The future of IT is no longer confined to the walls of the IT department. According to Forrester’s groundbreaking report, Citizen Development Will Rewrite the IT Operating Model, the democratization of software development is reaching a tipping point. By 2025, enabling non-IT workers to build software will no longer be a niche initiative but a core pillar of the IT operating model. This shift is driven by the rise of citizen developers, the proliferation of low-code no-code platforms, and the transformative power of AI. In this blog, we’ll explore the key insights from the report and what they mean for businesses, IT leaders, and the future of work.
The Democratization of Development: A Tipping Point
Historically, citizen development programs were seen as discrete IT initiatives aimed at fostering innovation or reducing the IT backlog. However, Forrester’s report reveals that these programs are now becoming mainstream. According to their 2024 Developer Survey, 83% of global director-level developers or higher reported that their organizations were either implementing or planning to implement citizen development strategies within the next 12 months.
Why Now?
Scale and Success: Enterprises like Shell, a global food company, and a global insurance firm have demonstrated the scalability and ROI of citizen development. For example, Shell’s citizen developer program now involves roughly 5% of its workforce, while a global food company has built nearly 50,000 apps, with 800 achieving enterprise-class status and delivering an estimated 1,800% ROI.
AI as a Catalyst: The AI boom has accelerated the adoption of citizen development. AI-infused low-code platforms make it easier than ever for non-technical employees to build intelligent applications. Forrester’s survey found that 42% of organizations are prioritizing AI-infused applications as a key use case for citizen developers.
Cultural Shift: The workforce is becoming more tech-savvy, and employees are increasingly empowered to solve their own problems. This cultural shift is driving demand for tools that enable self-service development.
The IT Operating Model: From Builders to Enablers
As citizen development scales, the role of IT is evolving. No longer just builders of software, IT organizations are shifting to become enablers of innovation. This new operating model focuses on providing platforms, governance, and support to empower citizen developers across the organization.
Key Characteristics of the New IT Operating Model:
Citizen Developers as a New Customer Category: IT now serves three types of customers: end-users, product owners, and citizen developers. Citizen developers are unique in that they deliver their own solutions, combining the capabilities of low-code platforms with their domain expertise.
Centers of Excellence (COEs): Many organizations are establishing COEs to lead citizen development strategies. These teams provide training, mentorship, and governance while fostering a community of practice. For example, Amtrak’s citizen development program is led by a COE that supports business units in building their own solutions.
Pragmatic Governance: Traditional IT governance, which scrutinizes every project, is being replaced by a more pragmatic approach. Citizen developers are given autonomy to build applications, with governance focused on managing outsized risks. For instance, one global financial firm only requires formal IT oversight for apps with a financial loss risk of $50 million or more per annum.
Bespoke Applications as the New Normal: As low-code platforms become more powerful, organizations are increasingly favoring bespoke applications over off-the-shelf solutions. This shift is driven by the lower cost, risk, and lead time of low-code development.
The Future of IT: Platforms, Not Apps
Forrester’s report paints a vivid picture of the future IT operating model. In this new world, IT’s primary role will be to provide platforms that enable employees across the organization to build their own solutions. Here’s what this future looks like:
1. Development as a Skill Spectrum
Development will no longer be the exclusive domain of professional coders. Instead, it will become a spectrum of recognized personas, including:
Casual Developers: Employees who build personal productivity tools.
Business Process Owners: Domain experts who create software to achieve business goals.
Platform Superusers: Power users who solve complex problems and enable others.
True Technologists: IT professionals who focus on platform engineering and cutting-edge tech.
2. Build Over Buy
The rise of citizen development and AI-infused low-code platforms is challenging the dominance of SaaS applications. Organizations are increasingly opting to build bespoke solutions tailored to their unique needs rather than purchasing generic off-the-shelf software. As one CIO put it, “We’re freezing all new app purchases. We start by developing [on low-code platforms].”
3. IT’s New Value Proposition
In the future, IT’s value will lie in its ability to provide frictionless, automated development experiences. This includes:
Platform Engineering: Building and maintaining low-code platforms that address the majority of use cases.
Automation: Using AI to automate governance, quality checks, and security.
Enablement: Providing training, mentorship, and support to citizen developers.
As Michael McCullough, Amtrak’s Citizen Development Business Architect, aptly summarized, “The biggest value of our platform is that you only have to deal with data, business logic, and UI. Security, change management, access, and scalability are largely taken care of.”
Implications for Businesses and IT Leaders
Forrester’s report has profound implications for businesses and IT leaders:
Embrace Citizen Development: Organizations that fail to adopt citizen development risk falling behind. Start by identifying early adopters, providing training, and establishing governance frameworks.
Invest in Low-Code Platforms: Low-code no-code platforms are the foundation of citizen development. Choose platforms that are scalable, secure, and easy to use.
Reimagine IT’s Role: IT leaders must shift their focus from building apps to enabling innovation. This requires a mindset shift and new capabilities, such as platform engineering and community building.
Leverage AI: AI-infused low-code platforms are a game-changer. Use them to accelerate development and unlock new possibilities for intelligent applications.
Conclusion
The democratization of development is rewriting the IT operating model. By empowering citizen developers, organizations can unlock unprecedented levels of innovation, agility, and efficiency. As Forrester’s report makes clear, the future of IT is not about building apps—it’s about enabling everyone to build apps. The question is no longer whether your organization should embrace citizen development, but how quickly you can make the transition.
Are you ready to rewrite your IT operating model? The future is here, and it’s powered by citizen developers.