The Future Role of the Citizen Developer in the Agentic Age: A Guide for IT Directors

A strategic guide for IT Directors on how Agentic AI is redefining citizen development and driving greater operational efficiency.

Agentic AI is emerging as the next major leap in business technology. Unlike generative AI, which focuses on creating content, Agentic AI takes it a step further by executing tasks, making decisions, and learning as it works. 

McKinsey defines these autonomous systems as critical to shaping the future of business operations because they can go beyond static workflows and adapt dynamically to organizational needs.

This evolution directly impacts two critical roles: the citizen developer and the IT director. 

Citizen developers, traditionally focused on low-code and no-code solutions, are now empowered to orchestrate AI agents using natural language. IT directors, on the other hand, are responsible for governing these new tools, ensuring compliance, and aligning them with organizational strategy. 

Together, they represent the backbone of digital transformation in the agentic age.

Understanding the Agentic Age and Its Impact on Operations

What is Agentic AI?

Agentic AI refers to systems that not only respond to prompts but also autonomously execute workflows, make decisions, and learn from outcomes. 

These systems often combine large language models (LLMs) for flexibility with traditional programming for precision. The result is a hybrid approach that can manage complex, real-world business operations.

Why does this matter for business operations?

• Automation and Efficiency: Agents reduce reliance on repetitive manual tasks.
• Extended Reach: They connect scattered data sources and integrate across systems.
• Intuitive Interactions: Agents allow business users to communicate goals in natural language, bypassing rigid system requirements.

Perhaps most importantly, Agentic AI helps eliminate the wasteful, manual workarounds between disconnected systems that drain productivity.

Michelle Hendley, Senior Product Marketing Manager at Quickbase explains that “Agentic AI represents a turning point for operations leaders. It eliminates inefficiencies by automating the unique processes that once slowed teams down.”

The Evolving Role of the Citizen Developer

For years, citizen developers have been champions of low-code/no-code platforms, building apps to fill gaps left by rigid software. But in the agentic age, their role is expanding.

From Low-Code to AI Orchestration
Instead of simply building applications, citizen developers are now orchestrating AI agents. Using natural language, they can define goals, assign tasks, and oversee workflows. This makes them less like builders of applications and more like AI operators or program managers, focusing on outcomes rather than code.

Empowerment and Collaboration
This shift empowers domain experts across business units to shape how AI agents behave. IT still plays a role in oversight, but citizen developers now drive real operational change with their deep business knowledge.

New Skillsets for the Future
The skillsets of tomorrow’s citizen developers will look different. Instead of learning to drag-and-drop app elements, they’ll need to:

• Understand agent behavior and feedback loops.
• Curate data for training and validation.
• Apply prompt engineering techniques for optimal results.

As a result, citizen developers will evolve into hybrid roles that bridge the gap between operations and IT strategy.

“Empowering business users to directly shape AI agents creates collaboration like never before,” emphasizes Hendley. 

Strategic Imperatives for IT Directors

While citizen developers drive innovation, IT directors must ensure governance, compliance, and scalability to maintain effective IT operations.

Balancing Empowerment with Governance
Without governance, agentic AI risks spiraling into uncontrolled proliferation, with security and compliance gaps. IT directors must establish guardrails such as access control, audit logs, and centralized oversight.

Building an Agentic AI Workforce
IT leaders will guide the onboarding of agents, ensuring they’re trained on accurate, relevant data. They’ll also ensure AI-driven processes adhere to organizational and regulatory standards.

Driving Speed to Value
By aligning empowered citizen developers with AI-driven governance, IT directors accelerate digital transformation. The result is faster delivery of innovative solutions that differentiate the business in competitive markets.

Hendley highlights that “IT leaders who embrace agentic AI gain both speed and control. They move digital transformation forward while maintaining compliance and data integrity.”

Quickbase’s Role in the Agentic Age

Quickbase is uniquely positioned to help organizations thrive in the agentic age. As an AI-powered operations platform, Quickbase adapts to your processes instead of forcing you into rigid templates. With capabilities like:

• Smart Data AI: Collect and connect critical information.
• Smart Builder AI: Create workflows from natural language.
• Smart Insights AI: Generate real-time visibility and predictive forecasts.
• Smart Governance AI: Maintain compliance and oversight at scale.

Quickbase empowers both citizen developers and IT directors to eliminate inefficiencies, achieve operational excellence, and unlock competitive advantage.

The agentic age represents a new frontier for business operations. Citizen developers are becoming orchestrators of intelligent agents. IT directors, meanwhile, ensure governance and control. Together, they create a framework that allows innovation and compliance to coexist.

Quickbase provides the platform that unites them. By eliminating manual, repetitive tasks, connecting critical data, and scaling AI-driven workflows, Quickbase enables organizations to thrive in this transformative era.

Request a Demo to see how Quickbase empowers citizen developers and IT directors to succeed in the agentic age.

FAQ Section:

Q: What is Agentic AI and how does it differ from Generative AI?

A: Agentic AI executes tasks, makes decisions, and learns autonomously. Generative AI primarily creates content but doesn’t manage workflows or execute decisions independently.

Q: How will Agentic AI impact the role of citizen developers?

A: Citizen developers will evolve into AI operators, orchestrating workflows through natural language and focusing on agent behavior, data curation, and prompt engineering.

Q: What are the key challenges for IT Directors in the Agentic Age?

A: IT Directors must balance empowerment with governance, ensuring compliance, security, and control while driving innovation.

Q: How can Quickbase help organizations thrive in the Agentic Age?

A: Quickbase eliminates inefficiencies, connects critical data, and empowers both IT and business users to automate workflows with governance and confidence.

Q: What are inefficiencies and how does Agentic AI help eliminate it?

A: Inefficiencies refers to manual processes like spreadsheets and workarounds. Agentic AI automates these workflows, freeing teams to focus on higher-value tasks.