AI Operations
What does it mean to work in the IT industry, where progress is being made every day, new software is constantly being released, new programming languages are being used and Stack Overflow is booming with new questions from users all over the world? That definitely doesn't make IT a homogenous sector, with many occupations that don't require programming experience or deep knowledge of computer systems. In these professions, deep expertise and the ability to turn raw data into valuable insights is more important than a degree in computer science. The lives of such subject matter experts have been made significantly easier by the development of low-code and no-code platforms that provide these citizen developers - as they are known - with the tools for their work. After all, choosing software is just a tool to achieve results.
Well, not exactly without any programming, but with specialized software that translates user input into code without the need for in-depth knowledge of programming languages, etc. The tools for automated code creation can be analyzed as follows:
No-code platforms allow the creation of application software, which is usually based on a drag-and-drop visual user interface. The user selects predefined functions, data sources, data flows, visual elements, etc. to create a logical whole. A popular example could be wix.com, which allows websites to be created without previous experience in website development.
Low-code platforms offer additional opportunities for more customization on the no-code platforms, often in addition to options to program an entire application (if desired), simultaneously check the code for best practices, available resources, compliance with the company's corporate policies, and provide user assistance when needed. Have you seen the Frilager website or application? It is a traveling website built with Oracle APEX.
Generative programming, a part of generative AI, has currently received a lot of attention, thanks in particular to the already famous ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer with large language models; see the previous article: Your own data and LLMs) or co-pilot. The new advancements in AI have enabled users to make requests in natural language and receive pieces of code or requested data queries in return.
Of course, in each of these cases, IT skills are generally an advantage so users can better understand what they're building and how to avoid potential usage issues before they happen.
Everyone! It seems that anyone can use these tools to make their work more efficient. However, many of the existing tools were developed specifically for use by non-IT specialists. Yet people with deep expertise who understand the specific needs of their field and need to achieve results faster than would be possible by hiring IT professionals to create complex and tailored solutions are turning to no-code/low-code platforms. With the latest advances in software development, the role of citizen developer could eventually take on software development to create solutions that are precisely tailored to business requirements. The German term “department developer” suggested by Computerwoche.de clearly indicates that every department could need tailor-made IT solutions and that these can be developed internally. In many areas, the Citizen Developer will be the person who connects subject matter specialists, such as HR specialists, marketing specialists, customer service specialists, and IT specialists who can identify the best solutions to the problems and standardize approaches to problem solving.
Another, even more specialized and emerging role is that of citizen integrator, who keeps an overview of many processes in the company and knows his internal software systems. This person can map data flows between processes and is therefore able to identify bottlenecks and provide solutions to data management problems.
Google, Forbes, and Accenture are talking openly about citizen development — why shouldn't we? Some may think it's the next buzzword and a trend that won't last long. However, there is actually a need for specialists to bridge specialist and IT skills in all types of companies for the coming years. The job market is big enough to include all IT professionals, whether on the more technical or the more specialized side, and everyone in between.
The Project Management Institute states that “Citizen Development is one of today's most exciting business movements.” With so many business teams struggling with internal software infrastructure issues and the size of the budgets each company spends on software developers, it's definitely worth taking a closer look at the topic of citizen development. Of course, as with any solution, there are advantages and disadvantages, which we will describe in the future.
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