Not everyone wants to (or should) be a developer. We’ve seen programs fail because they tried to force everyone to use LCNC tools. What are the "Success Personas" we should look for? Is it purely about technical aptitude, or is Digital Literacy and a "Problem-Solving" mindset more important? Also, how do we incentivize this extra work so it doesn't just feel like a "burden" on top of their day job?
3 answers
Look for the "Excel Wizards" and "Power Users." These are people already solving problems with complex formulas or manual workarounds. The ideal persona has high Domain Knowledge and a "builder" mindset. Training shouldn't be a 40-hour bootcamp; it should be bite-sized "In-Context" learning. Give them a specific problem to solve in their own department as their graduation project.
Incentives are crucial. If building an app saves the company $50k in manual labor, the creator should be recognized. We’ve integrated Citizen Development into career paths—earning a "Low-Code Badge" is now a prerequisite for certain "Digital Lead" promotions. This transforms it from "extra work" into a "career booster."
Don't forget the "Soft Skills." A Citizen Developer needs to be a good communicator. They are effectively acting as a Business Analyst and a Developer. They need to be able to map out a process on a whiteboard before they touch a single drag-and-drop component.
Hard agree. "Logic first, Platform second." The biggest cause of failed apps is building a digital version of a broken physical process.
Recognition is powerful. We hold a monthly "App-Off" where teams showcase their builds. The winners get a small budget for their department or a tech-gadget prize. It creates a healthy "Innovation Buzz."