1. Who is a “Developer” and what is their role?
Enterprises aim to position star performers where they can do their best. That translates to new solutions developed and operations transformed. At best they end up in places with a real opportunity to make changes such as customer-facing operations, production, and sales. Or they may be found in areas experiencing high rates of change from technology or demographics—product/technology, information systems, and marketing.
This is an example of business impact from a “Developer” – Back in the ‘90s, an enterprising school admin figured out how to use a commercially available collaborative software solution to reduce the preparation of federally required attendance reports from two to three weeks to two hours. That sped up regulatory reporting and dramatically improved funding based on those reports. Her full-time job had nothing to do with software or code or development.
Other terms for “developers” include “power users”, “business analysts” (to escape any hint of an “information technology” title), “engineers” (of various flavors such as “process”), and “special assistant” (to avoid HR classifications). At a regulated company, a business analyst responding to an executive request. A secure “paperless” report and analysis distribution method met the needs of traveling executives. Archiving, increased information distribution, and faster decision making resulted – and paper replacement became obvious. Information technology didn’t innovate here as they were the ‘production method’ of choice – to paper.
A highly effective developer has:
1) A fluency with the business operations and processes
2) Capabilities and facility in using methods and tools (computer-based, analytic methods, or domain-specific expertise)
3) Political access or position empowerment to effect transformation or change
Now that we’ve established who a “Developer” is our next post will concern “What a Developer can mean to an organization”
Next up — What is a “Developer’s” Impact?
EkaLore has experience helping enterprise improve their Agility, Resilience, and Sustainability - www.ekalore.com/contact
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