06 Dec 2007
The growth of application-building programmes, with graphical, task-oriented environments, reusable templates and automatic design assistants has revolutionised the way businesses can approach the development of IT systems.
Marks and Spencer is a convert. In the late 1980s, the retail chain employed several hundred programmers. Now it has none that are not either contractors or based offshore. “The need for programmers has declined and instead we have super users using a lot more standard applications,” IT director Darrell Stein told Computing.
Further reading
“Programmers used to write reports, now a super user can do it using software such as Business Objects.”
One of the major benefits is to reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings between the business and its IT developers, according to Dr Nikolay Mehandjiev, senior lecturer at the University of Manchester’s School of Informatics.
“Business people can create software matching their needs as soon as these needs emerge, avoiding the transaction costs and delays associated with having other parties in the loop,” he said.
Speed is critical for businesses with an eye on their competitive edge.
“User programmers can be a positive differentiator in the struggle for speed to market,” said Arista Insurance head of business systems Dave Cheeseman.
“With the right tools, our people have the insurance knowledge needed to bring products to market which programmers do not have.
“It is about a combination of skills: we have business analysts who have a background in underwriting or have worked in distribution, but also have a flair for programming.”
But not everyone is convinced.
There are considerable dangers, and software development tools are still far from intuitive, says Philip Virgo, strategic adviser for the Institute for the Management of Information Systems (IMIS).
“Expecting users to define their own needs and then programme them directly often produces a result that is not fit for purpose,” said Virgo.
“Many tools are as user-friendly as a cornered rat they might be fit for a Californian liberal academic who has time on his hands, but they are not fit for a manager who has a job to do.
“A super user is someone who was a competent user but is now an incompetent programmer,” he said.
The only way the model can work is with a well-developed support function.
“We should bring back programmers and call them super end user support staff,” said Virgo.
Better believe it and pioneered by UK company Procession - Microsoft and SAP following but a way to go.
HOW? New Business Software technology that recognises People are the source of all information and only 8 work/task cover all business requirements - create any function compared with thousands of coded function applications!
A unified framework includes
Process, Rules, Calculation State, and Workflow engines
Audit trail, Time recording with Real time reporting
Management hierarchy
User interface dynamically created linking people, roles, task type and data via forms using web or client server
Automatic population of custom documents, letters, e-mails, messages etc with required information on pre-built templates.
Process change with full version control
Access to develop an application is via a graphical designer that allows a custom build by business professionals incorporating all the above attributes. The code never changes and no code is compiled to deliver a deployable solution.
Completely closes the gap between "IT" and business
Posted by: David Chassels 13 Dec 2007
I suspect it will be a long time before 'super users' become a reality. Even in the M&S example you cite, the use of Business Objects requires access to data through setup, configuration and programming... by programmers! I found some interesting research by SSRN where the super user is described as 'this mythical figure who is difficult to find, immune to technological constraints and aware of legal loopholes - but -often a marginal figure whose power has been greatly exaggerated'. Sounds about right to me. http://iconax.wordpress.com/
Posted by: Iconax 07 Dec 2007
I think that "Super User" is the new term for " let one man do everything, it's cheaper" ("cheaper" in the short term however, until the first bugs start to appear) ... Really, what a "super user" will do when a bug appears, what application programming language is he going to use and will he make a good practice of it? What about relational databases and SQL? Object oriented programming? Web design? Principles applying in many aspects of application design and implementation? And many more other things that makes a programmer a specialist on the field ... Well, I have to propose something. As users are promoted to "Super Users" then we should be called the "Super Programmers" ... Sounds fair that way!
Posted by: Lazaros 06 Dec 2007
Have your say on this article
Newsletters
Latest stories from Careers and Skills
Latest videos
You may also like
Careers and Skills jobs
Technology Patent Wars
Staff are increasingly using their personal devices for work. Productivity may increase as a result, but the trend brings with it security risks
Case studies from large organisations across all sectors
... And rich media, and flexible working, and peaks in traffic ...
Upcoming Events
Join us for this Computing web seminar, in which the Head of BI at the Co-operative Group Nick Colebourn will be explaining just how he reigned in the Group’s sprawling database estate and how significant savings were realised and data quality improved as a result.
Date: 31 May 2012
Time: 11:00 AM
Computing is pleased to announce the first Computing Summit, looking at how organisations can harness value and insight from big data. This one-day conference will provide practical insight into discovering and exploiting the value of unstructured data for improved business decision making, long term growth and competitive advantage.
Date: 28 Jun 2012
Time: 8.30am
Receive the latest jobs direct to your inbox
Are you being paid what you are worth?
