Citizen Development Insights

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have been a cornerstone of modern business operations for decades. They help companies manage their resources, streamline their workflows, and improve their overall efficiency. However, traditional ERP systems can be expensive, complex, and time-consuming to implement, making them inaccessible to smaller businesses and startups. This is where no-code/low-code ERP platforms come into play. These systems require little to no coding knowledge, making them accessible to businesses of all sizes. But can no-code/low-code ERP systems really replace traditional ERP platforms? 

In this article, we'll explore the benefits and drawbacks of both approaches and see if no-code/low-code ERP platforms are ready to take over the market. Let’s begin!

All About ERP Platforms

Let’s start off with a bit of revision. As you must know, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are software solutions that help businesses manage their day-to-day operations, including financial management, human resources, supply chain management, customer relationship management, and more. ERP systems integrate different business functions and provide a centralized database for all data, enabling businesses to have a holistic view of their operations. In fact, 53% of businesses believe ERP is one of the priority sectors for investments.

ERP systems are important for several reasons. First, they help businesses increase efficiency and productivity by automating routine tasks, reducing errors, and streamlining workflows. This frees up employees to focus on more strategic tasks, such as customer acquisition and product development. Second, ERP systems provide real-time data analytics and reporting, allowing businesses to make informed decisions based on accurate information. Lastly, ERP systems improve collaboration and communication within and between departments, leading to better decision-making and increased transparency.

If all’s well and ERP systems are helping organizations so much, then why are we even talking about replacing them? Why is there a need to do so? 

Challenges Associated with Legacy ERP Systems

Legacy ERP systems, which are typically older, on-premise software solutions, can hold back a business in several ways. These systems were designed to meet the needs of businesses in a different era and can struggle to keep up with the rapidly changing technological landscape of today's business world. Here is why your traditional ERP could be harming your business: 

1. Lack of Flexibility and Customization

One of the most significant challenges with legacy ERP systems is their lack of flexibility and customization options. These systems are often designed to meet the specific needs of a business at a particular time, and any changes to the system require significant time and resources. This can be a major challenge for businesses that need to adapt quickly to changing market conditions or customer demands.

2. Limited Integration Capabilities

Legacy ERP systems were not designed to integrate with other software solutions, which can create data silos and limit the visibility of critical business information. This can make it difficult for businesses to make informed decisions or take advantage of emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, or IoT.

3. Outdated User Interface

Many legacy ERP systems have outdated user interfaces that are difficult to use and not intuitive. This can lead to decreased productivity and increased frustration among employees who need to use the system regularly. It can also make it difficult to onboard new employees and ensure that they are using the system correctly.

4. Security Risks

Legacy ERP systems may be more vulnerable to security threats, as they may not have the latest security patches and updates. This can leave a business open to data breaches or other cyber attacks, which can be costly and damaging to the company's reputation.

5. Costly Maintenance

Maintaining a legacy ERP system can be costly and time-consuming, as it requires specialized knowledge and resources to keep the system up to date. This can divert resources away from more strategic initiatives and make it difficult for businesses to stay competitive in their industry. According to one study, firms using old ERP systems spend between 60% and 80% of their IT budget on maintenance compared to those who have shifted to modern ERP software.

6. Limited Mobile Accessibility

Most legacy ERP systems are not designed to be accessed from mobile devices, which can limit the ability of employees to access critical business information when they are away from the office. This can be a major challenge for businesses that have remote or field-based employees who need to access the system on the go.

To stay competitive in today's rapidly changing business landscape, businesses need to consider modern cloud-based ERP systems that offer greater flexibility, scalability, and integration capabilities. By doing so, businesses can stay ahead of the curve and achieve greater success in the long run.

Naturally, the question arises, what is the best way to create an ERP system that helps your business thrive and compete? One that does away with all these challenges? Well, look no further because we have the perfect solution in mind. 

No-Code/Low-Code for ERP Modernization

Just to recap, no-code/low-code technology refers to software development platforms that allow users to create applications without requiring advanced coding skills. These platforms typically use visual interfaces, drag-and-drop tools, and pre-built templates to enable users to create applications quickly and easily.

When it comes to ERP modernization, no-code/low-code technology can be a game-changer. Traditionally, ERP systems have been expensive and time-consuming to implement, often requiring extensive customization and development work. With no-code/low-code ERP systems, businesses can implement and customize their ERP systems much more quickly and at a lower cost.

Here are some reasons why organizations should consider ERP modernization with no-code/low-code technology:

1. Faster Implementation

No-code/low-code ERP systems can be implemented much more quickly than traditional ERP systems. This is because the visual interface and pre-built templates allow users to create and configure their ERP system with minimal coding or development work.

2. Increased Efficiency

Modern ERP systems with no-code/low-code can increase efficiency by automating routine tasks and streamlining workflows. This frees up employees to focus on more strategic tasks, such as customer acquisition and product development.

3. Improved Data Analytics and Reporting

No-code/low-code ERP systems provide real-time data analytics and reporting, allowing businesses to make informed decisions based on accurate information.

So, is it time for you to completely do away with your current ERP system? Do you need to start afresh with no-code/low-code technology?

Using No-Code/Low-Code in Conjunction With Your Existing ERP System

Answering the million-dollar question, you simply don’t have any need to make it no-code/low-code vs your existing ERP system. One does not have to replace the other, as both can work in conjunction to create magic. Your current ERP system, despite its shortcomings, is designed to fit into your organizational processes. The people in your organization must also have a certain level of comfort with it. However, this does not mean that you need to put up with all the shortcomings of a legacy system. You can use no-code/low-code to get rid of these challenges without having to start from scratch. Let’s explore the various advantages of using no-code/low-code with your existing ERP system: 

Integrating no-code/low-code technology with existing ERP systems can offer several advantages, including:

1. Faster Customization

Using no-code/low-code technology, businesses can customize their existing ERP system without needing to hire additional developers or programmers. The visual interface and drag-and-drop tools allow business users to create and modify workflows, forms, and reports without needing to write any code.

2. Lower Costs

Implementing a new ERP system can be a costly endeavor, but no-code/low-code technology can reduce costs by allowing businesses to modify and extend their existing ERP system without the need for expensive customization or development work.

3. Improved User Experience

By using no-code/low-code technology, businesses can improve the user experience of their existing ERP system. They can create custom forms and workflows that are tailored to their specific needs, making it easier for employees to complete tasks and access the information they need.

4. Greater Flexibility

No-code/low-code technology allows businesses to make changes to their existing ERP system quickly and easily. This provides greater flexibility, enabling businesses to adapt their system to changing business needs and requirements.

5. Reduced Risk 

When implementing a new ERP system, there is always a risk of disruption and downtime. By using no-code/low-code technology to modify their existing ERP system, businesses can reduce this risk by avoiding the need for a complete system overhaul.

6. Increased Innovation

No-code/low-code technology empowers business users to experiment with new workflows, forms, and reports, encouraging innovation and experimentation.

The Takeaway

Using no-code/low-code to update and modernize your legacy ERP systems gives you the power to have the best of both worlds. While you can continue using a system you’re comfortable with, you can do away with all the challenges associated with a legacy system. By leveraging the visual interface and drag-and-drop tools of no-code/low-code technology, you can make changes to your ERP system quickly and easily, without needing extensive development work or coding skills.

No-Code low-code development is quickly becoming one of the most in-demanded skills in the tech industry, and for a good reason. With the rise of no-code platforms, citizen developers - those with little to no coding experience - can now create powerful, professional-grade applications without the need for extensive programming knowledge.    

This shift towards no-code is driven by several factors, including the growing demand for digital solutions in the business world, the increasing accessibility of no-code tools, and the need for faster and more efficient application development. Not only does it democratize the tech industry, but it also opens up new business opportunities and has the potential to make citizen developers future millionaires.    
 

One of the significant benefits of no-code, low-code development is its ability to democratize the tech industry. By allowing citizen developers to create and launch their own applications, no-code platforms are levelling the playing field and providing opportunities for individuals with a wide range of backgrounds & skill sets.    

LCNC platforms also enable small businesses and startups to compete with larger, more established companies by allowing them to quickly and easily create and launch digital solutions at a fraction of the cost of traditional development methods.    

But the benefits of no-code development extend far beyond just democratization and cost savings. The ability to create and launch applications without extensive coding knowledge also opens up a wide range of new business opportunities for citizen developers.    

As the world goes digital, the demand for digital solutions is only going to continue to grow. With no-code development, citizen developers are uniquely positioned to capitalize on this demand and turn their skills into high-income opportunities.

1. Increased demand for digital solutions:    

With the world becoming increasingly digital, the demand for digital solutions is only going to continue to grow. No-Code low-code development allows developers to capitalize on this demand by creating and launching their own applications without requiring extensive coding knowledge.    

The increased demand for digital solutions has certainly given a boost to no-code solutions. For example, consider a small business owner who wants to create a website to promote their products and services. Previously, they would have had to hire a web developer or learn to code themselves to create a website. However, with the rise of no-code platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress, the business owner can now easily create a professional-looking website without any technical skills. They can design and publish their website in hours rather than days or weeks using visual drag-and-drop interfaces. This is just an example of how the increased demand for digital solutions has driven the growth of no-code solutions, making software development more accessible to a wider range of users.

2. Cost savings: 

No-Code, low-code platforms enable developers to create and launch digital solutions at a fraction of the cost of traditional development methods. This allows them to compete with larger, more established companies and create new revenue streams.    

LCNC platforms allow developers to create and launch digital solutions much faster and cost-effectively than traditional development methods. By using drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built components, developers can reduce the time & effort required to build a solution, allowing them to focus on more important tasks like testing and deployment. Additionally, since no-code platforms don't require writing code, they can be used by various people, including non-technical users. This can help reduce the cost of development, as businesses and organizations can save on hiring expenses for developers or coders. Overall, no-code platforms provide a cost-effective way for businesses and organizations to develop and launch digital solutions to meet their needs quickly.   

3. Faster development:    

No-Code low-code development allows developers to create and launch applications faster than traditional development methods, allowing them to take on more projects and increase their earning potential.    

Several studies and reports have confirmed that no-code development allows developers to create and launch applications much faster than traditional development methods.   

For example, a report by Forrester Research found that no-code development can reduce the time to launch an application by up to 90%.    

These statistics highlight the significant time saving that can be achieved with no-code development, making it an attractive option for businesses and organizations that need to quickly develop and launch digital solutions to meet their needs.

4. Flexibility:  

With no-code development, developers can work on their terms and create schedules. This allows them to balance work and personal life and also to work remotely.    

No-Code development can offer developers the flexibility to work on their terms and create their schedules. By using no-code platforms, developers can work from anywhere, anytime, & on any device, allowing them to manage their work and personal life as they see fit. It can lead to increased job satisfaction & a better work-life balance, as well as the ability to attract & retain top talent, which can ultimately benefit businesses and organizations looking to develop high-quality, innovative digital solutions.

5. Entrepreneurial opportunities:    

No-Code low-code development allows developers to build their businesses and create new revenue streams without the need for extensive capital or resources.    

Studies and reports have found that no-code development allows developers to build their businesses and create new revenue streams without the need for extensive capital or resources.   

For example, a report by Forrester Research found that no-code development enables developers to bring new products and services to market much faster and at a lower cost than traditional development methods.    

These statistics highlight the potential for no-code development to support entrepreneurship and drive economic growth by providing developers with the tools and resources they need to build and grow their businesses. This can help create new revenue streams and job opportunities and support the development of innovative digital solutions.   

6. Diversification:   

 No-code, low-code development allows developers to diversify their skills and take on projects in different industries and domains. This allows them to increase their earning potential and reduce their dependency on a single source of income.    

No-code platforms can help businesses diversify their product offerings, reach new markets, and expand into new areas without the need for extensive capital or resources. This can provide a competitive advantage, help businesses adapt to changing market conditions, and support new business models and revenue streams.   

In addition, no-code development can provide individuals and developers with new opportunities for diversification by enabling them to build and launch their businesses and applications and create new revenue streams.   

Overall, no-code development can support diversification in several ways, providing businesses and individuals with the tools and resources they need to expand, grow, and succeed in today's digital economy.   

7. High-income skills:

According to Gartner, no-code and low-code platforms will power 70% of application development by 2024. This means that the demand for no-code developers will only increase in the coming future, making it one of the most valuable skills in the tech industry.    

No-code development can be considered a high-income skill, as it allows individuals to build and launch digital solutions quickly and effectively without needing extensive technical expertise or programming knowledge. This can open up new career growth and development opportunities and provide individuals with the skills they must have to succeed in today's digital economy.   

For example, no-code development can provide individuals with in-demand skills highly sought after by businesses and organizations, such as product development, digital marketing, and user experience design. Additionally, no-code development can support entrepreneurship and small business growth by enabling individuals to build and launch their businesses and applications and create new revenue streams.   

Overall, no-code development can be considered a high-income skill, as it allows individuals to develop and launch digital solutions quickly and effectively and opens up new opportunities for career growth and development in today's digital economy.

8. No-code platforms are user-friendly: 

 One of the key benefits of no-code development is its user-friendly design, making it easier for developers to learn and use, even with limited technical expertise or programming knowledge.   

No-Code platforms are typically designed with drag-and-drop interfaces, visual workflows, and pre-built templates, which can help simplify the development process and reduce the time it takes to launch a digital solution. This can make it easier for developers to get started with no-code development and help them quickly develop and launch innovative digital solutions that meet the needs & demands of their customers and clients.   

Additionally, many no-code platforms offer resources such as tutorials, documentation, and online communities, which can provide developers with the support and guidance they need to succeed. These resources can help developers overcome any challenges they may face and improve their skills over time.   

Overall, the user-friendly design of no-code development platforms can make it easier for developers to learn and use and support their ability to quickly and effectively launch innovative digital solutions.   

9. Citizen Developers:    

With the rise of no-code development, more and more people with little to no coding experience can create professional-grade applications. This opens up new business opportunities for citizen developers and allows them to control their careers and become their own bosses.    

No-Code development provides citizen developers with the tools and resources to quickly and effectively build and launch digital solutions without requiring extensive coding or programming knowledge. This can help democratize the development process by making it easier for people to craft their ideas to life and launch their businesses.   

Additionally, no-code development also allows citizen developers to work on their own conditions & terms and create their own schedules, which can help them balance their work & personal commitments. This can also allow citizen developers to pursue their passion & build a successful career in the tech industry without the need for extensive capital or resources.   

Overall, the rise of no-code development empowers citizen developers and allows them to create professional-grade applications, take control of their careers, and pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions.   

10. Future-proofing:    

The world is evolving rapidly, and technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate. No-code development is a future-proof skill that will allow developers to adapt to the changing tech landscape and continue to earn a high income in the future.    

 No-Code development platforms are designed to be flexible, scalable, and user-friendly, which makes them well-suited to the changing needs & demands of the tech landscape. This means that developers with no-code skills can quickly adapt to new technologies and trends and continue to deliver high-quality digital solutions to their customers and clients.   

Additionally, as the demand for digital solutions continues to grow, no-code development will become increasingly important, as it provides a way for developers to quickly and efficiently build and launch digital solutions that meet the needs of their customers/clients. This will enable them to remain competitive and continue to earn a high income in the future.   

Overall, no-code development is a future-proof skill that will help developers stay relevant, adapt to the changing tech landscape, and continue to earn a high income in the future.   

Conclusion

The benefits of no-code development don't stop there. With the sudden rise of the gig economy, more & more people are looking for ways to take control of their careers and become their bosses. No-code development offers a unique opportunity for citizen developers to do just that.    

No-code developers can create new revenue streams by creating and launching their applications and building their businesses without needing extensive capital or resources.    

Citizen developers are capitalizing on the future of tech by using low-code and no-code platforms to build and deploy applications. However, they need to consider the potential risks associated with shadow IT, such as security and governance issues and ensure they work closely with IT departments to ensure compliance with established policies. This way, they can fully leverage the benefits of these platforms while mitigating the risks and ensuring the applications they develop align with the overall IT strategy of the organization.  

No-code development is one of the most valuable skills you can have in today's tech industry. Not only does it democratize the tech industry and open up new business opportunities, but it also has the potential to make you a future millionaire. With the increasing demand for digital solutions and the growing popularity of no-code platforms, now is the perfect time to invest in your no-code development skills and take control of your future. 

On one hand, businesses are going full throttle on digitizing their operations, but on the other hand, IT talent shortages hamper the timely implementation of complex software. However, no-code development platforms are proving to be effective.  

No-code platforms reduce development complexity to the point where business users can create solutions without knowing programming, APIs, or how to deploy web or mobile apps. No-code solutions, which are frequently packaged as a SaaS (software as a service) or PaaS (platform as a service), simplify many complex aspects of development so that business users and IT teams can become more agile and focus on generating functionality. 

According to Gartner, the market for no-code/low-code application platforms would grow by more than 30% from 2020 levels by 2022. By embracing these no-code solutions, project managers may serve the diverse and often siloed interests of both IT and business as IT project leaders and business process stakeholders. 

But what are the advantages of no-code development, and how can you put them into practice in your project teams? 

The answer could be in citizen development — creating a group of non-technical team members to take up some of the tasks that IT teams can’t focus on due to lack of bandwidth. 

According to Gartner, citizen developers will build 80% of all technological products by 2024, up from just 25% in 2014. This rapid spread is attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic: New business models and processes arose as organizations hurried to implement cloud services and digital initiatives to deal with a distant workforce. These occurrences coincided with the rapid adoption of agile frameworks in recent years, which place a premium on speed and shorter development cycles. Along with developer scarcity, all of this has allowed citizen developers to fix various issues. 

Citizen development from an agility standpoint  

In today’s organizations, there is a lot of unmet demand that central IT solution teams can’t address. When citizen developers are given no-code tools, they can build solutions ten times faster than if they had to rely on programming alone. They tackle problems as they arise, creating applications that are unlikely to be quickly built by IT, given the number of projects they are already handling. Developers and architects may focus on more complicated solutions that offer real value to the business. It translates to higher overall productivity (98 percent less time spent producing operational dashboards, for example) and better business results. 

Embracing no-code means adopting a philosophy that prioritizes user empowerment. However, it would help if you had a new software development life cycle that is flexible and built on agile principles to empower consumers. You also require a framework to assist citizen developers in rapidly developing applications and getting real-time feedback from stakeholders.  

Enabling agility with citizen development  

Understanding citizen development is one thing, but understanding how to scale it is another. To successfully adopt and scale citizen development, your organization needs to: 

• Establish a governance structure 
• Reimagine rules of engagement with IT departments and business users. 
• Reskill and upskill your workforce with agile future competencies, including digital literacy and citizen development proficiency. 
• Equip your workforce with the required no-code tools.  

Without the aforementioned considerations, citizen development applications may cause more harm than good, causing extra work or confusion instead of solving a problem. Your citizen development practitioners need tools to design and build their applications within the context of the business and the entire organization. 

Citizen development governance structure  

Although business users can easily use no-code platforms to build custom, priority-specific applications in an agile fashion, their roles and responsibilities need to be earmarked to prevent the challenge of shadow IT. This can be achieved by establishing a well-thought-out governance structure. 

Your IT governance model can take a top-down approach, with a single authority overseeing your entire citizen development programme, including various projects and initiatives. Your CTO can lead this office, which can be placed within your IT department. There are other governance models as well, and organizations can choose based on the assessment of their maturity level.

The office can establish no-code development best practices and roll them out across the firm, ensuring that all teams (technical and non-technical) are on the same page. Other tasks may include the following: 

• Choosing the most refined no-code platform for the entire organization 
• Maintaining the policy and criteria for citizen development.
• Bringing together and distributing resources. 
• Organizing citizen developer workshops, hackathons, and community activities. 
• Identification and prioritization of high-value no-code projects. For example, building no-code applications to automate critical workflows in a time crunch. 
• Updating Internal and external stakeholders on the status of several no-code projects. 

Identifying the “right fit” candidate for citizen development 

Someone with hands-on experience dealing with paper-based processes and understanding the associated pain points is a great candidate for citizen development. No prior coding knowledge is required to use no-code platforms, but the desired candidate must have a solid grip on business logic.  

It’s important to note that citizen development is not a one-man show and is carried out through a governance paradigm. Therefore, an ideal candidate should also have a collaborative approach. 

Citizen developers are much more than self-sufficient contributors. They are primarily business users; therefore, no-code development is not their primary responsibility, and they must balance numerous tasks. As a result, another quality of a productive citizen developer is time management. 

Conclusion  

With the rise of citizen developers, the extent of democratization of software development is also rising, which is significantly facilitating agile application development. Although realities like shadow IT may appear frightening, having a defined set of governance principles, roles, and obligations can help make citizen development successful. As more companies adopt a hybrid workforce model, it’s critical to direct non-technical staff toward citizen development rather than burden remote-based IT personnel with day-to-day troubleshooting. No-code platforms are democratizing and speeding up innovation by allowing business analysts, product designers, and marketers to act as citizen engineers. 

By Mario Trentim

Citizen development is not something that´s far out in the future. We now live in an era of hyper-agility that demands citizen development skills to innovate, and the modern workplace and digital businesses require cultivating citizen development to maximize digital dexterity.

Citizen developers are in high demand in all

professions and roles.

Figure 1 – Anyone can be a developer (Gartner, 2019)

Although, in theory, anyone can become a citizen developer (Figure 1), it is not easy to become a successful citizen developer. In a previous article, I laid out five tips to QuickStart your citizen development career. And in this article, I would like to highlight the benefits of certifications to establish your professional credibility and to guide you on best practices.

How can you stand out in the job market as

a professional citizen developer?

Professional Developer vs Citizen Developer

. Before I describe citizen development certificates and credentials, it is important to highlight the major career differences between a citizen developer and a professional developer:

-          Professional Developer: IT professionals and software developers who have the skills, knowledge, and expertise to create and maintain software created for commercial purposes.

-          Citizen Developer: non-IT professionals who are capable of building applications without coding knowledge, but usually with the support of IT.

A typical career path for a software developer may start with database, application services, software development lifecycle, coding skills, and a variety of technologies. A professional developer might become a technical leader, software architect, CIO (Chief Information Officer) or CTO (Chief Technology Officer).

Figure 2 – Software developer learning paths (LinkedIn Learning)

What about Citizen Developers?

What does a CD career path look like?

The Project Economy articulates how work has changed for individuals and organizations. According to PMI´s research, the future of work will be based more on specific projects than roles, meaning change-makers are anywhere in all industries and professions. On top of that, digital transformation is everywhere from products and services to new technologies, new business models, and new ways of work. Consequently, citizen development as a life skill applies to all of us.

Learning a visual interface drag-and-drop system to connect components in a meaningful order to create an application without writing any code is not enough. You have to acquire the skillset to see the world through new lens, understanding business needs through the hyper-agile SDLC (Doing and the Management of Doing).

Figure 3 – PMI Citizen Development framework.

To become a successful citizen developer, you must understand the citizen development framework (Figure 2), as I explained in previous articles. You can take the official course at https://www.pmi.org/citizen-developer and showcase your certificate of completion on your resume. The next step is to get certified.

Get a Certification, and Get Ahead

A certification increases your earning potential and employability. You can also access community involvement benefits by getting a certification.

Figure 4 – PMI CD product descriptions and certifications.

Our professions are rapidly evolving, citizen development will upskill your career, enabling you to create low-code applications. That means you can leverage your competencies and experience to achieve more through the use of technology. Take these examples:

-          Finance: as a citizen developer, you may solve a variety of problems by developing a reimbursement app or automated approvals based on business rules;

-          Health Care: as a citizen developer, you may identify opportunities to improve services by adopting paperless technology and real time dashboards;

-          Marketing: as a citizen developer, you may develop applications to improve customer experience, customer service, and more;

-          Project Management: as a citizen developer, you may build a variety of applications to help you updating tasks, manage information and documents, and more;

-          Logistics: as a citizen developer, you may find ways to become more productive by using artificial intelligence, big data, and machine learning;

-          Engineering: as a citizen developer, you may combine Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and more to build low-code applications and improve your organization´s competitiveness.

The common story among the examples above is that they use a proven framework to move from the project concept to a minimum viable product. Hyper-agility is the next big thing for all organizations and professionals. And, by getting certified, you get ahead. Visit https://www.pmi.org/citizen-developer and stay tuned.

Join the conversation. Let me know your thoughts on the comments below. 

Do you prefer listening to a Podcast? Check out the PMOCast here.

Since my last post I have received great feedback on what made the Agile Manifesto successful as well as what areas that could have been improved.  The area that caught my interest the most was how the 2001 Agile Manifesto lacked a robust change mechanism.

This will also be the topic of today’s post, which I will start off by disclosing the results from a poll issued on January 11, 2021.

It is worth noting that while the opinion seems to be that the Manifesto would have benefitted from a robust change mechanism, the consensus still is that he Agile Manifesto stood the test of time (see my previous blog post). 

Implementing a robust mechanism to manage change

When asked about it, you also brought up some very interesting considerations if such a mechanism was to be implemented:

·       Having controls in place to prevent that the direction takes a turn for the worse

·       Ensuring that someone is there to appropriately manage the change mechanism

·       The possibility to track the history of changes made to the Manifesto

·       Ensuring that changes are infrequent and necessary

Needless to say a great deal of responsibility is associated with managing such change.

The role of the group

Another area that interests me is the composition of the Agile Alliance. Trying to understand what makes a group successful with their objectives is a challenging task and there are universal guidelines meant to indicate what potential a group like the Agile Alliance has with achieving its objectives. These guidelines includes criteria such as diversity (e.g. gender, cognitive, ethnic etc.), independence and to what degree the members are conflicted. What do you think is the most important trait for the members of a group that is creating a Manifesto? If you have a view, please go ahead and answer our poll here.