How to start a citizen development program

Starting a citizen development program requires careful planning and a phased approach to ensure success and mitigate risks:  

1. Gain Executive Buy-in: Secure support from leadership, highlighting the benefits of empowering business users.  

2. Establish a Center of Excellence (CoE): Form a dedicated team (IT and business) to govern the program, set standards, provide training, and offer support.  

3. Select the Right Platforms: Choose user-friendly low-code/no-code platforms that align with your security, scalability, and integration needs (e.g., Kissflow).  

4. Identify Pilot Projects: Start with low-risk, high-impact processes that can demonstrate quick wins.  

5. Provide Training and Resources: Offer comprehensive training, documentation, and ongoing support to citizen developers.  

6. Define Governance and Best Practices: Establish clear guidelines for app development, security, data management, and deployment.  

7. Promote and Celebrate Successes: Share success stories to encourage adoption and demonstrate the value of the program.  

8. Foster Collaboration: Encourage collaboration between IT and citizen developers to ensure alignment and quality.