Citizen development promises to empower people to build apps, automate processes and solve problems without waiting for IT. But in many organisations, projects stall, apps get abandoned and trust erodes. The good news: most failures are preventable. Here are the common pitfalls - and how to fix them.
Reason 1 - No clear vision or ownership
Citizen development isn’t just a set of tools; it’s a change in how people work. Without clear goals and executive sponsorship, momentum fades quickly.
How to fix it:
- Treat it as a strategic programme, not a side project.
- Define a vision and success metrics aligned to business outcomes.
- Secure sponsorship and make someone accountable to lead and sustain it.
- Have a dedicated team to actively govern, enable and champion the platform. They will become the heartbeat of the program, ensuring makers feel supported and business goals stay front and centre.
Reason 2 - Governance that’s too heavy (or too light)
Governance often swings to extremes - so tight that makers give up, or so loose that chaos reigns. Both lead to frustration, risk and lost trust between IT and the business.
How to fix it:
- Establish environment strategies, DLP policies and lifecycle processes.
- Protect data while encouraging creativity and rapid iteration.
Reason 3 - Lack of enablement and support
Handing people new tools and expecting instant success rarely works. Without training, templates and mentoring, most new makers will hit a wall.
How to fix it:
- Build an enablement programme with workshops, training and lunch and learns.
- Provide templates, reusable components and patterns.
- Offer coaching and office hours to unblock makers quickly.
Reason 4 - Ignoring culture and community
Citizen development thrives on curiosity and collaboration. If makers feel isolated and invisible, enthusiasm will fade fast.
How to fix it:
- Build a thriving maker community with meetups and show and tells.
- Share success stories and celebrate creative problem solving.
- Put people at the centre, not just platforms.
Reason 5 - No connection to business value
If apps don’t deliver measurable outcomes, leadership will lose interest. Citizen development becomes a collection of side projects instead of strategic transformation.
How to fix it:
- Link every initiative to tangible impact: saved hours, improved data accuracy, fewer manual steps, better cycle times.
- Track and publish outcomes regularly.
- Share wins widely to build momentum and trust.
The real success factor
Successful citizen development isn’t about tools - it’s about people, culture and guidance. Citizen development works when IT acts as an enabler, not a gatekeeper. When employees are supported, trusted and equipped, innovation becomes part of everyday work. Let your people be curious. Encourage pilots, celebrate experiments and accept that mistakes are part of learning. Create a safe environment where employees feel trusted to try new things without fear of blame because innovation thrives when people feel supported and secure.
How Robiquity helps
At Robiquity, we help organisations design sustainable citizen development programmes built on strong governance, enablement and a thriving maker community. From Centre of Excellece (CoE) design and setup to reusable accelerators, we focus on outcomes you can measure and celebrate.
Ready to level up your programme?
