Fusion teams play an important part in the digital transformation of your company. We have created a guide that explains what fusion teams are and why they can be valuable for every organization looking to pursue digital innovation faster and safer.
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An example that can really help when building and launching fusion teams is design thinking. By using Design-Thinking, multidisciplinary teams can mitigate and prevent development challenges with an in-depth understanding of the user problem. The first step is brainstorming ideas. Then, they can choose the most suitable option and develop the best possible concept for all elements of the application. As a result, end-users won’t get confused when using the app.
One of the people who successfully launched one of these popular teams is Thomas Geelkerken. Thomas is a business analyst manager at Pluryn. Pluryn is a large healthcare business with 7400 employees and 1000 volunteers in 17 facilities across the Netherlands. He started looking into a new way of working because he was tired of digital solutions that didn’t truly benefit employees or clients. The traditional mindset of IT departments often hinders value-adding innovation and he was part of that system.
‘’IT departments are having a hard time bridging the gap in the relationship with the business. The ‘don’t call us, we’ll call you’ mentality isn’t working and I was also stuck in that client/supplier relationship.”
Thomas started building a backlog of topics where he saw gaps between what the business wanted and the available technology. Then, he began inspiring others to the benefits of citizen development and low-code no-code (LCNC) platforms. When people began responding enthusiastically, he formed a fusion team to combine the knowledge and ideas within the business with the technical wexpertise of the IT department.
“The IT department will end up having a smaller role in the app since they won’t need to invest so much time learning and understanding the topic and what needs to be done. Even with 40% completed, you have enough there to understand the idea behind it. Thoughts will align and that helps you search together for the right value.”
Thomas’ team has been able to deploy four advanced, self-built applications in as many months. Each app developed by the fusion team has furthered the organization’s digital transformation. Moreover, their solutions result in a better way of working that ultimately improves the experience of employees and clients. As an added benefit, Thomas noticed the relationship between the IT department and the business is much stronger.
“You quickly see a difference because you’ve made something collaboratively with the organization. The business no longer has to ask, ‘Can I do this or that?’ Instead, IT is asking, ‘What would you like it to do?’ Because now we have a great tool that enables people to think about what they really want and need.”
The process of IT security and data privacy has also been positively impacted by the citizen development fusion team. From the very beginning of the project, Thomas meets with stakeholders to discuss the data requirements for the applications. IT preps the data sets, which always start with only what’s absolutely necessary for the project. Then the team can begin working in a safe and secure way.
Although sometimes difficult, the conversations have nurtured trust and inclusion within the organization. “Working within the healthcare system, I’ve learned a lot from people on the front lines about inclusion – how to involve people and also to include them. It’s a complex process, but in the end, it’s more sustainable.”
''Stepping back to enable innovation doesn’t mean moving completely out of the picture. With the right LCNC platform, IT can maintain governance and ensure new applications connect with your security standards''. A good LCNC platform is necessary for fusion teams to work properly and to get the most out of them.
regulatory requirements throughout their citizen development journey. When this foundation is in place, it will lead to a symbiotic relationship built on mutual trust and respect. There are three main points that you should look for in an LCNC governance partner:
A good LCNC governance strategy does not come easily. We've created three tips for you that can help you build a successful LCNC governance strategy.
To successfully implement a citizen development practice in your organization, you need to centralize competency and knowledge. Depending on your organization’s culture and structure, you can either go all out with a Centre of Excellence or go for a more open approach such as the Community of Practice.
For traditional, hierarchical settings. Is an experienced team that has managed and built applications.
for organizations that are operating in fast-moving industries with regulation requirements. Citizen developers still report within their existing functions.
IT changes in a company are part of the digital transformation. When implementing change in an organization, resistance is inevitable. What you can do is minimize this resistance. How? With sufficient preparation. It’s important to:
