The Citizen Developer Mindset: Creating Business Solutions with Design Thinking from edX

This course describes the concept of design thinking and how it is used to create empathy for the customer's challenges and needs. Training professionals will use design thinking to create effective training programs designed specifically to help citizen developers succeed.

Citizen developers must work as partners with the IT department. The training department can be the conduit between citizen developers and the IT department. To be good partners, citizen developers need to be trained in these skills:

Cybersecurity essentials.
Collaboration skills and being a good partner.
The software development lifecycle and when to call in extra help and guidance from the IT Department

What you'll learn

Trainers will teach citizen developers Observation techniques to scope out the customer's problem fully.
Trainers will expose citizen developers to Empathy techniques to help citizen developers better understand the causes of the customer's problem.
Trainers will teach citizen developers a variety of Solution techniques to develop no-code/low-code apps that will meet the customer’s needs.
Then, the citizen developer is taught Prototyping techniques to build possible solutions to test how well their no-code/low-code apps solve the customer's problems.

What's inside

Syllabus

Week One

Module One - The Citizen Developer Revolution

Module Two - A Tour of the No-Code/Low-Code Tools

Module Three - The Citizen Developer Persona

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops empathy, observation, collaboration and solution techniques, which are core communication, interpersonal, and design thinking skills that employees may not otherwise gain or may suffer in without dedicated training

Builds a strong foudnation for beginners by teaching no-/low-code app development as a tool for building real-world solutions to real-world problems

Examines the citizen developer persona and the need for robust training programs, which are important considerations for companies employing citizen developers

Teaches design thinking, empathy, solution creation and prototyping through no-/low-code tools, which are standard in the software development industry

Taught by Bill Brantley, whose work in design thinking is recognized in the industry

Develops prototyping techniques, which are core to the design thinking process and serve as foundational skills for designers, developers, and product builders

Reviews summary

Design thinking for citizen developers

According to learners, this course offers a comprehensive and practical introduction to applying Design Thinking principles for citizen development. Students frequently highlight the course's ability to provide a strong foundational understanding of how to create business solutions using no-code/low-code tools. Many found the structured approach to training citizen developers, incorporating elements like observation, empathy, solution techniques, and prototyping, to be particularly useful. The inclusion of modules on building and facilitating workshops was also noted as a valuable, practical addition, helping to bridge the gap between technical skills and effective implementation.

Bonus content on workshop planning and facilitation is highly beneficial.

"The bonus week on building and facilitating workshops was an unexpected but extremely useful addition to the course material."

"I gained practical tips for running effective online workshops, which is highly relevant in today's environment."

"This section alone provided valuable insights into planning impactful sessions, making the course even more comprehensive."

Serves as an excellent starting point for new citizen developers or trainers.

"As someone new to citizen development, this course gave me a solid foundation and confidence to explore more."

"It's a great introductory course that provides a clear overview of the mindset and tools needed."

"For beginners, the course content is perfectly paced and easy to grasp, explaining complex ideas simply."

Provides a well-organized framework for training citizen developers effectively.

"The detailed modules on observation, empathy, solution techniques, and prototyping are invaluable for anyone looking to train citizen developers."

"I appreciate the structured approach, especially how it guides you through building a training program based on design thinking principles."

"The course lays out a clear path for L&D professionals to empower citizen developers within their organizations."

Course effectively integrates Design Thinking with practical no-code/low-code applications.

"I found the connection between Design Thinking and no-code/low-code solutions to be incredibly practical and insightful for my projects."

"The emphasis on empathy and prototyping using low-code tools was a game-changer for how I approach problem-solving."

"This course brilliantly combines theoretical concepts with actionable strategies for building real business solutions as a citizen developer."

Some content may be basic for experienced learners, but suitable for beginners.

"While the course provides a good overview, I found some sections to be a bit basic given my prior experience with design thinking."

"For those already familiar with low-code/no-code concepts, certain modules might feel like a review rather than new information."

"I was hoping for slightly more advanced techniques in some areas, but it's great for foundational knowledge."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Citizen Developer Mindset: Creating Business Solutions with Design Thinking with these activities:

Read on DevOps tools

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Will help you refresh your knowledge on the tools and concepts used in DevOps before taking the course

Browse courses on DevOps Tools

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Read introductory articles or blog posts on DevOps tools
Review popular platforms and tools like Docker, Kubernetes, and Jenkins
Explore online tutorials or video resources on CI/CD pipelines

Follow tutorials on UX design principles

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Will help you grasp the fundamentals of UX design and how it relates to design thinking for citizen developers

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Find online tutorials or courses on UX design principles
Complete the tutorials, applying the concepts to real-world examples
Practice using UX design tools to create mockups and prototypes

Attend industry conferences and meetups

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Will help you connect with professionals in the field, learn about industry trends, and gain insights into real-world applications of design thinking for citizen developers

Browse courses on Networking

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Research upcoming industry conferences and meetups related to design thinking or citizen development
Register and attend the events
Network with speakers, attendees, and potential mentors

Three other activities

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Build a small-scale app using no-code/low-code tools

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Will help you apply the concepts of design thinking and citizen development by building a practical solution to a real-world problem

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Identify a problem or need that can be addressed with a no-code/low-code app
Design the solution using design thinking principles
Build the app using a no-code/low-code platform
Test and refine the app based on user feedback

Write a blog post or article on design thinking for citizen developers

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Will help you synthesize your understanding of design thinking and citizen development by creating a valuable resource for others

Browse courses on Design Thinking

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Research and gather information on design thinking and citizen development
Develop an outline for your blog post or article
Write and edit the content, providing clear examples and actionable advice
Publish and promote your blog post or article online

Mentor other citizen developers or aspiring designers

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Will help you solidify your understanding of design thinking and citizen development while making a positive impact on others

Browse courses on Mentoring

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Identify opportunities to mentor others, such as joining online communities or volunteering at workshops
Provide guidance and support to mentees on design thinking principles and citizen development practices
Share your own experiences and insights to help mentees learn and grow

Career center

Learners who complete The Citizen Developer Mindset: Creating Business Solutions with Design Thinking will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Business Analyst

Design Thinking is a common method used by Business Analysts when creating solutions for their clients. A course that teaches Design Thinking will help build a foundation to succeed as a Business Analyst by providing real-world examples, as well as theoretical knowledge in the subject. This course is a great choice for those looking to enter the field of Business Analysis and want to develop a quick understanding of Desing Thinking.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

User Experience (UX) Designer

Citizen Developers leverage Design Thinking to solve many of the same problems tackled by UX Designers, such as building empathy and creating effective solutions. By taking a course in Design Thinking, citizen developers gain insight into how UX Designers approach and solve problems. This course in particular will help build a foundation for Design Thinking, which is relevant to the work of a UX Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience (UX) Designer

Information Technology (IT) Project Manager

Citizen Developers often work closely with IT Project Managers. This course can help prepare the Citizen Developer for that partnership by providing insight into IT, software development lifecycles, and Cybersecurity essentials. This course is a great option for those already working with IT Project Managers or those looking to enter that field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Technology (IT) Project Manager

Software Developer

Learning Design Thinking gives Software Developers a different approach to problem-solving, which can lead to more innovative solutions. This course helps teach the core tools of Design Thinking, which can help Software Developers better understand the customer's needs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Project Manager

Design Thinking can help Project Managers develop a deeper understanding of the needs and wants of the end user. A course that focuses on teaching Design Thinking can help Project Managers enhance their skills in working with end users and developing better requirements documentation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Training Manager

Training Managers responsible for leading Design Thinking workshops may benefit frmo this course by enhancing their understanding of the core concepts. This course may be especially useful for training managers who are not familiar with design thinking or who want to improve their facilitation skills.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers may be able to use Design Thinking to create more engaging and effective learning experiences. This course is a great option to learn more about the principles and process of Design Thinking, as well as how to apply these principles to the design of training programs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Instructional Designer

Learning and Development Manager

Understanding Design Thinking can help Learning and Development Managers create more effective training programs for those looking to become Citizen Developers. Furthermore, this course can help these managers understand how to create more robust training programs, which is a key part of their role.

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Product Manager

Citizen Developers build solutions to meet the needs of end users. Product Managers do something similar in their role. By understanding the core concepts of Design Thinking and learning how to apply them to problem-solving, Product Managers can enhance their abilities to ideate, develop, and market products to customers.

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Quality Assurance (QA) Tester

Understanding Design Thinking can help QA Testers perform their job by enabling them to understand how end users will use it and what their goals are. This course can teach QA Testers how to apply Design Thinking to testing and ensure that the software is meeting the needs of end users.

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Scrum Master

Scrum Masters may lead workshops or training sessions for their team. This course can assist a Scrum Master in brushing up on their knowledge of Design Thinking, facilitating better workshops, and deepening their understanding of the Scrum framework.

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Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts will leverage some of the same principles used in Design Thinking to complete their job duties. This course can help Systems Analysts better understand the needs of their end users and how to create solutions that meet those needs.

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Technical Writer

Technical Writers may use some of the same principles used in Design Thinking when learning about the product they are writing documentation for and when organizing the information in a logical way. This course can help Technical Writers gain a deeper understanding of Design Thinking, which can lead to more useful and well-organized documentation.

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Usability Analyst

Usability Analysts will use many of the same principles used in Design Thinking. This course can help build a foundation for Design Thinking by teaching core concepts and real-world applications, as well as the fundamentals of the process.

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Web Designer

Design Thinking is a common method used in Web Design. This course can help teach the core concepts of Design Thinking, helping Web Designers build a foundation for this key part of their job.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer