field. He has held senior management positions in several top channel partner organizations and currently writes for multiple IT media outlets.