Citizen Developers – KIPIC Case Study: Empowering Innovation and Accelerating Digital Transformation

Abstract

Abstract The oil and gas industry face unprecedented challenges and opportunities which demand innovative solutions. There needs to be more than the traditional centralized IT operational model to meet the dynamic needs of the industry. This has led to new models, such as the citizen developer program, which enables business users to create and deploy applications without requiring specialized technical skills. The citizen developer program is a new approach allowing non-IT professionals to create applications for their business needs using low-code and no-code platforms. This program aims to decentralize IT operations, increase innovation, reduce costs, and enhance customer experience. The democratization of technology is the core concept behind the citizen developer program, which enables businesses to create their applications and automate their processes [1]. The implementation of a citizen developer program requires careful planning and consideration of various factors, including change management, awareness and marketing of the concept, training, selecting the correct low code no code tool, management buy-in, building a community of practices for citizen developers, governance/policy, and more. These elements are critical to the program's success and must be carefully considered during implementation. This manuscript provides a framework for implementing a citizen developer program in the oil and gas industry. It also includes a case study of implementing such a program and creating significant value in Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (KIPIC). The Framework emphasizes the importance of change management, awareness and marketing of the concept, training, selecting the correct low code no code tool, management buy-in, building a community of practices for citizen developers, governance/policy, and more. The manuscript aims to provide insights into the benefits of implementing a citizen developer program in the oil and gas industry and its potential impact on the IT operational model. In summary, the citizen developer program represents a paradigm shift in the oil and gas industry, which enables businesses to create and deploy applications without relying solely on IT professionals. This program can increase innovation, reduce costs, and enhance customer experience. The implementation of a citizen developer program requires careful planning and consideration of various factors, as outlined in this manuscript.